Table of contents(15)+
- 01The 30-second test: which remote do you actually need?
- 02Method 1: Open the Apple TV Remote in Control Center
- 03Method 2: Add the remote if you don't see it
- 04Method 3: Fix a remote that won't connect
- 05Method 4: Type with your iPhone keyboard
- 06Method 5: Control the TV set itself, not just the Apple TV box
- 07Apple TV remote options compared
- 08Frequently Asked Questions
- 09Is there an Apple TV Remote app?
- 10How do I add the Apple TV Remote to Control Center?
- 11Why won't my iPhone connect to my Apple TV?
- 12Can I use my iPhone as an Apple TV remote without Wi-Fi?
- 13Does the Apple TV Remote work with a Samsung or LG smart TV?
- 14Is the Apple TV Remote free?
- 15Related guides
Apple stopped making a standalone Apple TV Remote app back in 2018. The remote now lives inside your iPhone's Control Center instead. Swipe down from the top-right corner, tap the Apple TV Remote button, pick your Apple TV, and control it. It's free, built in, and needs no download.
I run an Apple TV 4K into a Hisense U8H, and I've lost that little Siri Remote in the couch cushions more times than I'll admit. The first time it happened, I went hunting for the old Apple TV Remote app I remembered from years back. It's gone. Apple folded it into Control Center — and honestly, the phone version types faster than the Siri Remote ever did.
The 30-second test: which remote do you actually need?
Before you dig through menus, answer one question. Are you trying to control the Apple TV box — the little black puck — or the TV set it's plugged into? They take different remotes.
- The Apple TV box (menus, apps, playback): use your iPhone's Control Center remote. That's Methods 1–4 below.
- The TV set itself (power, input, volume): the Control Center remote can't do that on most TVs. You'll need your TV brand's own remote app.
If it's your Hisense or Roku TV that lost its remote — not the Apple TV box — the HiRemote app turns your phone into that remote in about a minute. Don't want to install anything? The browser remote works right in Safari.
Method 1: Open the Apple TV Remote in Control Center
This is the real "app," and it's already on your iPhone. Here's the path:
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center (swipe up from the bottom on an iPhone with a Home button).
- Tap the Apple TV Remote button — it looks like a small remote.
- Pick your Apple TV from the list if you have more than one.
- Swipe on the big trackpad area to move around. Tap to select. Use the buttons for Menu, Home, Play/Pause, and Siri.
Apple keeps the full button rundown in its tvOS User Guide. When it won't work: your iPhone and Apple TV have to be on the same Wi-Fi and, ideally, the same Apple ID. Different networks, and your Apple TV won't show up at all.
Method 2: Add the remote if you don't see it
Most iPhones show the Apple TV Remote in Control Center by default. If yours doesn't, add it in about 10 seconds:
- Open Settings → Control Center.
- Scroll to More Controls.
- Tap the green plus next to Apple TV Remote.
Now it lives in Control Center for good. This trips up a lot of people who assume the feature is broken when it's just not added yet.
Method 3: Fix a remote that won't connect
If your Apple TV won't show up or keeps dropping out, run through these in order:
- Confirm both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Check they're signed into the same Apple ID (Settings → your name on iPhone; Settings → Users and Accounts on Apple TV).
- If a four-digit code appears on your TV, type it on your phone to pair.
- Restart the Apple TV (Settings → System → Restart) and toggle your iPhone's Wi-Fi off and back on.
Honest catch: on a locked-down office or hotel network, devices often can't see each other even on the same Wi-Fi. There's no fix for that except a different network or the physical Siri Remote.
Juggling an Apple TV, a soundbar, and the TV itself? A dedicated app beats hunting for three clickers. HiRemote covers the Hisense or Roku TV side — power, input, volume — and you can try the browser version before downloading anything.
Method 4: Type with your iPhone keyboard
This is the feature that makes the phone remote worth it. Searching for a show with the Siri Remote is slow, one letter at a time. With your phone, it's a normal keyboard.
- Open the remote in Control Center as usual.
- On your Apple TV, tap into any search or password field.
- Your iPhone keyboard pops up automatically. Type, and it lands on the TV.
The catch: the keyboard only appears when the Apple TV is showing a text field. You can't force it open from the phone side.
Method 5: Control the TV set itself, not just the Apple TV box
The Control Center remote controls the Apple TV box. It usually can't turn your TV on, switch inputs, or change the TV's own volume — that's the TV set's job, not the puck's. For that, you need your TV brand's remote app.
If you have a Hisense or Roku TV, the HiRemote app covers power, input, and volume from your phone, and there's a browser remote if you'd rather not install anything. For other brands, a general TV remote app or a universal remote app is the way to go.
Apple TV remote options compared
| Way to control | Cost | Same Wi-Fi needed? | Type with keyboard? | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Center remote (iPhone) | Free | Yes | Yes | You lost the Siri Remote |
| Siri Remote (physical) | ~$59 to replace | No | No | You want a real clicker |
| Third-party universal app | Free or paid | Usually | Varies | You control many devices |
| HiRemote (for a Hisense/Roku TV set) | Free | Yes | Yes, on the TV | Your TV's own remote is gone |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an Apple TV Remote app?
No, there's no standalone Apple TV Remote app in the App Store anymore. Apple removed it in 2018 and moved the remote into your iPhone's Control Center. So if you search the store and find nothing official, that's expected. Any "Apple TV Remote" apps you see now are third-party — the real one is already on your phone. See Apple's Apple TV support page for the details.
How do I add the Apple TV Remote to Control Center?
Open Settings, tap Control Center, then scroll to More Controls and tap the green plus next to Apple TV Remote. On most iPhones it's already there by default. Once added, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and tap the remote icon. Then pick your Apple TV from the list.
Why won't my iPhone connect to my Apple TV?
Your iPhone and Apple TV usually need to be on the same Wi-Fi network and signed into the same Apple ID. Check both, then try again. If a four-digit code shows on your TV, type it on your phone to pair. Still stuck? Restart the Apple TV and toggle your iPhone's Wi-Fi off and on.
Can I use my iPhone as an Apple TV remote without Wi-Fi?
Not reliably — the Control Center remote controls Apple TV over your Wi-Fi network, so both devices need to be connected. There's no offline mode like an infrared remote. If your Wi-Fi is down, the physical Siri Remote still works over Bluetooth. For that reason, keep the Siri Remote around as a backup even if you mostly use your phone.
Does the Apple TV Remote work with a Samsung or LG smart TV?
Sometimes, yes. If your Samsung, LG, Sony, or Vizio TV supports AirPlay 2 and has the Apple TV app, the Control Center remote can control that TV too. It won't run every function of the TV, though — mainly the Apple TV app and playback. For full control of the TV set itself, use that brand's own remote app.
Is the Apple TV Remote free?
Yes, the Apple TV Remote in Control Center is completely free. It's built into iOS, so there's nothing to buy or download. You only pay if you need to replace the physical Siri Remote, which runs about $59 from Apple. The on-phone remote covers almost everything the Siri Remote does, including typing.
