Hisense TV Remote App: How to Control Your TV From Your Phone (AU 2026)

The 30-second test: which Hisense OS do you have?

Your Hisense TV runs one of four systems, and each one needs a different remote app. Press the Home button and look at the layout. VIDAA shows a colorful grid with a search bar up top. Google TV shows content rows and your Google account. Roku shows a grid of channel tiles. Fire TV shows a top navigation bar.

Not sure? Check the model number on the box or the back panel. Our Hisense model number guide decodes the series, and this VIDAA vs Roku vs Google TV breakdown shows which OS ships on each. Most Hisense TVs sold in Australia run VIDAA U.

Already know you're on VIDAA or Google TV? The HiRemote app turns your iPhone into a Hisense remote in about 30 seconds, free and without ads to tap through. If your Hisense runs Roku, the browser remote works with no download at all.

Method 1: Set up RemoteNOW, Hisense's official app

RemoteNOW is Hisense's own free remote app, and it works on VIDAA Smart TVs plus older Hisense Android TVs. You get the full button layout, a keyboard for typing, an air-mouse, and casting of photos and video from your phone. RemoteNOW is on the App Store and Google Play at no cost.

Here's how to connect it:

1. Put your phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Install RemoteNOW from the App Store or Google Play.
3. Open the app and tap the TV icon in the top-right corner.
4. Pick your Hisense TV from the list that appears.
5. A pairing request shows on the TV screen. Select Allow.

When it won't work: RemoteNOW does not pair with Hisense Roku TVs or Fire TV models. On the newest Google TV Hisense sets it often fails to connect too. If your TV isn't VIDAA or Android, skip to Method 2 or 3. You can confirm your model on the official Hisense Australia site.

Method 2: Use HiRemote for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch

HiRemote is a free remote app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch that pairs in about 30 seconds. HiRemote works with VIDAA, Roku, Google TV and Fire TV, so it covers the Hisense models RemoteNOW can't. HiRemote runs over your home Wi-Fi, with no infrared or extra hardware.

To set it up:

1. Connect your iPhone and Hisense TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Download HiRemote from the App Store.
3. Open it and let it scan for your TV.
4. Tap your Hisense TV, then confirm the prompt on the TV if one appears.

The honest limit: HiRemote is iOS only, so Android users should stick with RemoteNOW or the Google TV app. HiRemote also needs both devices on the same network, like every Wi-Fi remote.

Method 3: Control a Google TV Hisense with the Google TV app

The Google TV app is the best free remote for Hisense Google TV and Android TV models. Google builds and updates the app, so it stays in step with the TV software. You can also launch shows and use voice search from your phone.

To pair it:

1. Install the Google TV app (or Google Home) from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Keep your phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Open the app and tap the remote icon at the bottom.
4. Select your Hisense TV, then enter the code shown on the TV.

When it won't work: the Google TV app only controls Google TV and Android Hisense sets. It won't drive a VIDAA or Roku Hisense. Google's own setup guide covers edge cases by phone model.

Still deciding between apps? If you're on iPhone, HiRemote is the one app that covers VIDAA, Roku, Google TV and Fire TV Hisense sets in a single place. For a quick Roku fix with nothing to install, open the browser remote and pair on the spot.

Hisense TV remote apps compared

Here's how the main Hisense remote apps stack up, so you can match one to your TV in a few seconds.

Fix 1: When the remote app can't find your Hisense TV

If the app can't see your TV, the two devices are almost always on different networks. Check that your phone and Hisense TV use the same Wi-Fi name, not a guest network or a split 5GHz band. Fixing the network solves this most of the time.

• Put both devices on the same band. Many routers split 2.4GHz and 5GHz into two names.
• Turn off AP isolation (sometimes called client isolation) in your router settings.
• Restart the TV from the wall plug, wait 30 seconds, and power back on.
• On VIDAA, allow mobile connections when the pairing prompt appears on screen.

Still stuck? Our guide to a Hisense remote app that won't connect walks through the rest.

Fix 2: When buttons lag or the app keeps disconnecting

Lag and dropouts usually trace back to a weak Wi-Fi signal between your phone and the TV. Move closer to the router, or move the router away from the TV's metal stand. A stronger signal makes the buttons feel instant again.

• Close other heavy apps on your phone before using the remote.
• Switch your phone to the 5GHz band if the router is nearby.
• Turn off the TV's low-power or eco standby, which can drop the network link.
• Update the app and the TV software so both speak the same protocol.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an official Hisense TV remote app?

Yes. RemoteNOW is Hisense's official free remote app, available on the App Store and Google Play. RemoteNOW controls VIDAA Smart TVs and older Hisense Android TVs over Wi-Fi. It does not work with Hisense Roku TV or Fire TV models, so those owners need a different app or the built-in platform remote.

Does the Hisense remote app work without Wi-Fi?

No. Hisense remote apps like RemoteNOW, HiRemote and the Google TV app all send commands over your home Wi-Fi, so both the phone and TV must be online and on the same network. Your phone has no infrared blaster for a Hisense TV, so there is no offline option. Without Wi-Fi, use the physical buttons on the TV instead.

Can I use my phone as a Hisense remote without the original remote?

Yes. You don't need the original remote at all. Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi, install RemoteNOW, HiRemote or the Google TV app, and pair. If the TV isn't on Wi-Fi yet, connect it first using the buttons on the set, then pair the app.

Why won't RemoteNOW connect to my Hisense TV?

RemoteNOW usually fails to connect because the phone and TV sit on different Wi-Fi networks, or because the TV runs Roku or Fire TV. Put both devices on the same network, then accept the pairing prompt on the TV. If your Hisense runs Roku or Fire TV, RemoteNOW can't pair, and you'll need HiRemote or the platform's own app.

Do Hisense TVs have Bluetooth for a phone remote?

Most Hisense TVs from 2020 onward have Bluetooth, but the remote apps still use Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, to send commands. Bluetooth on a Hisense TV is meant for headphones, speakers and game controllers. To control the TV from your phone, you rely on the shared Wi-Fi connection instead.

Is there a Hisense remote app for Apple Watch?

Yes. HiRemote runs on Apple Watch as well as iPhone and iPad, so you can change channels and volume from your wrist. RemoteNOW and the Google TV app are phone-only. If wrist control matters to you, HiRemote is the option that supports it today.

Related guides

• Best Hisense TV Remote App for iPhone: 6 Apps Compared (2026)
• HiRemote vs RemoteNOW: Which Hisense Remote App Actually Works?
• Hisense TV Remote App Not Working? 6 Fixes (Fastest First)
• How to Connect a Hisense TV to Wi-Fi Without the Remote
• Hisense: VIDAA vs Roku TV vs Google TV (2026)