Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Install your TV brand's official app
- 03Method 2: Use the remote already built into your phone
- 04Method 3: Open a browser remote (no install)
- 05Method 4: Use a universal TV remote app
- 06Which TV remote app should you use?
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08Can I use my phone as a TV remote for free?
- 09Do all phones have an IR blaster?
- 10What is the best free TV remote app?
- 11Is there an Amazon Fire TV remote app?
- 12Can a TV remote app work without Wi-Fi?
- 13Related guides
A remote for TV app turns your phone into a working TV remote over Wi-Fi. Most modern phones have no infrared blaster, so you control a smart TV through your home network instead. Install your TV brand's free app, open a browser remote, or use a universal app like HiRemote for Hisense sets.
I keep three TVs going at home — a Hisense U7K, a Roku-powered TCL, and an older Samsung. My iPhone 14 has no IR blaster, so a plain "beam infrared" remote app does nothing on any of them. Every set needed a Wi-Fi app instead. That one fact saves most people a wasted hour.
The 30-second test
Before you download anything, answer two questions. They decide which route actually works for you.
- Does your phone have an IR blaster? A handful of Xiaomi, Poco, and older Samsung phones do. Most phones sold in the UK do not.
- Is your TV a smart TV on Wi-Fi? If yes, a network app controls it. If no, you need a phone with IR.
No IR and a smart TV? Use a Wi-Fi app. That combination covers nearly everyone reading this.
Own a Hisense? The HiRemote app pairs over Wi-Fi in about a minute — no IR needed. In a hurry or stuck on a laptop? Open the Roku remote in your browser and control a Hisense Roku TV with nothing to install.
Method 1: Install your TV brand's official app
Every major TV maker has a free app that works as a remote over Wi-Fi. This is the most reliable route, because the app speaks your TV's own language. Put your phone and TV on the same network first.
Here's the official app for each brand:
- Samsung: SmartThings. Open it, tap + → Add device, and it finds a TV on the same Wi-Fi. Tap the TV tile for the remote.
- LG: LG ThinQ. Add your TV, then tap it to open a touchpad remote.
- Sony (Bravia): the Google TV app. Tap the remote icon, pick your TV, and confirm the code on screen.
- Roku TVs (including Hisense Roku and TCL): the Roku app → Devices → tap your Roku → Remote.
- Amazon Fire TV: the Fire TV app. Sign in with the same Amazon account, then pick your device.
- Hisense (VIDAA OS): the VIDAA app, once branded RemoteNOW.
When it won't work: the TV must be awake and on the same 2.4GHz or 5GHz network. Some TVs hide a "mobile app control" toggle in settings that you must switch on first. The first pairing often shows a four-digit code on the TV screen.
Method 2: Use the remote already built into your phone
Your phone may already carry a remote you've never opened. No download needed. This route works best for streaming boxes and TV platforms tied to a phone maker.
- iPhone: the Apple TV Remote lives in Control Center. Go to Settings → Control Center and add it. It controls Apple TV boxes and some AirPlay 2 TVs.
- Android: the Google TV app has a built-in remote for Android TV, Google TV, and Chromecast. Tap the remote icon at the bottom.
When it won't work: the Apple TV Remote does not run a Samsung or LG menu. It's built for Apple's own box and a short list of partner TVs. It won't replace your brand's full app.
Method 3: Open a browser remote (no install)
You don't always need an app at all. A browser remote runs on any phone, tablet, or laptop. It's handy when you can't install anything or you're borrowing someone else's device.
For Hisense Roku TVs, open our online Roku remote and tap the on-screen buttons. Your device and the TV just need the same Wi-Fi.
When it won't work: a browser remote only reaches TVs that accept network commands. It won't drive an old non-smart set, and this one is built for Roku-based Hisense models.
Tired of app clutter? HiRemote gives Hisense owners a full keypad, a keyboard, and app shortcuts in one place. The Roku remote online covers you when your phone battery dies and you grab a laptop instead.
Method 4: Use a universal TV remote app
A universal app aims to control more than one brand from a single screen. Two kinds exist, and they work very differently. Pick based on whether your phone has an IR blaster.
- Wi-Fi universal apps: these talk to smart TVs over your network. HiRemote covers Hisense VIDAA and Hisense Roku sets — install it, allow local network access, pick your TV, and control it.
- IR-blaster apps: these beam infrared like a physical remote. They only run if your phone actually has an IR blaster.
When it won't work: most phones sold in the UK have no IR blaster, so an IR app simply does nothing. Check your phone's spec sheet before you trust one.
Which TV remote app should you use?
Here's how the routes compare at a glance. All of them are free to start.
| Route | How it connects | Best for | Install needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official brand app | Wi-Fi | Your exact TV brand | Yes |
| Phone's built-in remote | Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Apple TV, Android TV | No |
| Browser remote | Wi-Fi | Hisense Roku TVs | No |
| Universal app (HiRemote) | Wi-Fi | Hisense VIDAA + Roku | Yes |
| IR-blaster app | Infrared | Phones with IR only | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my phone as a TV remote for free?
Yes, you can control most smart TVs from your phone for free. Every major brand — Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Fire TV, and Hisense — offers a free official app that works over Wi-Fi. Browser remotes cost nothing either. You only pay if you pick a premium universal app with extra features.
Do all phones have an IR blaster?
No, most phones today have no IR blaster. Only a few models, such as some Xiaomi, Poco, and older Samsung Galaxy phones, include one. Without an IR blaster, your phone can't beam signals like a traditional remote. It controls smart TVs over Wi-Fi instead, which covers nearly every modern set.
What is the best free TV remote app?
The best free TV remote app is usually your TV brand's own official app. It matches every button and menu on your set. For Hisense TVs, HiRemote adds a keyboard and shortcuts the stock app lacks. The right pick depends on your TV brand, not on one app that claims to do everything.
Is there an Amazon Fire TV remote app?
Yes, Amazon makes a free Fire TV app for iPhone and Android. Download it, sign in with the same Amazon account as your Fire TV, and pick your device. It gives you a touchpad, a keyboard for fast searches, and voice control. Your phone and Fire TV must share the same Wi-Fi.
Can a TV remote app work without Wi-Fi?
Only an IR-blaster app works without Wi-Fi, and only if your phone has an IR blaster. Wi-Fi apps need your phone and TV on the same network to talk. If your router is down, an IR-equipped phone can still beam basic commands. Most phones can't, so Wi-Fi is the usual requirement.
