Samsung TV Remote App: How to Control Your TV From Your Phone

The 30-second test

Before you download anything, check two things. Is your Samsung TV on the same Wi-Fi as your phone? And was it made in 2016 or later? If both are true, SmartThings will control it.

To check the year, press Home, then go to Settings > Support > About This TV. A pre-2016 or non-smart set won't work with SmartThings — you'll need an IR app or a hardware IR blaster instead.

Not sure which route fits your TV? It mostly comes down to age. A Samsung smart TV from 2016 or later pairs over Wi-Fi with SmartThings; an older or non-smart set needs an infrared app instead. Use the method below that matches your model.

Method 1: Control your Samsung TV with SmartThings

SmartThings is Samsung's official app and the one I'd try first. It replaced the old Samsung Smart View app in 2020. It's free and works on both iPhone and Android.

1. Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Install SmartThings from the App Store or Google Play, then open it.
3. Tap the + (Add) button, then choose Device.
4. Pick TV, then Samsung. The app usually finds your TV on its own.
5. Enter the PIN that pops up on the TV screen.
6. Tap your TV's tile, then the remote icon to open the on-screen remote.

You can grab the app straight from Samsung's official SmartThings page. Honest catch: SmartThings only talks to your TV over Wi-Fi. If your router drops or the TV sits on a different network, the remote greys out. It also won't touch a pre-2016 Samsung.

Method 2: Use a universal IR remote app for older Samsung TVs

Got an older Samsung that SmartThings ignores? Then you need infrared — the same signal the physical remote uses. This route depends on your phone having an IR blaster built in.

1. Check for an IR blaster. Most iPhones and newer Galaxy phones skip it; some Xiaomi, TCL, and older Galaxy models have one.
2. Install a universal remote app such as AnyMote or Universal TV Remote.
3. Open the app and choose Samsung as the TV brand.
4. Point the top edge of your phone at the TV and test the power button.
5. If nothing happens, try the next code set in the app until one works.

Honest catch: no IR blaster means no IR app. On an iPhone you'd need a plug-in IR accessory, like a SwitchBot Hub. For most people that's more hassle than it's worth.

Method 3: Control your Samsung TV with your voice

You can also skip buttons and just talk. Samsung TVs from 2018 on have Bixby built into the remote and the TV. If you use Alexa or Google Home, you can link those too.

• Bixby: Press and hold the mic button on the remote, then say your command.
• Alexa: In the Alexa app, add the Samsung SmartThings skill, link your account, then say "Alexa, turn on the TV."
• Google Home: Link SmartThings under Works with Google, then use voice on any Nest speaker.

If you own an Apple Watch, you can even use it as a TV remote. Honest catch: voice is great for power and volume but clumsy for typing or fast channel changes. I still keep a phone remote open for anything fiddly.

Which Samsung TV remote app should you use?

Method	Works on	Needs Wi-Fi?	Needs IR blaster?	Cost	Best for
SmartThings	Samsung smart TVs, 2016+	Yes	No	Free	The official, full-featured route
Universal IR app	Any Samsung, incl. old sets	No	Yes	Free	Pre-2016 or non-smart TVs
Bixby / voice	Samsung TVs, 2018+	Yes	No	Free	Hands-free power and volume
New physical remote	All Samsung TVs	No	N/A	Paid	People who dislike phone remotes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free Samsung TV remote app?

Yes. SmartThings, Samsung's official remote app, is free on the App Store and Google Play. It controls any Samsung smart TV made from 2016 onward over Wi-Fi. Universal IR apps are free too. You only pay if you decide to buy a replacement physical remote instead.

What happened to the Samsung Smart View app?

Samsung retired the Smart View app in October 2020. Its features moved into SmartThings, now the official way to control your TV, cast media, and change settings from your phone. If you still have Smart View installed, it may not connect to newer TVs. Download SmartThings instead.

Does the Samsung TV remote app work on iPhone?

Yes. SmartThings works on iPhone, since it controls the TV over Wi-Fi, not infrared. What iPhones can't do is act as an IR remote for old, non-smart Samsungs — there's no IR blaster inside. For those TVs, you'd need a plug-in IR accessory.

Can I use a Samsung TV remote app without Wi-Fi?

Not with SmartThings — it needs your phone and TV on the same network. Without Wi-Fi, your only phone option is infrared, which needs a phone with an IR blaster and a universal remote app. Otherwise, use the physical remote or the buttons on the TV itself.

How do I control an older Samsung TV from my phone?

Use a universal remote app that sends infrared, such as AnyMote. This only works if your phone has an IR blaster built in; most iPhones and newer Galaxy phones don't. If yours doesn't, add a hardware IR dongle, or pick up a cheap universal physical remote instead.

Why won't SmartThings find my Samsung TV?

Usually the phone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks — common with split 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands or guest networks. Put both on the same network and try again. Also confirm the TV is a 2016-or-newer smart model, then restart both devices. A quick TV power-cycle clears most pairing glitches.

Related guides

• TV Remote App: How to Control Any TV From Your Phone
• LG TV Remote App: How to Control Your TV From Your Phone
• I Set Up My Apple Watch as a TV Remote — What Actually Works