Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Use your TV brand's official app
- 03Method 2: Use a universal remote app for mixed setups
- 04Method 3: Control a Hisense smart TV with HiRemote
- 05Method 4: Use your phone's IR blaster on older TVs
- 06Smart TV remote apps compared
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08Is there a free smart TV remote app?
- 09Can I use my phone as a smart TV remote without Wi-Fi?
- 10Why won't my smart TV remote app connect?
- 11Do smart TV remote apps work on any brand?
- 12Does a smart TV remote app work over mobile data?
- 13Related guides
A smart TV remote app controls your TV from your phone over Wi-Fi, so you skip the plastic remote. Download your brand's official app — SmartThings for Samsung, ThinQ for LG, or the Roku or Fire TV app — put your phone on the same network as the TV, and connect. Most are free.
I've paired remote apps on a Samsung Q60, an LG C2, a Hisense U8K, and a TCL Roku TV. The official apps feel best because they use your Wi-Fi, not line-of-sight, so you can point your phone anywhere. My honest gripe: they wake slowly, so the first button press after a nap often gets dropped.
The 30-second test
Before you install anything, check one thing. Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings, then check your TV's network name under its network menu. If the two names don't match, no app will connect — full stop. Move your phone onto the TV's network, then try again.
On many routers, the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands show as separate names. Your TV and phone can sit on the same router but different bands, and the app still won't see the TV. Join the band your TV uses.
Got a Hisense TV? The HiRemote app pairs over that same Wi-Fi in seconds and gives you a full keypad, voice search, and app shortcuts. No install handy? Open the browser remote at /hisense-roku-tv-remote and control the TV from any phone tab.
Method 1: Use your TV brand's official app
Every major brand ships a free remote app. It talks to the TV over your home Wi-Fi, so you get a touch keypad, a keyboard for logins, and often voice search. Match the app to your TV maker:
- Samsung: Install SmartThings, sign in, tap the plus, add Device, and pick your TV. Enter the PIN shown on screen.
- LG: Install LG ThinQ, sign in, add your TV, then approve the pairing prompt on the TV.
- Roku TVs (TCL, some Hisense): Install The Roku App, open the Devices tab, and tap your TV to open the remote.
- Fire TV (Toshiba, Insignia): Install the Amazon Fire TV app, choose your device, and enter the four-digit code on screen.
- Sony and other Google TVs: Use the Google Home app or the TV remote inside Google TV, then pick your set.
- Hisense VIDAA: Install RemoteNOW, or use HiRemote (see Method 3) for a faster keypad.
These apps come straight from the makers. If you get stuck, Samsung's SmartThings page and Roku's support site walk through pairing in detail.
When it won't work: hotel and office guest networks block this. So do networks that isolate devices ('AP isolation'). On those, the phone and TV can't see each other, and no official app helps.
Method 2: Use a universal remote app for mixed setups
Own three TVs from three brands? A universal remote app holds them all in one place, so you stop juggling logos. These apps still connect over Wi-Fi and, for older sets, over an infrared blaster if your phone has one.
Set one up like this:
- Install a universal app and grant it local network access when asked.
- Let it scan your Wi-Fi, then tap each TV it finds to add it.
- For a non-smart TV, pick your brand from the IR code list and test the power button.
Honest limit: universal apps rarely match a brand's own app for deep features like voice search or app launchers. For a deeper walk-through, see our universal TV remote app guide, or the free TV remote app options by brand.
If your set is a Hisense, you'll get more from a Hisense-native app than a universal one. HiRemote adds a number pad, quick input switching, and a Netflix-style keyboard. Try the browser remote first to confirm it pairs, then keep the HiRemote app on your home screen.
Method 3: Control a Hisense smart TV with HiRemote
HiRemote is built for Hisense TVs, so it skips the setup friction RemoteNOW is known for. It works on VIDAA, Google, and Roku-based Hisense models. Here's the pairing flow:
- Put your phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi band (see the 30-second test above).
- Open HiRemote and let it scan. Tap your Hisense TV when it appears in the list.
- Enter the PIN the TV shows, or press the connect prompt on screen.
- Use the keypad, D-pad, and voice search — no line-of-sight needed.
My honest take: HiRemote pairs faster than RemoteNOW on VIDAA sets, but it still needs Wi-Fi. If your router is down, fall back to the physical remote or a replacement. See our Hisense TV remote app breakdown for a side-by-side.
Method 4: Use your phone's IR blaster on older TVs
Some Android phones have an infrared blaster built in. That lets you control an older, non-smart TV the same way the original remote did — by pointing at the set. iPhones have no IR, so this method is Android-only.
- Open your phone's remote app (often 'Peel' or 'Mi Remote').
- Pick your TV brand and test the volume keys.
- If nothing happens, try the next code set until the buttons respond.
Caveat: IR needs a clear line of sight, just like the old remote. Furniture or a soundbar in the way will block the signal.
Smart TV remote apps compared
| TV brand | Official app | Connects over | Free? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | SmartThings | Wi-Fi | Yes |
| LG | LG ThinQ | Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Sony / Google TV | Google Home | Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Roku TVs (TCL, Onn) | The Roku App | Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Fire TV (Toshiba, Insignia) | Amazon Fire TV | Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Hisense | RemoteNOW or HiRemote | Wi-Fi | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free smart TV remote app?
Yes, every major brand offers a free official remote app. SmartThings, LG ThinQ, The Roku App, and the Amazon Fire TV app all cost nothing and control your TV over Wi-Fi. You only pay if you choose a third-party app with premium extras, which most people never need.
Can I use my phone as a smart TV remote without Wi-Fi?
Only if your phone has an infrared blaster, which some Android models do. Point it at the TV like a normal remote. iPhones have no IR, so an iPhone always needs Wi-Fi to control a smart TV.
Why won't my smart TV remote app connect?
Almost always, the phone and TV sit on different networks or Wi-Fi bands. Put both on the same 2.4GHz or 5GHz name, and turn off any VPN on your phone. Guest networks and 'AP isolation' settings also block the connection.
Do smart TV remote apps work on any brand?
Official apps only control their own brand's TVs. A universal remote app is the exception — it stores several brands at once and connects over Wi-Fi or infrared. For deep features like voice search, the brand's own app still wins.
Does a smart TV remote app work over mobile data?
No, mobile data won't reach your TV. The app and TV must share the same local Wi-Fi network to talk to each other. Switch your phone off cellular and onto home Wi-Fi before you pair.
