Table of contents(14)+
- 01The 30-second test: which method do you need?
- 02Method 1: Use your phone's built-in IR blaster (any TV)
- 03Method 2: Use your TV's official Wi-Fi app (smart TVs)
- 04Method 3: Use a dedicated remote app for your TV brand
- 05Method 4: Use a universal remote app (mixed setups)
- 06IR blaster vs Wi-Fi app: which should you use?
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08Can I use my phone as a TV remote without Wi-Fi?
- 09Which phones have an IR blaster in India?
- 10How do I use my mobile as a TV remote for a smart TV?
- 11Can an iPhone control a TV?
- 12Is there a free TV remote app?
- 13Why won't my phone remote app connect to my TV?
- 14Related guides
You can turn almost any phone into a TV remote in two ways: an infrared (IR) blaster that works on old and smart TVs alike, or a Wi-Fi app that controls a smart TV on the same network. Many Android phones like Xiaomi and realme have IR built in; iPhones have no IR, so they use the Wi-Fi route.
I keep a drawer of test phones for exactly this. On a Redmi Note 13 and a realme with a built-in IR blaster, I can drive an old Panasonic LED and a new Sony Google TV from the same app. My iPhone 15 can't — no IR hardware — so for that TV I open the Wi-Fi app instead. One honest limit up front: most Wi-Fi apps can't wake a TV that's fully powered off.
The 30-second test: which method do you need?
Two quick checks decide your route. First, does your phone have an IR blaster? Open your app drawer and look for a “Remote”, “Mi Remote”, or “Smart Remote” app that shipped with the phone — Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco, realme, and some OnePlus phones have one. Second, is your TV a smart TV on Wi-Fi? If yes to IR, you can control any TV. If no IR but you have a smart TV, use its Wi-Fi app.
If that test points to a Hisense TV, the HiRemote app is built for exactly that — it pairs with VIDAA and Roku Hisense models over Wi-Fi, no IR needed. Prefer not to install anything? Open the free Roku remote website on your phone and control the TV straight from the web.
Method 1: Use your phone's built-in IR blaster (any TV)
An IR blaster turns your phone into a real tv remote by sending the same infrared signal as the plastic remote, so it works on any TV — smart or a 10-year-old non-smart set. On a Xiaomi or Redmi phone, open the pre-installed Mi Remote app, tap Add remote → TV, pick your brand, then aim the phone's top edge at the TV and test the buttons. realme and Poco phones have a near-identical Remote app.
The honest caveat: IR is line-of-sight, with a range of about 8 metres. You have to aim the phone's top edge at the TV, and it won't work through walls or from another room. Most iPhones and many 2022-and-newer flagship Androids (including Samsung Galaxy) dropped or never had the IR hardware — if there's no Remote app pre-installed, your phone almost certainly has no blaster, and a downloaded app can't add one.
Method 2: Use your TV's official Wi-Fi app (smart TVs)
Every major smart-TV brand ships a free tv remote app that controls the TV over your home Wi-Fi, no IR needed. Put your phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network, then install the right one: Google TV app for Google/Android TVs (Sony, TCL, realme, Mi), SmartThings for Samsung, LG ThinQ for LG. Open the app, let it scan, pick your TV, and approve the 4-digit pairing code that appears on screen.
Google publishes a step-by-step for the Google TV app remote, and Samsung documents SmartThings pairing on its own site. The caveat that trips people up: the TV must already be on, or in a standby mode that keeps Wi-Fi alive. A TV switched off at the wall can't be woken by a phone.
Method 3: Use a dedicated remote app for your TV brand
A brand-specific app usually beats the generic ones because it maps every button — including the streaming shortcuts — to your exact model. If you own a Hisense TV, the HiRemote app pairs with VIDAA and Roku models over Wi-Fi and adds a full keypad, voice search, and a keyboard for typing passwords. Install HiRemote, put both devices on one network, and tap your TV when it appears in the list.
No app to install right now? HiRemote also runs a browser remote at hiremote.app/hisense-roku-tv-remote — open it on any phone, no download. For Roku TVs (including TCL and Onn), the official Roku app works the same way. The limit here is scope: a brand app only talks to that brand, so a HiRemote won't drive your bedroom LG.
Method 4: Use a universal remote app (mixed setups)
A universal remote app is one smart tv remote for several TVs from different brands, or an older set the brand apps ignore. Universal IR apps (on phones with a blaster) let you save profiles for each TV; universal Wi-Fi apps discover any DLNA or cast-capable smart TV on the network. Add each device once, name it, and switch between them from a single screen.
Be realistic about universal apps. On the Wi-Fi side they can miss brands with locked-down APIs, and on the IR side they still need your phone to have a blaster. For a single smart TV, the brand's own app is more reliable — reach for a universal app only when juggling a mixed setup. Our universal TV remote app guide walks through the ones worth trying.
IR blaster vs Wi-Fi app: which should you use?
Pick IR if you need to control an old TV or have no Wi-Fi, and pick a brand Wi-Fi app if you own 1 smart TV and an iPhone. The table below sums up the 3 routes at a glance.
| Method | Works on | Phone needs | Powers TV on? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR blaster app | Any TV, incl. old | IR blaster | Yes | Old TVs, no Wi-Fi |
| Brand Wi-Fi app | Brand's smart TVs | Same Wi-Fi | Usually no | 1 smart TV, iPhone |
| Universal app | Several TVs | IR or Wi-Fi | Depends | Mixed brands |
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions people ask most about running a tv remote from a phone.
Can I use my phone as a TV remote without Wi-Fi?
Yes, if your phone has an IR blaster. Infrared works with no internet and no Wi-Fi — it sends the same signal as the physical remote, so it even controls old non-smart TVs. Open the pre-installed Mi Remote or Remote app, add your TV brand, and aim the phone's top edge at the set. Wi-Fi apps, by contrast, need both devices on the same network.
Which phones have an IR blaster in India?
Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco phones are the most common IR-blaster phones sold in India, along with many realme models and some older OnePlus phones. Look for a pre-installed “Mi Remote” or “Remote” app — that's the giveaway. No iPhone has an IR blaster, and most Samsung Galaxy phones never included one, so those use the Wi-Fi route instead.
How do I use my mobile as a TV remote for a smart TV?
Install your TV brand's official app, then put the phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network. Use the Google TV app for Android and Google TVs (Sony, TCL, Mi), SmartThings for Samsung, or LG ThinQ for LG. Open the app, let it find the TV, and enter the pairing code shown on screen. Setting up a tv remote in mobile takes about 2 minutes.
Can an iPhone control a TV?
Yes, an iPhone can control a smart TV over Wi-Fi, but not through infrared — no iPhone has an IR blaster. Download the TV brand's app (SmartThings, LG ThinQ, the Google TV app, HiRemote for Hisense) and pair over the same network. An iPhone cannot control an old non-smart TV, because that needs an IR signal the phone can't send.
Is there a free TV remote app?
Yes, the official brand apps are free — Google TV, SmartThings, LG ThinQ, the Roku app, and HiRemote all cost nothing to download and pair. The built-in Mi Remote and realme Remote apps are free too. Be cautious with unknown third-party “universal remote” apps that push heavy ads or ask for odd permissions; stick to the brand's own app where one exists.
Why won't my phone remote app connect to my TV?
The most common reason is that the phone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks — check that both are on the same 2.4GHz or 5GHz band, not one on a guest network. Also confirm the TV is powered on, the app has local-network permission, and any VPN on the phone is off. Restarting the TV's network settings clears most pairing failures.
Related guides
Keep going with these hands-on walkthroughs for specific apps and brands.
