Is There a Universal Remote Website That Works for Any TV?

We build and run one of the few working examples: a browser-based Roku remote. It only works on Roku-powered TVs, because Roku is the one platform that publishes an open network protocol a browser can reach. VIDAA and Android TV models don't expose that same protocol, so a website remote can't connect to them at all.

The 30-Second Test: Is Your TV a Roku TV?

Press Home on your current remote, or turn on the TV and look at the home screen. A Roku TV shows purple-and-pink app tiles in a grid, with a featured-channel banner across the top. If that matches your screen, skip to Method 1 below.

If you see something else, a website remote won't connect. That covers a Discover bar across the bottom (VIDAA), horizontal recommendation rows (Google TV), or an Amazon-style Continue Watching row (Fire TV Edition). In that case, skip to Method 2 or Method 3.

Already know which platform you have? If it's a Roku TV, HiRemote's free browser-based Roku remote works with no install. See our guide to using a Roku remote online. If it's a Hisense running VIDAA or Android TV instead, the free HiRemote app for iPhone covers both platforms over Wi-Fi.

Method 1: Use a Browser-Based Universal Remote Website (Roku TVs Only)

Roku publishes a control protocol called ECP that runs over plain HTTP. Any device on the same Wi-Fi network, including a browser, can send commands straight to a Roku TV. That's what makes a true remote website possible. No app, no download, no account.

To use one, type your Roku TV's IP address into the on-screen widget. You'll find that address under Settings → Network → About on the TV itself. Once it's entered, the buttons start working right away.

This method covers every Roku-powered set, not just Hisense. Hisense Roku TV (R6, R7, R8, R9), TCL Roku TV, Insignia Roku TV, and Onn Roku TV all run the same underlying OS. If your TV isn't on this list, move to Method 2. The same applies if it runs VIDAA, Android TV, Google TV, or Fire TV Edition. Those platforms don't expose ECP, so a website can't reach them.

Method 2: Install a Free Remote App for Your TV's Platform

When a website can't reach your TV, an app usually can. Most TV platforms expose their control protocol to apps, not to open websites, so this is the fallback that works across brands.

For Hisense TVs specifically, HiRemote is a free iPhone and iPad app built for this exact gap. It covers VIDAA (U6, U7, U8, U9 series), Android TV (A6, A7, H8, H9, H10 series), and Hisense's Roku TV models. All three run over the same home Wi-Fi network your original remote would use. Setup takes three steps. Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi. Open the app and pick your Hisense model from the list. Then follow the on-screen pairing prompts.

For other brands, search the manufacturer's name plus remote app in the App Store or Play Store. Samsung, LG, Vizio, TCL, and Sony each publish their own companion app. For a TV that isn't Hisense, that official app is usually the most reliable option.

Method 3: Use HDMI-CEC Through a Connected Streaming Device

If a Roku, Apple TV, or other streaming device is already plugged into your TV, its remote can often control the TV too. This works through HDMI-CEC, a standard that lets one HDMI device send power and volume commands to another over the same cable.

Turn on HDMI-CEC in the streaming device's settings, then test the TV's power and volume buttons on that remote. If they respond, you've replaced your TV remote without buying anything. This method only controls power, volume, and input switching. It won't open the TV's own menus or built-in apps, since those run on the TV's software, not the streaming device's.

Method 4: Program a Physical Universal Remote With a Code

A universal remote bought at any electronics store can control most TVs through infrared signals, the same way the original remote does. Each brand has its own set of codes, so you enter a code for your TV's brand during setup.

If you don't have the code, most universal remotes include an auto-search mode. Hold the TV's power button on the remote, and it cycles through stored codes until the TV responds. Our guide on programming a universal remote without a code covers this process for the main remote brands. Our list of universal remote codes for Hisense TVs has the specific 3-, 4-, and 5-digit codes if you already know your TV's brand.

The tradeoff: a physical universal remote only sends the same button-press commands the original remote did. It can't add a keyboard for typing streaming passwords, and it won't launch an app with one tap the way a phone-based remote can.

Universal Remote Website vs. App vs. Physical Remote

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a universal remote website that works on any TV?

No — browser-based remote websites currently work only on Roku-powered TVs, because Roku's control protocol runs over open HTTP that any browser can reach. VIDAA, Android TV, Google TV, and Fire TV Edition models don't expose that same protocol to a browser. They need a remote app or a physical universal remote instead.

What's the difference between a universal remote website and a universal remote app?

A remote website runs in a browser and needs no install. It only works where the TV's control protocol is open to the network, which today means Roku TVs. A remote app installs on your phone and supports more TV platforms, including VIDAA and Android TV. It works because it talks to the TV's protocol directly, instead of through a browser.

Can I use a universal remote website for a Hisense TV?

Yes, but only if that Hisense TV runs Roku TV — Hisense's R6, R7, R8, and R9 series. A Hisense TV running VIDAA or Android TV won't respond to a browser-based remote. For those, the free HiRemote app pairs over Wi-Fi in about 30 seconds instead.

Do universal remote websites need Wi-Fi to work?

Yes. A browser-based remote sends commands over your home network. Both the TV and the device running the browser need to be on the same Wi-Fi. There's no Bluetooth or infrared version of a website remote, since a browser can't access either one on most devices.

How do I program a universal remote without the original code?

Most universal remotes have an auto-search or code-search mode. Hold the power button down, and it cycles through stored codes until the TV turns off, confirming the match. Our step-by-step guide to programming a universal remote without a code walks through this for the most common remote brands.

Related Guides

• Universal Remote Control: How to Set One Up for Any TV (2026)
• Universal TV Remote App: How to Control Any TV From Your Phone
• How to Program a Universal Remote Without a Code
• Universal Remote Codes for Hisense TV (3, 4, and 5-Digit by Brand)
• How to Use a Roku Remote Online (No App, Works in Your Browser)