Table of contents(14)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Control a smart TV over Wi-Fi
- 03Method 2: Use your phone's IR blaster (Android only)
- 04Method 3: Add an IR dongle to an iPhone
- 05Method 4: Use the TV maker's own app
- 06Method 5: Use a browser-based remote (no install)
- 07Which universal remote method should you use?
- 08Frequently Asked Questions
- 09Do universal TV remote apps really work?
- 10Does the iPhone have an IR blaster for a universal remote?
- 11What is the best free universal TV remote app?
- 12Can one app control every TV in my house?
- 13Why won't my universal remote app find my TV?
- 14Related guides
A universal TV remote app turns your phone into a remote for most modern TVs. Wi-Fi apps control smart TVs like Roku, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and Fire TV over your home network. IR apps need a phone with an infrared blaster, which iPhones don't have. Match the method to your TV and phone.
I test remote apps on a shelf of mismatched TVs — a TCL Roku TV, a Samsung TU7000, and an older Hisense U6G. On my iPhone 15, only the Wi-Fi apps worked, because iPhones have no infrared. My partner's Xiaomi Redmi phone controlled all three over IR, even the dumb bedroom set. That gap is the whole story here.
The 30-second test
Two quick checks tell you which method you need. They take under a minute, and they save you from downloading an app that can't talk to your TV.
- Is your TV a smart TV on Wi-Fi? If it streams Netflix on its own, a Wi-Fi app will control it.
- Does your phone have an IR blaster? iPhones never do. Some Android phones (many Xiaomi models, older Samsung Galaxy) do — look for a tiny black dot on the top edge.
Smart TV plus any phone: use a Wi-Fi app. Old TV plus an IR phone: use an IR app. iPhone plus an old TV: you'll need a small dongle. Everything below follows that split.
Got a Hisense TV and want to skip the guesswork? The HiRemote app pairs over Wi-Fi with VIDAA and Roku models — no infrared hardware, no brand codes. On a Hisense Roku set you can also open the browser remote and control the TV straight from a phone tab, with nothing to install.
Method 1: Control a smart TV over Wi-Fi
This is the method most people actually want. If your TV runs apps by itself, your phone can control it over the same network. No line of sight needed, so it works from the sofa or the next room.
- Put your phone on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV — not the guest network.
- Install a Wi-Fi TV remote app that supports your brand.
- Open it and let it scan. Your TV shows up by name (like "Living Room TV").
- Tap the TV, then confirm the pairing code that appears on the screen.
When it won't work: some routers isolate the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, so the phone and TV can't see each other. Move both to the same band. A few TVs also hide a "mobile app control" toggle in Settings > Network or Settings > System — turn it on.
Method 2: Use your phone's IR blaster (Android only)
An IR app copies a real infrared remote. It works on almost any TV, including old non-smart sets, but only if your phone has the infrared hardware. This is the one iPhone owners keep getting burned by.
- Open your phone's IR remote app (many Xiaomi phones ship with "Mi Remote").
- Pick your TV brand from the list.
- Point the top edge of the phone at the TV and press power to test.
- If nothing happens, try the next code set for your brand.
When it won't work: you need direct line of sight, just like a normal remote. And if your phone has no IR blaster, no app can add one in software — a common myth. iPhones are out here; so are most 2021-and-newer flagship Androids.
Method 3: Add an IR dongle to an iPhone
If you own an iPhone and an old TV, a plug-in IR dongle is the honest fix. It's extra hardware, but it's the only way to get infrared out of a phone that lacks it.
- Buy an IR blaster dongle that fits your phone's port (Lightning or USB-C).
- Install the app the dongle maker recommends.
- Pick your TV brand and point the dongle at the set.
When it won't work: dongle quality varies a lot, and some cheap ones have a weak range. Check that the app is still updated before you buy.
Fighting a flaky universal app on a Hisense TV? HiRemote talks to VIDAA and Hisense Roku models directly over your network, so there's no code-matching and no dongle. Rather not install anything? The Hisense Roku browser remote loads in Safari or Chrome in seconds.
Method 4: Use the TV maker's own app
Every big brand ships its own remote app. These are free and reliable because the maker built them for that exact TV. The catch: each one controls only that brand.
- Roku TVs: the official Roku mobile app.
- Samsung: the SmartThings app.
- LG: the LG ThinQ app.
- Hisense: RemoteNOW for VIDAA sets, the Roku app for Hisense Roku sets, or Google Home for Google TV sets. Third-party apps like HiRemote cover Hisense too — see the Hisense remote app guide.
- Fire TV: the Amazon Fire TV app.
When it won't work: some apps make you sign into a brand account first. And a maker's app won't touch another brand's TV, so a mixed-brand house means several apps — the reason people search for one universal option.
Method 5: Use a browser-based remote (no install)
Sometimes you can't install anything — a work phone, a borrowed tablet, low storage. A browser remote runs in a web page instead. You open a link, it connects over Wi-Fi, and you control the TV from the tab.
- Open the browser remote page on a phone on the same Wi-Fi.
- Let it find the TV and confirm any on-screen code.
- Use the on-page buttons like a normal remote.
When it won't work: browser remotes only reach smart TVs on your network, not old IR-only sets. For Hisense Roku models, the browser remote is the fastest no-install route.
Which universal remote method should you use?
| Method | Works on | You need | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi app | Smart TVs (Roku, Samsung, LG, Hisense, Fire TV) | TV and phone on same Wi-Fi | Free |
| Phone IR blaster | Almost any TV, including old ones | Android phone with infrared | Free |
| IR dongle | Almost any TV | iPhone or phone + plug-in dongle | Small one-off cost |
| Maker's own app | That one brand's smart TVs | Brand account, same Wi-Fi | Free |
| Browser remote | Hisense Roku and Roku TVs | Same Wi-Fi, any browser | Free |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do universal TV remote apps really work?
Yes, but only when the method matches your setup. Wi-Fi apps genuinely control smart TVs on your network, and IR apps control almost any TV — if your phone has an infrared blaster. The apps that fail are IR-style apps on phones with no IR hardware, which describes every iPhone.
Does the iPhone have an IR blaster for a universal remote?
No. No iPhone has ever included an infrared blaster, so IR-only remote apps can't work on it. To control a smart TV, use a Wi-Fi app on the same network. To control an old non-smart TV, you'll need a plug-in IR dongle. There's no software workaround for missing hardware.
What is the best free universal TV remote app?
The best free option is usually the app made for your TV brand, because it's built for that exact model. For a mixed-brand house, a Wi-Fi app that supports several brands is the closest to truly universal. See our free TV remote app guide for the honest trade-offs.
Can one app control every TV in my house?
Rarely all of them. One Wi-Fi app can often control several smart TV brands at once. But a maker's own app controls only its brand, and no Wi-Fi app can reach an old IR-only TV. Mixed setups usually need one Wi-Fi app plus an IR option for the old sets.
Why won't my universal remote app find my TV?
Almost always, the phone and TV are on different networks. Put both on the same Wi-Fi band and turn off any guest network. Also check for a "mobile control" or "external device" toggle in the TV's network settings. If it's an IR app, remember it needs line of sight, not Wi-Fi.
