How to Use Your Phone as a TV Remote

The 30-second test: dead remote or just dead batteries?

Point your phone's camera at the front of the old remote and press any button. If a small light blinks in the camera preview, the remote still sends signals — swap in two fresh, same-date batteries. If there's no light at all, the remote is dead, and a phone app is your fastest fix. The test takes longer to read than to do.

Method 1: Use your phone as the remote over Wi-Fi

This is the closest thing to your original remote. For a Hisense TV, HiRemote turns your iPhone or iPad into a full replacement over your home Wi-Fi.

• Download the app and put your phone on the same Wi-Fi as the TV.
• Open it and pick your model — VIDAA U6/U7/U8, Android TV A6/A7/H8/H9/H10, or a Roku R-series set.
• On the TV, allow app control: Home → Settings → Network → Mobile Phone Remote Control → toggle ON. On most VIDAA builds it's on by default.
• Follow the pairing prompt. You now have the D-pad, volume, a full keyboard, and app shortcuts.

Honest caveat: the phone and TV must share the same local Wi-Fi. Guest networks and work VLANs won't see the TV. Very old VIDAA 3.0 builds never exposed the network control API — those still need the original remote. If you're unsure of your model's software, check Hisense's official support site.

Method 2: Control a Roku-powered Hisense from your browser

Hisense R-series TVs run Roku, and Roku publishes a control protocol that works over plain Wi-Fi. That means you don't even need an app.

• On the TV, find the IP address: Settings → Network → About.
• Open the browser remote and type that IP in.
• The on-screen buttons start working in about 30 seconds — no install, no Roku account.

This only works on Roku-powered sets — Hisense R6, R7, R8, and R9, plus TCL, Insignia, and Onn. VIDAA, Google TV, and Fire TV Edition can't be driven from a browser the same way. Roku documents the pairing steps on Roku's official support.

Method 3: Use the TV's own buttons

Every Hisense TV has at least one physical button on the set itself. It's free and needs nothing else. On most models the button sits under the front-center of the panel or on the back-right corner.

A single press powers the TV on or off. On sets with just one button, hold it to open a small on-screen menu, then short-press to move through Source, Volume, and Channel. It's clumsy for typing, but it gets a dark TV back on so you can set up a phone app.

Method 4: Control it through a streaming device (HDMI-CEC)

If you have a Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or game console plugged in, HDMI-CEC lets one remote run both devices.

• Turn CEC on: Home → Settings → System → HDMI-CEC. Hisense sometimes labels it "HDMI Control."
• Match the setting on the connected device — Apple TV calls it "Control TVs and Receivers."
• Now the streaming remote powers the TV and changes its volume.

Caveat: CEC handles power and volume, not deep menu navigation. And you need the TV on once — with a working remote or the physical button — to flip the setting the first time.

Method 5: Program a universal IR remote

A cheap universal remote from any electronics store can drive a Hisense TV once you enter the right code.

• Grab a universal remote (GE, Philips, and RCA models are common).
• Put it in setup mode and enter a Hisense TV code from the booklet.
• Test power and volume; if they don't respond, try the next code on the list.

This is the only method here that needs no Wi-Fi and no phone. The trade-off: universal remotes rarely reach smart-menu features like app shortcuts or the VIDAA Free channel hub. Note that iPhones have no infrared blaster, so your phone can't replace an IR remote directly — it controls the TV over Wi-Fi instead.

Which method should you pick?

Method	Cost	Needs Wi-Fi	Setup speed	Menu control
Phone app (HiRemote)	Free	Yes	~30 seconds	Full
Browser remote (Roku TVs)	Free	Yes	~30 seconds	Most keys
TV's own buttons	Free	No	Instant	Basic only
HDMI-CEC device	Existing gear	No	~2 minutes	Power + volume
Universal IR remote	Cheap	No	~5 minutes	Basic + power

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I control my Hisense TV without the remote?

Use a free iPhone app over Wi-Fi — it's the fastest full replacement. Open the app, pick your model, and enable Home → Settings → Network → Mobile Phone Remote Control on the TV. If your set is a Roku-powered R-series, a browser remote works with no install. In a pinch, the physical button under the panel powers the TV on.

Is there a free TV remote app for iPhone?

Yes — several free apps turn an iPhone into a TV remote, and they're brand-specific. For Hisense, HiRemote is free to download and pairs over Wi-Fi without an account. Hisense also makes its own free app, RemoteNOW, though it asks you to create an account first. Pick the app that matches your TV brand.

How do I connect my phone to my Hisense TV?

Put your phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network first. On the TV, go to Home → Settings → Network → Wi-Fi and connect. Then open your remote app, select your Hisense model, and follow the pairing prompt. Guest Wi-Fi and work networks often block this, so stick to your normal home network.

Why won't my TV remote work?

Dead or mismatched batteries are the most common cause — replace both with fresh, same-date cells. Test the old remote by pointing your phone camera at it and pressing a button; no light in the preview means it's dead. Bluetooth voice remotes on newer Hisense sets re-pair when you hold Home + Back for five seconds.

Can I use my phone as a TV remote without Wi-Fi?

No — phone remote apps for Hisense need the same local Wi-Fi as the TV, because they use the TV's network control protocol. Without Wi-Fi, your options are the TV's physical button, HDMI-CEC from a connected streaming device, or a universal IR remote. iPhones have no infrared blaster, so they can't send IR signals on their own.

Does the remote app work on Hisense Android TV models?

Yes — HiRemote supports Hisense Android TV sets, including the A6, A7, H8, H9, and H10 series on Android TV 9.0 or newer. Pairing matches the VIDAA steps: same Wi-Fi, pick the model, enable mobile control on the TV. The app also covers VIDAA U-series and Roku R-series Hisense TVs.

Related guides

• Which Hisense TV do you have? — tell VIDAA, Roku, Google TV, and Fire TV apart.
• Hisense VIDAA U remote guide — full pairing steps for VIDAA sets.
• Roku remote online — control a Roku-powered Hisense from your browser.
• Hisense Fire TV remote — for Fire TV Edition models.
• Hisense TV quick answers — short answers to 15 common questions.