How to set up and use your iPhone or iPad as an Apple TV remote
- The Apple TV Remote app on iPhone or iPad makes it easy to control and navigate your TV screen if you misplace or don’t want to use your TV’s remote control.
- If this is the first time you’re connecting your iPhone or iPad to Apple TV, you’ll need to confirm a four-digit code displayed on the TV.
- You can find the Apple TV Remote function in the Control Center; if it’s not there, you can add the app from Settings.
While the remote control that comes with your TV is simple and elegant, you might find it more convenient to turn your phone into a remote control instead. There’s an Apple TV remote control built into the Control Center for both the iPhone and iPad.
How to set up Apple TV Remote on an iPhone or iPad
If your iPhone or iPad is running version 13 of the operating system or later, Apple TV Remote should automatically be added to the Control Center. If you’re using an older version — or if you don’t see it there for any reason — you’ll need to start by adding it.
1. On your iPhone or iPad, start the Settings app.
2. Tap Control Center. Check to see if Apple TV Remote is in the Included Controls section of the page. If not, scroll down and find the Apple TV Remote in More Controls. Tap the plus symbol to the left of the remote to add it to Included Controls.
The Apple TV Remote might automatically be in the Control Center, but you can add it manually if necessary.
Dave Johnson
3. Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right of the screen. (If you are using iOS 11 or older, open the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.)
4. Tap the Apple TV Remote button from the collection of buttons at the bottom of the screen.
5. If this is your first time using the remote, you will be asked to select your Apple TV from the list and then enter a four-digit code that’s displayed on the Apple TV screen.
How to use Apple TV Remote on an iPhone or iPad
Once you’ve set up your Apple TV Remote app, you can control your TV from the remote control that came with the Apple TV or using the remote app on your iPhone or iPad. To get to the Apple TV Remote app:
1. Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right of the screen. (If you are using iOS 11 or older, open the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.)
2. Tap the Apple TV Remote button, which you’ll find in the collection of buttons at the bottom of the screen.
Start the Apple TV Remote app from the Control Center.
Dave Johnson
The remote app’s controls are fairly intuitive and, for the most part, mimic the controls on the remote control that comes with the Apple TV. Here are the most important things to keep in mind:
- Choose which Apple TV to control. If you have more than one Apple TV connected to the remote app, you can switch among them by tapping the dropdown menu at the top of the screen. You can choose other devices from the list.
- Access your cable service’s channel guide. If you have a cable TV subscription, you can display the channel guide by tapping the Guide button at the top middle of the screen — it looks like a bulleted list. If you don’t have an active subscription, Apple TV may offer to help you subscribe when you tap the button.
- Use the touchpad to navigate around. The large blank area in the middle of the screen is a touch area for navigating up, down, left, and right as well as tapping to select. It mimics the five-way button on the remote. You can also tap and hold the touchpad to see additional options when an item is selected on screen.
- Extra controls in the touchpad. When a video is playing, you’ll see buttons to go back 10 seconds, go forward 10 seconds, and to enable subtitles.
- Go back to the previous or home screen. Below the touch area, the TV button goes to the Apple TV home screen and the Back button goes back to the previous screen from wherever you are in Apple TV.
- Use the app keyboard to type quickly. When you need to type on screen (such as to search for a title), you can use a keyboard that appears on the app screen to type more quickly.
- Start Siri. Press and hold the Siri button (usually the power button) on your phone or iPad to start Siri for voice commands.
The Apple TV Remote app lets you control your Apple TV from the convenience of your iPhone or iPad.
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he’s also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
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