The Apple TV Remote Has Two Sides—Learn Which Button Does What
The Apple TV remote has a touch surface at the top that you swipe and tap to navigate, and physical buttons below it for power, menu, and playback. The touch surface is the main way you move through menus and select shows—swiping up, down, left, and right moves the highlight around the screen, and tapping in the center selects what you want. Below the touch surface sit the Menu button (shaped like three horizontal lines), the TV button (for switching inputs), the Siri button (microphone icon), and the play/pause button at the very bottom.
The remote works by sending signals to your Apple TV box, so you do not need to point it at the screen the way you would an older remote. You can hold it in your lap or at your side. The touch surface is sensitive enough that light touches work better than pressing hard—if your remote feels unresponsive, the battery may be low, or you may be pressing too firmly.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up, down, left, and right on the touch surface to move the highlight through menus, and tap the center to select.
- The Menu button takes you back one level in the menu structure, and pressing it repeatedly returns you to the home screen.
- Hold down the Siri button and speak to search for shows, control playback, or ask questions without typing.
- The play/pause button controls video playback, and swiping left or right during a show skips backward or forward in 10-second increments.
- Charge your remote using the USB-C port on the bottom; a low battery causes lag and unresponsive touch.
Navigating Menus With the Touch Surface
The touch surface at the top of the remote is your main navigation tool. Swipe your thumb upward to move the highlight up the menu, downward to move it down, leftward to move it left, and rightward to move it right. The highlight (usually a white or colored box) shows you which item is selected. Move slowly and deliberately—quick jerky swipes can overshoot the item you want.
Once the highlight is on the item you want, tap the center of the touch surface to select it. This opens the show, movie, or menu option. If you tap the touch surface without swiping first, nothing happens—you must swipe to move the highlight before you can select. Many people tap repeatedly thinking the remote is broken; swiping first solves this.
The touch surface also works for scrolling within a list. If you are looking at a long list of shows, swipe up or down to scroll through them. The scrolling speed depends on how fast you swipe—a slow swipe scrolls slowly, and a faster swipe scrolls faster. This takes practice to control smoothly.
Using the Menu Button to Go Back
The Menu button (three horizontal lines) takes you back one level in the menu structure. If you are watching a show and press Menu, you return to the show's detail page. Press Menu again, and you go back to the category or search results you came from. Press it a third time, and you reach the home screen.
Pressing and holding the Menu button does not do anything special—a single press is all you need. If you want to return to the home screen quickly, press Menu repeatedly until you see the home screen, or press the TV button and then the Menu button to jump directly home.
Playing, Pausing, and Skipping With Playback Controls
The play/pause button at the bottom of the remote controls video playback. Press it once to pause a show or movie, and press it again to resume playing. You do not need to hold it down—a single tap is enough.
To skip forward or backward during playback, swipe left or right on the touch surface. Swiping right skips forward 10 seconds, and swiping left skips backward 10 seconds. Each swipe moves 10 seconds, so swiping right three times skips forward 30 seconds. This is faster than using the play/pause button to rewind or fast-forward manually.
If you want to jump to a specific point in a show, swipe down on the touch surface during playback to bring up the timeline scrubber. A bar appears at the bottom showing the total length of the episode and where you are in it. Swipe left or right to move through the timeline, then tap the center to jump to that point.
Using Siri to Search and Control Playback
The Siri button is the microphone icon on the remote. Hold it down and speak to search for shows, control playback, or ask questions. You do not need to say "Hey Siri"—just hold the button and start talking. Release the button when you finish speaking.
Siri can find shows by title ("Show me The Office"), search by actor or director ("Find shows with Meryl Streep"), control playback ("Pause" or "Skip forward"), adjust volume ("Turn up the volume"), or answer general questions ("What is the weather?"). Speak clearly and naturally—Siri works better with complete sentences than with single words.
If Siri does not understand you, it will ask you to repeat. Speak again, holding the button down. If it still does not work, try rephrasing your request or use the touch surface to navigate and search manually instead.
The TV Button and Power Control
The TV button (shaped like a television) switches your display input to the Apple TV. Press it once, and your TV should show the Apple TV screen. If it does not, your TV may not support this feature, or the Apple TV may not be set up to control your TV's input. This button is useful if your TV is on a different input and you want to switch back to Apple TV without using your TV remote.
To turn off the Apple TV, press and hold the power button on the remote (the button at the very top of the device, above the touch surface). A menu appears asking if you want to sleep or shut down. Tap the center of the touch surface to select Sleep, which puts the Apple TV into a low-power state. Shut Down completely powers it off. If you just want to turn off your TV, use your TV remote instead—the Apple TV remote does not control TV power directly.
Charging Your Remote and Fixing Common Problems
The Apple TV remote charges via USB-C, which is located on the bottom edge of the remote. Connect a USB-C cable to the port and plug the other end into a power adapter or your computer. A full charge takes about two hours. The remote does not have a battery indicator on the screen, but if it feels sluggish or the touch surface becomes unresponsive, the battery is low and needs charging.
If your remote stops responding entirely, try charging it for at least 30 minutes. If it still does not work, restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. If the remote still does not respond after the restart, you may need to pair it again by holding the Menu and TV buttons together for about five seconds until a pairing message appears on your screen.
If the touch surface is unresponsive in one area, try cleaning it gently with a soft, dry cloth. Dust or moisture can interfere with the touch sensitivity. Avoid using water or cleaning liquids, which can damage the remote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my remote feel laggy or unresponsive?
The most common cause is a low battery. Charge your remote using the USB-C port on the bottom for at least two hours. If it is still slow after charging, restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds. If the problem continues, try pairing the remote again by holding Menu and TV together for five seconds.
How do I search for a specific show without using Siri?
Swipe down on the touch surface from the home screen to reach the search option. Tap the center to open the search box, then swipe up and down to select letters and spell the show title. This is slower than using Siri, but it works if voice search is not available or you prefer typing.
Can I use my Apple TV remote to control my TV volume?
Some TVs support this if your Apple TV is set up to control your TV. Press the TV button on the remote, and if your TV responds, you can use the touch surface to adjust volume. If your TV does not respond, use your TV remote instead—not all TVs are compatible with Apple TV remote control.
What do I do if my remote gets wet?
Stop using it when ready and let it dry completely for at least 24 hours in a warm, dry place. Do not try to charge it or use it while wet, as this can damage the electronics. After it has dried, try charging it normally. If it still does not work, the internal components may be damaged and the remote may need to be replaced.
Is there a way to control the remote with my iPhone instead?
Yes. Open the Control Center on your iPhone (swipe down from the top right), tap the Apple TV Remote icon, and you can use your phone as a remote. This works over Wi-Fi and is useful if you cannot find the physical remote, though the physical remote is faster for everyday use.