The quickest way to stop your iPhone from controlling your Apple TV
Your iPhone acts as a remote for Apple TV through a feature called AirPlay and HomeKit. To stop this, open the Control Center on your iPhone (swipe down from the top right on newer models, or up from the bottom on older ones), find the Apple TV or AirPlay icon, and tap it to disconnect. If you want to disable the feature entirely so your iPhone never acts as a remote, you need to turn off AirPlay in your iPhone's settings.
The permanent solution is faster than you might think. Go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit > toggle off AirPlay Receiver. This stops your iPhone from being discoverable as a remote device. Your Apple TV remote app will still work if you open it directly, but your iPhone won't automatically show up as a control option.
Key Takeaways
- Use Control Center to quickly disconnect your iPhone from Apple TV without changing any settings.
- Turn off AirPlay Receiver in Settings to prevent your iPhone from being used as a remote at all.
- Disabling AirPlay Receiver does not delete the Apple TV Remote app — you can still open it manually if needed.
- If you share your home with others, turning off AirPlay Receiver on your device only affects your iPhone, not theirs.
Disconnect using Control Center (temporary)
Control Center is the fastest way to stop your iPhone from controlling your Apple TV right now. On iPhone X and newer, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen. On iPhone 8 and earlier, swipe up from the bottom. Look for the Apple TV icon or an AirPlay icon that shows a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom.
Tap that icon. You will see a list of nearby Apple TV devices. Tap the one you want to disconnect from, or tap Stop Mirroring if your screen is being mirrored. Your iPhone will no longer send commands to that Apple TV. The next time you open Control Center, the icon will still be there — this method disconnects you temporarily, not permanently.
Turn off AirPlay Receiver in Settings (permanent)
If you do not want your iPhone to act as a remote at all, disable AirPlay Receiver. Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll down to find AirPlay and HomeKit. Tap it, then look for the toggle next to AirPlay Receiver and turn it off.
Once AirPlay Receiver is off, your iPhone will not show up as a control option on your Apple TV or on other people's devices. You can still open the Apple TV Remote app directly from your home screen if you need to control your TV later — turning off AirPlay Receiver does not delete the app or prevent you from using it manually.
What happens when you disable AirPlay Receiver
Turning off AirPlay Receiver stops your iPhone from being visible to your Apple TV as a remote device. It also prevents other people in your home from using your iPhone to control shared Apple TV devices. Your iPhone will no longer appear in the list of available remotes on your TV.
The Apple TV Remote app stays on your phone. If you want to control your TV later, you can open the app directly and it will work normally. Disabling AirPlay Receiver is a setting that only affects your iPhone — it does not change anything on your Apple TV or on other family members' devices.
Re-enable AirPlay Receiver if you change your mind
Go back to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit and toggle AirPlay Receiver back on. Your iPhone will be discoverable as a remote again within a few seconds. You do not need to restart your phone or your Apple TV.
If you are on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV, the connection should happen automatically. If your iPhone and Apple TV are on different networks, you may need to reconnect them manually through your Apple TV settings.
Why your iPhone might be controlling your Apple TV without you asking
By default, AirPlay Receiver is turned on in iOS. This means any iPhone, iPad, or Mac on the same Wi-Fi network can potentially use your device as a remote. If you share your home network with family, roommates, or guests, they may see your iPhone as an option when they try to control the TV.
Turning off AirPlay Receiver prevents this. You can also check who has access to your HomeKit setup by going to Settings > Home and reviewing the people invited to your home. Removing someone from your home will prevent them from using your devices as remotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off AirPlay Receiver delete the Apple TV Remote app?
No. The app stays on your phone. Turning off AirPlay Receiver only prevents your iPhone from being discovered as a remote by your Apple TV. You can still open the app and use it to control your TV manually.
Can I turn off AirPlay Receiver on just one device?
Yes. The setting is per device. If you turn it off on your iPhone, it stays off only on that iPhone. Other family members' iPhones will still be able to act as remotes unless they turn off AirPlay Receiver on their own devices.
What if my Apple TV Remote app stops working after I disable AirPlay Receiver?
Make sure both your iPhone and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open the app, wait a few seconds, and try again. If it still does not work, restart your iPhone and your Apple TV, then check that AirPlay Receiver is still off in Settings.
Does turning off AirPlay Receiver affect screen mirroring?
No. AirPlay Receiver controls remote functionality only. Screen mirroring uses a different setting. You can turn off AirPlay Receiver and still mirror your iPhone screen to your Apple TV if you want to.