The Apple TV Remote app turns your iPhone or iPad into a wireless remote for your Apple TV
The Apple TV Remote app is built into iOS and iPadOS — you do not need to read anything. It works on any iPhone or iPad running iOS 12.3 or later, and it controls your Apple TV over your home Wi-Fi network. The app gives you the same controls as the physical Siri Remote: you can navigate menus, play and pause, adjust volume, and use Siri voice commands.
The app works best when your iPhone or iPad is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV. If your device is on a guest network or a different network entirely, the app will not connect. Once paired, the connection is reliable and responds as quickly as the physical remote.
Key Takeaways
- The Apple TV Remote app is free and built into iOS and iPadOS — search your home screen for "Remote" to find it.
- Your iPhone or iPad must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV for the app to work.
- The first time you open the app, hold your device near your Apple TV to pair them; after that, pairing happens automatically when both are on the same network.
- The app includes a keyboard for typing passwords and search terms, which is faster than using the physical remote.
- If the app cannot find your Apple TV, restart both devices and check that they are truly on the same network.
How to find and open the Remote app on your device
On your iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom, depending on your device) to open Control Center. Look for the Remote icon — it looks like a rectangle with three horizontal lines. Tap it, and a list of nearby Apple TVs appears. Tap the name of your Apple TV to connect.
If you do not see the Remote icon in Control Center, open the Settings app, go to Control Center, scroll down to "More Controls," and tap the plus sign next to Remote. This adds it to your Control Center permanently.
You can also find the Remote app on your home screen by searching for it. Swipe down on your home screen, type "Remote," and tap the app when it appears. This opens the full app, which shows the same list of nearby Apple TVs.
Pairing your device with your Apple TV for the first time
The first time you use the Remote app, your iPhone or iPad must be within a few feet of your Apple TV. Open the Remote app or tap the Remote icon in Control Center. A list of nearby Apple TVs appears — tap the one you want to control.
Your Apple TV will display a four-digit code on the screen. Enter this code into your iPhone or iPad when the app prompts you. This confirms that you own both devices and prevents someone else's phone from controlling your TV. After you enter the code, the pairing is complete.
Once paired, you do not need to enter the code again. The next time you open the Remote app on the same network, it connects automatically. If you pair the app on multiple devices in your household, each one remembers the pairing separately.
Using the Remote app to navigate and control playback
The Remote app displays a touchpad at the top, a menu button, a home button, and playback controls below. Swipe on the touchpad to move up, down, left, and right through menus. Tap the touchpad to select. The menu button takes you back one screen, and the home button returns you to the Apple TV home screen.
For video playback, tap the play button to resume, the pause button to stop, and the forward and back buttons to skip. You can also swipe left or right on the touchpad to rewind or fast-forward through a video. The volume buttons at the bottom control your TV's volume.
The app also includes a keyboard. Tap the keyboard icon to type passwords, search terms, or text into apps. This is much faster than using the physical remote to select letters one at a time. When you are done typing, tap the return key or tap outside the keyboard to close it.
Using Siri voice commands through the Remote app
Hold down the microphone button at the bottom of the Remote app and speak your command. You can say things like "Play The Morning Show," "What's on tonight," or "Show me action movies." Release the button when you are done speaking, and Siri processes your request.
Siri voice commands work the same way through the app as they do on the physical Siri Remote. Your Apple TV must have Siri turned on in Settings for this to work. If voice commands are not responding, check that Siri is enabled on your Apple TV and that your iPhone or iPad has a working microphone.
Troubleshooting when the Remote app will not connect
If the Remote app cannot find your Apple TV, first check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and confirm the network name. Then go to Settings on your Apple TV and check that it is connected to the same network. Guest networks and separate bands (2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz) can cause connection problems even though both devices show they are connected.
Restart both devices. Turn off your Apple TV completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then close the Remote app on your iPhone or iPad, wait a few seconds, and open it again. This clears temporary connection issues that prevent pairing.
If the app still cannot find your Apple TV, check that your Apple TV is running the latest tvOS. Go to Settings on your Apple TV, select System, then Software Updates, and install any available updates. Older tvOS versions sometimes have connection bugs that newer versions fix.
Switching between multiple Apple TVs with the Remote app
If you have more than one Apple TV on your home network, the Remote app shows all of them when you open it. Tap the name of the Apple TV you want to control, and the app switches to that device. You do not need to pair again — once a device is paired with your iPhone or iPad, it stays paired.
You can also add multiple Remote controls to your Control Center by opening Control Center, tapping the edit button, and adding the Remote control multiple times. Each instance can be set to a different Apple TV, so you can switch between them without opening the full app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Remote app if my iPhone is on a different Wi-Fi network than my Apple TV?
No. The Remote app only works when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your iPhone is on a guest network or a different network, the app will not see your Apple TV. Connect your iPhone to the same network as your Apple TV, and the app will find it again.
What if I lost my physical Siri Remote — can I use only the app?
Yes. The Remote app has all the controls of the physical remote, including navigation, playback, volume, and Siri voice commands. You can use the app as your only remote if you prefer, though you will need the physical remote to set up a new Apple TV or to pair a new device for the first time.
Does the Remote app work over the internet when I am away from home?
No. The Remote app only works on your home Wi-Fi network. If you are away from home, you cannot control your Apple TV with the app. You would need to be connected to your home network through a VPN to use the app remotely, but this is not a standard feature and requires additional setup.
Can multiple people use the Remote app on different iPhones to control the same Apple TV?
Yes. Each iPhone or iPad can be paired with the same Apple TV separately. When multiple devices are paired, they all control the same Apple TV. There is no limit to how many devices can be paired, though only one remote can send a command at a time.
Why does the Remote app sometimes disconnect and reconnect?
Wi-Fi interference or a weak signal can cause the app to drop and reconnect. Move closer to your Apple TV or router, or check that no other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. If disconnections happen often, restart your router and your Apple TV, and make sure your iPhone or iPad is running the latest iOS version.