The basics: buttons and what they do

The Apple TV remote has five main controls you'll use every day. At the top is the touchpad—a flat, clickable surface where you swipe to move around menus and press to select. Below that are four buttons: Menu (top left, takes you back one screen), TV/Control Center (top right, controls your TV's volume and power), Play/Pause (center bottom), and Siri (bottom, the microphone button for voice commands).

The touchpad is the remote's main tool. Swipe up, down, left, or right to highlight what you want. Press down on the touchpad to select it. You don't need to click hard—a firm tap works. If you're used to older remotes with arrow buttons and an OK button, the touchpad takes a few minutes to feel natural, but it's faster once you get the rhythm.

The Menu button works like a back arrow in an app. Press it once to go back to the previous screen, press it again to go back further. Holding Menu for a few seconds takes you all the way to the home screen from anywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • The touchpad at the top of the remote is how you navigate menus—swipe to move, press to select.
  • The Menu button takes you back one screen; hold it for a few seconds to jump to the home screen.
  • The Play/Pause button controls video playback, and the Siri button lets you search or control your TV by voice.
  • The TV/Control Center button controls your television's volume and power without switching remotes.
  • If the remote stops responding, unpair it from your Apple TV and pair it again through Settings.

Navigating menus and apps

Start by swiping on the touchpad. Swipe up to scroll down through a list, swipe down to scroll up, swipe left to go left, and swipe right to go right. The direction feels backwards at first—think of it as moving the content, not your finger. Once you've highlighted what you want (it will be highlighted in color), press the touchpad to open it.

Most apps work the same way. Open an app by pressing the touchpad when it's highlighted on the home screen. Inside the app, swipe to move between options and press to select. If you get lost, press Menu to go back to the previous screen. If you want to close an app entirely, press Menu repeatedly until you're back at the home screen, or hold Menu for a few seconds to jump there directly.

The home screen itself is organized in rows. Swipe up and down to move between rows, swipe left and right to move between apps within a row. Your most-used apps appear at the top. You can rearrange them by pressing and holding the touchpad on any app, then swiping to move it to a new spot.

Playing and controlling video

When you're watching a show or movie, the Play/Pause button does what its name says—press it once to pause, press again to play. While a video is paused, swipe left on the touchpad to rewind 10 seconds, or swipe right to skip forward 10 seconds. Press and hold left or right to rewind or fast-forward continuously.

If you want to jump to a specific time, swipe down on the touchpad while a video is playing. A timeline will appear at the bottom of the screen showing how far through the video you are. Swipe left or right on that timeline to move to a different spot, then press the touchpad to jump there.

To see playback controls (play, pause, volume, subtitles), swipe down on the touchpad while watching. The controls appear at the bottom. Swipe down again to hide them. Most streaming apps also let you adjust subtitles, audio language, and picture settings from this menu.

Using Siri voice commands

Press and hold the Siri button (the microphone at the bottom of the remote) and speak what you want. You can search for a show by name: "Show me Ted Lasso." You can ask for a category: "Show me action movies." You can control playback: "Skip ahead" or "Rewind." You can even control your smart home if you have HomeKit devices set up: "Turn off the lights" or "Set the temperature to 72."

Siri also works across apps. If you're in the Apple TV app and you ask "Show me The Office," Siri will search across all your streaming services to find where it's available. Release the button when you're done speaking—Siri will process your command and show results on screen.

If Siri isn't finding what you're looking for, try being more specific. Instead of "Show me comedies," try "Show me comedies on Netflix" or "Show me comedies from 2020." The more details you give, the better Siri understands.

Controlling your TV with the remote

The TV/Control Center button (top right) lets you control your television without switching remotes. Press it once to see volume and power controls on screen. Swipe up on the touchpad to turn the volume up, swipe down to turn it down. Press the TV/Control Center button again to turn your TV on or off.

For this to work, your Apple TV needs to know what TV you have. When you first set up your Apple TV, it asks what television brand you own (Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, and others). If you didn't set this up or you changed your TV, go to Settings on your Apple TV, choose Remotes and Devices, then Remote, and select your TV brand. The remote will then learn your TV's infrared codes and control it.

If the remote isn't controlling your TV's volume or power, make sure your Apple TV can see your television. The remote uses infrared, so there should be a clear line of sight between the remote and your TV. If your TV is in a cabinet or the remote is pointed at an angle, it may not work. Also check that you've selected the correct TV brand in Settings.

Pairing and troubleshooting the remote

Your Apple TV remote pairs automatically when you first set up your Apple TV. If the remote stops working or you're using a new remote, you'll need to pair it manually. Hold the remote close to your Apple TV (within a few inches) and press and hold both the Menu button and the TV/Control Center button together for about 5 seconds. A pairing screen will appear on your TV. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete pairing.

If the remote is sluggish or unresponsive, try unpairing it and pairing it again. Go to Settings on your Apple TV, choose Remotes and Devices, then Remote. Select your remote from the list and choose Forget This Remote. Then pair it again using the steps above. This usually fixes lag or connection problems.

If the touchpad isn't responding to swipes, make sure your finger is on the flat surface at the top of the remote, not on the buttons below. The touchpad is sensitive and works best with a light touch. If it still doesn't work after cleaning the surface, the remote may need to be replaced—contact Apple Support for options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my iPhone or iPad as a remote instead?

Yes. Open the Control Center on your iPhone or iPad (swipe down from the top right on newer models, or up from the bottom on older ones) and tap the Apple TV Remote icon. You can then use your device's screen as a touchpad. This works over Wi-Fi and is useful if you can't find the physical remote.

Why does the remote control my TV's volume but not turn it on and off?

Your Apple TV may not have learned your TV's power code. Go to Settings, choose Remotes and Devices, then Remote, and select your TV brand again. If your TV brand isn't listed, try a similar brand or a universal code. Some older TVs don't respond to infrared control at all.

What do I do if the touchpad clicks but nothing happens?

First, unpair and re-pair the remote as described in the troubleshooting section. If that doesn't work, restart your Apple TV by going to Settings, System, and Restart. If the remote still doesn't work after restarting, the remote itself may be faulty and may need replacement.

Can I use a third-party remote with Apple TV?

Yes, many universal remotes work with Apple TV, though they may not support all features like Siri voice commands. Check the remote's documentation to see if it lists Apple TV compatibility. The official Apple TV remote gives you the full experience, including voice search and HomeKit control.

How do I adjust subtitle settings or audio language while watching?

Swipe down on the touchpad while a video is playing to bring up the control menu. Look for an audio or subtitle icon (usually at the bottom of the menu) and press it. You'll see options for different languages and subtitle tracks. Select the one you want and press the touchpad to explore it.