The physical Siri Remote included with the Apple TV is notorious for slipping between couch cushions or getting temporarily misplaced. Fortunately, Apple has built a fully functional digital equivalent directly into iOS. By setting up the Apple TV Remote on your iPhone, you can navigate the interface, type passwords effortlessly, and use Siri without ever needing the physical remote.
Requirements for the iPhone Apple TV Remote
Before you begin, ensure that your iPhone and your Apple TV are connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network. The feature works over your local network, not Bluetooth. Additionally, your iPhone must be updated to the latest version of iOS, and your Apple TV should be running the latest tvOS.
How to Add the Remote to Control Center
To use the remote quickly, you need to add its shortcut to your iPhone’s Control Center. In newer iOS versions, this is often added automatically, but it is worth verifying.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Control Center.
- Look under the “Included Controls” section. If you see Apple TV Remote, you are already set.
- If it is missing, scroll down to the “More Controls” section and tap the green plus (+) icon next to Apple TV Remote.
Connecting Your iPhone to the Apple TV
Now that the shortcut is available, you can establish the connection.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen to open the Control Center.
- Tap the Apple TV Remote icon (it looks like a small remote control).
- At the top of the remote interface, tap the dropdown menu that says “Choose a TV.”
- Select your Apple TV from the list of available devices on your network.
- If this is your first time connecting, your Apple TV will display a four-digit pairing code on the television screen. Enter this code on your iPhone to authenticate the connection.
Navigating with the Digital Remote
The digital remote mimics the functionality of the physical Siri Remote but relies on touch gestures.
- The Touch Surface: The large blank area at the top of the screen acts as a trackpad. Swipe left, right, up, and down to navigate the Apple TV menus. Tap anywhere in this area to select an item.
- Playback Controls: You will find standard Play/Pause, Menu (Back), and TV/Home buttons at the bottom of the screen.
- Using Siri: Press and hold the microphone icon on the screen (or the side button on your iPhone, depending on your model) to speak a command to the Apple TV.
- Volume Control: Once the digital remote is open and connected on your screen, you can use the physical volume buttons on the side of your iPhone to control the volume of your television or soundbar (provided your Apple TV is configured for HDMI-CEC volume control).
Typing on the Apple TV Using Your iPhone
Perhaps the biggest advantage of the digital remote is text entry. Whenever you select a search bar or password field on your television, your iPhone will automatically push a notification or pop up a keyboard on the screen. This allows you to type long email addresses and complex passwords using your iPhone’s touchscreen keyboard, entirely bypassing the frustrating process of swiping through letters on the TV screen.