How to control Apple TV without the Remote

The Apple TV is an absolutely wonderful device and is arguably the best way to cut the cord completely. However, from time to time, you may end up losing that special Siri Remote that is included.

Recommended Reading

• Apple TV will not turn on, how to fix
• Apple TV Troubleshooting and Tips
• How to connect your Apple TV without Wi-Fi
• The best ways to cut the cord with your Apple TV

In those cases, you probably will get frustrated and think that you have to run to the store. Just slow down a moment, and check out these ways to control your Apple TV without the remote.

Use your iPhone or iPad

The best remote that you can possibly have for an Apple TV is likely in your pocket. The iPhone has been capable of acting as your remote for quite some time.

Control Center

Without needing to download any applications, you can quickly access the Remote service from Control Center. Simply swipe down from the right-hand side of your status bar (on the iPhone X, XR, XS, and XS Max).

From there, you will see the Apple TV icon at the bottom of Control Center. Tap that icon, and then you will be able to choose your Apple TV.

Then, you can use the big “blank” space as the touchpad, while there are buttons for the following:

• Menu
• Airplay
• Play/Pause
• Siri

This means that you can even use Siri dictation from your iPhone to control your Apple TV.

Remote App

Another quick and easy way to control your Apple TV is from the dedicated Remote app. This is available for free from the App Store, and is already installed on iOS 12.

When loading the app for the first time, you are asked to select the Apple TV nearest to you. It’s important to note that your iPhone/iPad and Apple TV all must be on the same network.

There are some cases where my iPhone is connected to the 5G network, while the ATV is connected to the 2.4GHz network. This is an easy remedy and just requires you to log into the correct network.

Once your ATV and iPhone/iPad are connected, you can use the Remote app to do everything you need to.

Use a Bluetooth Keyboard

With the release of tvOS 9.2, Apple made it possible for you to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with your Apple TV. In order to make this possible, you will need to do the following:

1. Set your keyboard to pairing mode
2. Open Settings app on your Apple TV
   1. Navigate to Remotes & Devices
   2. Select Bluetooth
3. Enter a passkey or PIN to complete the process

After the keyboard is connected, a notification appears that says “Connected”. From there, here is a breakdown of the controls:

• Keyboard arrows allow for swiping through the menus, along with fast forward and rewind.
• Spacebar acts as the Pause and Play buttons.
• F3 brings you into the App Switch carousel, press Return to select something.
• Escape key allows you to go back one section.

As expected, you will be able to easily enter passwords and email addresses from the keyboard. The prompt will appear on your screen and you can just type away.

Buy a new remote

Being able to use your iPhone, iPad, or a keyboard to control your ATV is awesome. However, there are some folks out there who still would prefer to use the awesome physical remote.

If you need to pick up a replacement remote, you can do so from these retailers:

• Apple
• Best Buy
• Target
• Adorama Camera

Conclusion

As we stated above, the Apple TV is an amazing product and it’s only getting better with time. If you want to completely cut the cords, this product is the one for you.

The Apple TV caused some controversy but has ended up being another great product from the realm of Apple. If you have any questions regarding the controlling of your ATV, let us know!

Andrew Myrick

Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.

He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.