By Klaus Jakobsen, developer of A Decent Remote Swipe down on any iPhone and there is a small remote icon in Control Center. It looks as if it should run your TV, and for many people it simply says it cannot find anything. That is not a fault. The remote was built for Apple TV, and smart TVs are a side door that only some sets can use.
Which TVs does the built-in remote work with?
Apple lists two things: Apple TV, and smart TVs that support AirPlay. In practice that means:
| Your TV | Does the built-in remote work? |
|---|---|
| Apple TV | Yes, this is what it is for |
| Recent Samsung with AirPlay | Yes, after setup |
| Recent LG with AirPlay | Yes, after setup |
| Other AirPlay TVs | Yes, after setup |
| Older smart TVs with no AirPlay | No |
| Roku, Fire TV or Google TV sticks | No |
| Any TV with no network | No |
To check your TV, look for AirPlay in its settings. If AirPlay is not there, the built-in remote will never see it, and nothing on the iPhone can change that.
How do I set it up on a Samsung or LG?
- Put the iPhone and the TV on the same Wi-Fi.
- Add the TV to the Home app and give it a room. Apple asks for this on smart TVs.
- Open Control Center and tap the remote icon.
- Choose your TV from the list at the top. If the TV shows a code, type it in.
If the icon is missing, add it to Control Center first. Once it works, it is one of the quickest ways to pause, because it is always a swipe away.
What can the built-in remote not do?
Treat it as a pause and arrows remote. It was designed around Apple TV, so on a smart TV it does not replace the remote in your drawer. The gaps people run into:
- Inputs. It cannot jump to HDMI 2 for the games console.
- Opening apps. There is no way to launch Netflix directly.
- Volume. It often has no effect, as Apple’s own notes explain.
- Turning the TV on. It needs the TV awake and connected first.
What should I use if my TV does not work with it?
Start with the free app from whoever makes your TV. You will only need something else if you have several brands, or want a simpler remote.
| Your TV | Free official app |
|---|---|
| Samsung | SmartThings |
| LG | LG ThinQ |
| Roku | Roku |
| Fire TV | Fire TV |
| Android TV, Google TV | Google TV |
A Decent Remote covers these and more in one app, with no ads and no account. It connects over Wi-Fi with no AirPlay involved, so it works on Samsung and LG sets that are far too old for the built-in remote. We have seen LG sets from 2012 and Samsung sets from 2014 take commands from an iPhone. It is free for your first 50 button presses, and after that it is paid. It can also put Play/Pause and Mute on your lock screen.
Using your iPhone as a TV remote has the pairing step for each brand.
