By Klaus Jakobsen, developer of A Decent Remote The phone rings, or someone at the door needs an answer, and the TV has to go quiet right now. Unlocking your iPhone, finding the app and waiting for it to connect takes longer than the moment allows. So the two buttons you need in that moment can live on the lock screen.
What does the lock screen card do?
It shows your TV’s name and two buttons:
- Play/Pause. Stops or restarts whatever is playing.
- Mute. Silences the TV, and the same button brings the sound back.
There are no other controls on it. For inputs, typing or navigation, open the app. The card stays on the lock screen while you use the TV, and you do not have to unlock to press it.
How do I turn it on?
- Install A Decent Remote and connect your TV.
- Open the remote for that TV.
- Lock your iPhone.
The card appears by itself. There is nothing to add to the lock screen, and it is not a widget you have to place. The app is free for your first 50 button presses, and after that it is paid, with no ads. Presses on the card count like any others, so when the free presses run out, the card asks you to open the app instead.
Why is the card not showing?
Check these in order:
- Your iOS version. It needs iOS 17 or later.
- Live Activities. Open the Settings app, find A Decent Remote, and allow Live Activities.
- The app’s own setting. Open the settings in A Decent Remote and check that Lock screen controls is on.
- The remote. The card starts from the remote screen, so open it once and then lock the phone.
- The TV. Apple TV is left out, because iOS already has its own remote for it.
Why does the card say it cannot reach the TV?
The card needs the same things the app does: your iPhone has to be on the same Wi-Fi as the TV, and the TV has to be on. If you have walked out of Wi-Fi range or the TV is off, it says so instead of pretending the press worked.
A press can also take a moment. If the app was closed, it has to wake and reconnect to the TV before the command goes through, which is why the first press can feel slower than pressing inside the app.
If this keeps happening when you are at home, this checklist covers the usual network causes.
What about the Apple TV remote on my lock screen?
That one comes from iOS rather than from us. When you are near an Apple TV, your iPhone can offer its own remote there. It has nothing to do with this feature, and the Apple TV guide covers the built-in remote.
