By Klaus Jakobsen, developer of A Decent Remote 
When an Android TV remote dies, nearly everything on screen becomes unreachable, because the home screen is all arrows and OK. The part that helps: the TV does not need that remote to talk to your phone. It shows a 6-character code, you type it, and you are back in control.
Is it the remote, the box, or the TV?
Almost every Android TV and Google TV remote is Bluetooth, and that changes the usual tests. The phone-camera trick (point the remote at your iPhone camera and look for a flashing light) only works for infrared, so a Mi Box or Chromecast remote shows nothing on camera even when it is fine. Bluetooth remotes can also lose their pairing while the batteries are new.
Work through these in order:
- Batteries: two fresh AAA cells, not the ones from the drawer.
- Distance: stand within a metre of the box or TV, with nothing metal in between.
- A frozen box: a hung TV or box ignores every remote. Unplug it for 60 seconds and plug it back in.
- A second opinion: if the free Google TV app on your phone can drive the TV, the TV is fine and the remote is the problem.
How do I re-pair an Android TV or Google TV remote?
Hold the remote close to the box or TV and use the combination for your make:
- Xiaomi Mi Box S and Mi TV Stick: hold Home and Menu together within about 10 cm of the box, then follow the prompt on screen. Some Xiaomi remotes use Home and Back instead, so try that if nothing happens.
- Chromecast with Google TV: hold Back and Home for 3 seconds and let go when the light starts to pulse.
- TCL Google TV: hold Home and OK together.
- Sony, Philips, Hisense and others on Google TV: open Settings > Remote & Accessories > Pair remote or accessory, put the remote in pairing mode, pick it and select Pair. Older Android TV menus have a similar Remotes & Accessories screen.
That last route needs a pointer, which is the catch. Use the phone steps below, or plug a USB mouse into the TV. If the remote will not pair after unplugging the TV for 10 seconds, it is probably dead.
How do I control the TV from my phone while the remote is down?
No prompt has to be accepted with the old remote. The TV shows the code, nothing more.
- Put your iPhone on the same Wi-Fi as the box or TV, and turn the TV on.
- Open A Decent Remote and tap your TV or box in the list.
- Read the 6-character code on the TV and type it on the phone. You do this once.
The code only appears where the box shows its picture. If your Mi Box is on HDMI 2 and the TV is on HDMI 1, you see a normal picture and no code. The app checks first and tells you which input to switch to. If you still see nothing, tap I don’t see a code, then Show the code on my TV, which tries to wake the TV and bring the box’s picture up. On some devices the code vanishes after a few seconds, so tap Show a new code rather than typing the old one.
Then you have arrows, OK, back, home, volume, a power toggle and your phone’s keyboard. The free Google TV app does the same basics, and it is the better pick if Android TV is the only TV you own. The Android version of A Decent Remote is being built now. Leave your email and you get one message the day it is on Google Play.
Why is my Android TV remote app not working?
The remote is fine and the app still fails? Check these, most likely first:
- The phone is on a guest network, a VPN or mobile data. Both must share one Wi-Fi.
- The TV is in deep sleep. Eco modes can switch the network off, so turn the TV fully on.
- The iPhone’s Local Network permission is off for the app.
- A new router. The TV announces itself again a few seconds after waking.
If Google’s app finds the TV but the remote icon never appears, the box maker Formuler suggests clearing the data of Android TV Remote Service under system apps, then pairing again. That menu needs a pointer, so use a USB mouse. More in TV not showing up in a remote app.
What about generic Android boxes?
Boxes sold as X96 or TX6 run plain Android, so Google’s app cannot see them, and the 6-character code does not apply. They connect through Android’s debugging prompt instead. The Android box guide has the steps, and using Android TV without a remote covers the USB mouse route.
Is a replacement remote worth it?
If the remote re-pairs, no. If it is dead, a third-party Mi Box S or Mi TV Stick replacement (model XMRM-006) costs roughly $9 to $15 online. A new remote has to be paired with the same combination as above, so it needs the box on and a way to get through the menu.
A sensible setup is both: keep a cheap spare in a drawer, and let your phone do the daily work, since it never needs batteries and types far faster.