Ways to Control an Apple TV Without a Remote
If you damaged the remote or are convinced you’ll never find it, buy a replacement Siri remote. In the meantime, you have options for controlling your Apple TV.
Use the Remote app on an iPad, iPhone, or Apple Watch.Reprogram an older remote control or universal remote.Use an Apple TV 3 remote control.Use a gaming controller.Use a Bluetooth keyboard.
Use the Remote App
If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, use the free Remote app. As long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, you can use the app to control your Apple TV. You can also use an Apple Watch as an Apple TV controller. Swipe around the watch display to navigate the Apple TV screen, and play and pause content. However, the watch app doesn’t support Siri.
Use Another TV or DVD Remote
Apart from the loss of Siri and touch sensitivity, one snag with using another TV or DVD remote to control your Apple TV is that you need to set it up before the loss takes place. Given that everyone loses the remote from time to time, it may make sense to plan now for such an event and program an old remote control before things go awry.
To set up an old TV or DVD remote, on the Apple TV
Go to Settings > General > Remotes & Devices > Learn Remote on your Apple TV. Then, press the Start button. You are walked through the process of setting up the older remote control. Don’t forget to choose an unused device setting before you start. Your Apple TV prompts you to assign six buttons to control your TV: Up, Down, Left, Right, Select, and Menu. Give the remote a name. Now you can also map additional controls such as fast forward and rewind.
Use an Older Apple TV Remote
If you own one, use an older silver-grey Apple Remote to control your Apple TV 4. The Apple TV box includes an infrared sensor that works with the old Apple TV remote. To pair the Apple Remote with your Apple TV, go to Settings > General > Remotes and, using the silver-grey remote you want to use, click Pair Remote. You’ll see a small progress icon in the upper-right corner of the display.
Use Your Gaming Controller
If you play games on Apple TV, you may own a gaming controller; it’s the best way to unlock gaming on the platform. To connect a third-party games controller, you need to use Bluetooth 4.1:
Use a Bluetooth Keyboard
You can use the same pairing sequence as you use with the gaming controller to connect a Bluetooth keyboard to your Apple TV. After you create a link between the two devices, you can navigate the Apple TV menus, pause and restart playback, and flip between apps and pages using the keyboard. You won’t have access to Siri, but typing on a real keyboard is easier than typing on the on-screen virtual keyboard.
Set Up a New Siri Remote
Eventually, you need to bite the bullet and invest in a replacement Siri Remote. When it arrives, it should automatically pair with Apple TV. It if its battery dies or you need to pair a new remote, click a button on the new Siri Remote. You should see a dialog box appear in the upper-right corner of the screen. It tells you one of two things:
Remote Paired: You should be able to use your new remote straight away.Pairing Remote: You may be asked to bring the Siri Remote closer to the Apple TV for pairing to proceed.
If neither of these appears, connect the new Siri Remote to power for an hour and then try again. If that doesn’t work, simultaneously press the Menu and Volume Up buttons on the remote for three seconds. This action resets it and returns it to pairing mode.
