How to Control Your TV With Your Phone (Remote Apps)

Table of Contents

• Can I Use My Phone as a TV Remote?
• Official Remote Apps by TV Brand
• What About Universal Third-Party Remote Apps?
• How to Set Up Your Phone as a TV Remote
• What If My Phone Has an IR Blaster?
• Remote Apps for Streaming Devices
• Extra Features You Get With a Phone Remote
• Phone Remote Not Connecting? Fix It
• Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — you can control your TV with your phone. Install your TV brand's official remote app, connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network, open the app, select your TV, and enter the pairing code shown on the screen. Samsung TVs use the SmartThings app, LG TVs use the ThinQ app, and Android TV or Google TV models use the Google TV app. Setup only takes a few steps, and the phone remote handles the everyday controls of the physical remote — often with useful extras on top.

Can I Use My Phone as a TV Remote?

Almost every modern smart TV supports phone control. The TV and the phone talk to each other over your home Wi-Fi network, so the app sends the same commands the physical remote would: power, volume, channels, navigation, and playback. Some phones with an infrared (IR) blaster can even control older non-smart TVs without any Wi-Fi at all. The only real requirements are a compatible TV, the right app, and both devices on the same network. And if the physical remote is the problem, our TV remote not working fixes cover the repairs to try first.

Official Remote Apps by TV Brand

Always start with the official app from your TV's manufacturer — it is free, it matches your TV exactly, and it does not bombard you with ads.

• Samsung — SmartThings. Samsung's official app for controlling Samsung smart TVs. After adding your TV, you get an on-screen remote. Make sure you download the app published by Samsung itself, not a similarly named copy.
• LG — LG ThinQ. The official app for LG smart TVs running webOS. It pairs over Wi-Fi and gives full remote control plus quick access to apps.
• Android TV / Google TV — Google TV app. Works with TVs running Android TV or Google TV, including models from Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips, and Chromecast with Google TV.
• Sony Bravia. Newer Bravia models running Google TV or Android TV use the Google TV app. Very old Bravia models used Sony's TV SideView app.
• Apple TV — Apple TV Remote. iPhone and iPad users get a remote built into Control Center for controlling an Apple TV box — no separate download needed.

What About Universal Third-Party Remote Apps?

App stores are full of "universal TV remote" apps that claim to control every brand. Many of them do work over Wi-Fi, and some support IR blasters too. However, they are made by independent developers, not the TV brands, so compatibility varies by model, and many are packed with ads or collect more data than you would expect. Use the official brand app first. Only try a third-party universal app if your brand has no official option, and check its ratings and permissions before installing. If you use a physical universal remote instead, you will need its code list — see our universal remote codes list for all brands.

How to Set Up Your Phone as a TV Remote

The process is nearly identical for every brand:

• Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi. Your phone and your TV must be on the same home network — not a guest network.
• Install the official app for your TV brand from your phone's app store.
• Allow local network access. On iPhone, the app will ask for permission to find devices on your local network — allow it, or the TV will never appear.
• Select your TV. Open the app and tap your TV's name when it appears in the device list.
• Enter the pairing code. Many TVs display a PIN or code on the screen. Type it into the app to confirm the pairing.
• Start controlling. The remote interface appears immediately — volume, channels, navigation, and power all work from the phone.

What If My Phone Has an IR Blaster?

Some phones — many Xiaomi and Redmi models, for example — include an infrared blaster, a tiny IR emitter near the top of the phone. With an IR blaster, your phone works exactly like a classic remote: point it at the TV and press. This works even for old non-smart TVs and needs no Wi-Fi at all. Apps like Mi Remote walk you through selecting your TV brand and testing the buttons. If your phone has no IR blaster, the Wi-Fi method above is the way to go. With a standalone universal remote instead of a phone, our guide to how to program a universal remote walks through the setup.

Remote Apps for Streaming Devices

If you watch through a streaming stick or box rather than the TV's own apps, each platform has its own official remote app:

• Roku — the Roku mobile app, which also offers private listening through your phone's headphone jack or Bluetooth.
• Amazon Fire TV — the Fire TV app, handy when the physical remote is lost because it can pair a replacement.
• Chromecast / Google TV — the Google TV app doubles as a remote for Chromecast devices. For sending your phone's screen or an app's video to the TV instead, see our guide to how to cast and screen mirror your phone to TV.

Extra Features You Get With a Phone Remote

A phone remote is not just a replacement — it adds things a normal remote cannot do:

• Full keyboard. Typing passwords and search terms on your phone is far faster than pecking at an on-screen keyboard with arrow keys.
• Touchpad navigation. Swipe to move the cursor instead of clicking arrows.
• Voice search. Speak a movie or show name instead of typing it.
• One-tap app launching. Open Netflix, YouTube, or other apps directly from the phone.
• Private listening. On Roku, route the TV's audio to your phone and listen with earphones without disturbing anyone.

Phone Remote Not Connecting? Fix It

• App cannot find the TV: Confirm both are on the same Wi-Fi network (not a guest network). Restart the TV and the phone. Update the app and the TV's software. On iPhone, check that the app has local-network permission in the phone's privacy settings.
• Router blocks device discovery: Some routers have "AP isolation" or "client isolation" enabled, which stops devices from seeing each other. Turn it off in the router settings.
• Remote is slow or laggy: The Wi-Fi signal is weak. Move the router closer to the TV or switch the TV to a wired connection.
• Power button will not turn the TV on: Most TVs cannot wake from a full off state over Wi-Fi. Turn the TV on once with the physical remote, or look for a "network standby" or "wake on LAN" option in the TV's settings that keeps the network receiver awake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I control my TV with my phone without Wi-Fi?

Only if your phone has an infrared blaster. Otherwise the phone and TV must share the same Wi-Fi network to communicate.

Is there a free TV remote app?

Yes. The official apps from Samsung, LG, Google, Roku, and Amazon are all free. Avoid paid "universal remote" apps — you do not need them.

Why is my phone not finding my TV?

Almost always one of the three causes covered in the troubleshooting section above: different Wi-Fi networks, missing local-network permission on iPhone, or router AP isolation blocking device discovery.

Can one app control multiple TVs?

Yes. Official apps let you add several TVs and switch between them in the device list — useful if you have a TV in the bedroom and another in the living room.

Does the phone remote work when the TV is off?

Usually not over Wi-Fi, because the TV's network receiver sleeps too — the troubleshooting section above covers the power-button fix and the setting that keeps the receiver awake.

Are third-party TV remote apps safe?

Stick to the official brand apps, for the reasons covered in the universal apps section above. Check ratings and the developer name before installing anything else.

With the official app installed and paired, your phone covers daily control — typing, voice search and app launching included — and the physical remote becomes the backup. Keep the app and the TV software updated, and if the connection ever drops, start with the network checks in the troubleshooting section above.

About the Author — IW Official

A hands-on TV repair technician with years of experience fixing LED, LCD and Smart TVs. Runs a YouTube channel sharing practical, step-by-step TV repair videos, and writes in-depth troubleshooting guides so you can fix it yourself.