· 5 min read
Apple TV remote not working? Charge it, re-pair it, or replace it
The Siri Remote is the most-lost remote in the house, and the most expensive to replace. Before you buy another one, all three of these are worth trying.
It's probably flat
The Siri Remote charges over Lightning or USB-C depending on generation, and it gives you almost no warning. Plug it in for half an hour before concluding anything. You can check the level on the Apple TV itself under Settings → Remotes and Devices → Remote.
Re-pairing it
Hold the remote about ten centimetres from the Apple TV and press and hold Back (or Menu) together with Volume Up for five seconds. If the pairing doesn't take, the Apple TV will usually show an on-screen hint about moving closer.
Three ways to control an Apple TV without the remote
- The remote in iOS Control Center — free, built in, and enough for basic navigation. Add it from Settings → Control Center on your iPhone.
- Any Bluetooth keyboard paired to the Apple TV: arrow keys navigate, Return selects, and typing into search stops being a chore.
- A full on-screen remote app over Wi-Fi, which is the route worth setting up if the physical one is gone for good.
How an iPhone actually talks to an Apple TV
Apple TV control isn't a generic protocol you can just point at. The Apple TV shows a PIN on screen, and the app turns that code into a session key; the two then exchange cryptographic identities and the Apple TV remembers your phone. Every later connection is encrypted end to end. It's the same mechanism the Control Center remote uses.
LazyBinger pairs the same way, then adds what Control Center doesn't have: one-tap app launching, a sleep timer, and voice words that act on the TV.
Frequently asked
Can I use my iPhone as an Apple TV remote? Yes — through Control Center for the basics, or a dedicated app for a full remote with app shortcuts.
My Apple TV remote isn't charging. Try a different cable and a wall adapter rather than a laptop port. If the status never appears in Settings → Remotes and Devices, the remote itself has failed.
Does controlling the Apple TV need the remote at least once? You need to be able to read the PIN it shows, which means the Apple TV must be on and on a screen you can see. Set it up before the remote disappears.
More: lost your TV remote? and controlling a TV from your Apple Watch.