How to use your iPhone as a TV remote control

Close-up of a person sitting in bed holding a smartphone with a remote control on the screen while the TV is on in the background.

Picture: Grace Carey through Getty Photos – Illustration: Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Each time a Roku, Hearth TV, or common TV distant will get misplaced between the sofa cushions or tossed someplace by a toddler, I search for the producer’s single TV management app. However, when you have a suitable good TV, corresponding to a Rocco or Hearth TVor Apple TV 4KYou may do away with further apps and easily use your iPhone as a brand new distant management.

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Earlier than you begin, make it possible for your TV is turned on and linked to the identical community as your iPhone.

When utilizing your iPhone as a distant management, observe that not all TVs could have all controls. Relying in your TV, chances are you’ll not be capable of flip it on or off, or entry the amount.

Methods to use your iPhone as a TV distant management

We now have a 2.4GHz community in our dwelling for all of our good gadgets, together with all good TVs and streaming gadgets like Roku TVs and Hearth TV sticks. After we need to use AirPlay or management TVs by way of our cellphone, it solely takes a couple of seconds to change networks.

iPhone with network settings on screen.

Ensure that your iPhone is linked to the identical community because the good TV you need to management.

Picture: Maria Diaz/ZDNET

You’ll find your iPhone’s Management Middle by swiping down from the highest proper of the display screen.

iPhone Control Center.

Entry Management Middle by swiping down from the highest proper of the display screen.

Picture: Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The distant management button could also be in your Management Middle, if you cannot discover it, simply faucet the AirPlay icon (the circles with the triangle on the backside) on the high proper.

AirPlay icon and remote button on iPhone.

Choose the AirPlay icon or the distant management button.

Picture: Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Obtainable TVs can be in the identical community as you and can be suitable with AirPlay. Choose the TV you need to management.

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If you happen to click on on the AirPlay icon, your display screen will appear to be the primary picture under. Choose the TV you need to management.

Once you press the distant management button from the management middle, it can go on to the distant management choices, just like the second picture under. Choose the TV you need to management.

iPhone remote control icon.

As soon as you have chosen the TV you need to management, you possibly can click on on the small distant on the left to entry the TV’s controls.

Picture: Maria Diaz/ZDNET

TV selection options on iPhone.

Picture: Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Your iPhone is now additionally a distant management to your TV or streaming machine.

iPhone remote control feature.

That is what the iPhone distant management appears like.

Picture: Maria Diaz/ZDNET

I have been making an attempt to make Distant Boats a factor ever since Everybody loves Raymond’s ring The place Frank will get one, and I do not perceive why nobody in my home would need to make that occur.

additionally: This hidden iPhone characteristic may help you go to sleep quicker

However utilizing our iPhones as a distant management made distant boating virtually pointless. Whereas the iPhone distant has restricted choices, I can lastly cease monitoring down all of the completely different little remotes from our streaming gadgets that appear to be the proper measurement and form for slipping between the couch cushions.

Directions

Can I exploit my iPhone as a distant management for a non-smart TV?

You may should you add Apple TV 4K. In any other case, you’ll have to obtain a separate app to make use of your iPhone as a distant management, corresponding to a common distant app or a file Hearth TV or Roku TV. Though newer Hearth TV good TVs help AirPlay, the Hearth TV Sticks and Dice are usually not suitable with AirPlay.

Why cannot I see the distant management button in Management Middle?

If you happen to do not see the Distant Management choice in Management Middle and need to add it, you possibly can go to settings, Then choose Management Middle, Then add the shortcuts you need to add, together with the Distant Management choice.

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