Set up the Apple TV Remote on your iPhone or iPad

With the Apple TV Remote in Control Centre, you can control your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible smart TV with your iPhone or iPad.

Set up the Apple TV Remote in Control Centre

Add the Apple TV Remote to Control Centre

If you can’t set up the Apple TV Remote

Set up the Apple TV Remote in Control Centre

  1. Open Control Centre:

    • On iPhone X or later or iPad: Swipe down from the top right-hand corner of the screen.

    • On iPhone 8 or earlier, or iOS 11 or earlier: swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.

  2. Tap the Apple TV Remote buttonnull. If the Apple TV Remote button doesn’t appear, add the Apple TV Remote to Control Centre.

    Control Centre on iOS 18

  3. Select your Apple TV or smart TV from the list.

  4. If you’re asked, follow the onscreen instructions to enter a four-digit passcode into your iPhone or iPad. If you have Apple TV (3rd generation), use your Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote to enter the four-digit passcode into your Apple TV.

    The Enter Passcode screen appears on the Apple TV Remote screen on iPhone

When using the Apple TV Remote in Control Centre, you can use the volume up and down buttons on your iPhone or iPad to control the volume on your Apple TV if it is set up with a HomePod, soundbar or other AirPlay-compatible speakers. If your Apple TV is not set up with a HomePod, soundbar or other AirPlay-compatible speakers, use the volume buttons on the remote that came with your television.

Add the Apple TV Remote to Control Centre

  1. Open Control Centre.

  2. Tap Addnull in the top left-hand corner.

  3. Tap Add a Controlnull at the bottom of the screen.

  4. Scroll down to Remote or use the Search Controls bar to search for Remote, and tap Remote.

    Search Controls panel in Control Centre in iOS 18

For iOS 17 and earlier, go to Settings, select Control Centre, then tap the Add buttonnull next to Apple TV Remote.

To use the Apple TV Remote with an AirPlay-compatible smart TV, add your smart TV to the Home app and assign it to a room.

The Apple TV Remote in Control Centre works with Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, Apple TV (3rd generation) and AirPlay-compatible smart TVs only.

If you can't set up the Apple TV Remote

Try these steps. After each step, see if you still need help.

  1. Check that your iPhone or iPad is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible smart TV. On your iOS or iPadOS device, go to Settings > Wi-Fi. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Network.

  2. Make sure your iPhone or iPad is updated to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS, and your Apple TV is updated to the latest version of tvOS.

  3. Restart your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible smart TV. Also try restarting your iPhone or iPad.

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