If your Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote isn’t working

If your remote isn’t working as expected, find out what to do.

Pair your remote

Apple TV Remotes with Back (or Menu) and Volume Up buttons highlighted in blue

If your remote isn't working as expected, first try pairing your remote to your Apple TV, or pairing it again.

  1. Point your remote at your Apple TV. Make sure that the remote is about three inches from your Apple TV.

  2. Press and hold BackNo alt supplied for Image (or Menu) and Volume UpNo alt supplied for Image for 5 seconds.

  3. If you're asked to do so, place your remote on top of your Apple TV to finish pairing.

If you can’t pair your remote, make sure your Apple TV has been updated to the latest version of tvOS. You can use the Apple TV Remote on your iPhone or iPad to navigate your Apple TV to check which version of tvOS you have.

Check your remote signal strength

  1. On your Apple TV running tvOS 18, open Settings > Remotes and Devices > Remote.

  2. Read the remote signal strength indicator (Bluetooth RSSI) on screen.

    Bluetooth RSSI in Apple TV Settings shows Bluetooth signal strength

  3. If the indicator says that your signal is weak, or if you don't have an indicator, move to within 20 feet (about 6 metres) of your Apple TV. Move anything that blocks the path between your remote and the front of your Apple TV, television, receiver and sound bar.

Restart your remote

Apple TV Remotes with TV/Control Centre button and Volume Down button highlighted in blue

If your remote still isn’t working as expected, try restarting your remote.

  1. Press and hold the TV/Control Centre buttonNo alt supplied for Image and the Volume Down buttonNo alt supplied for Image at the same time. Hold the buttons down for about 5 seconds, or until the status light on your Apple TV turns off and on again.

  2. Release the buttons. Then wait 5 to 10 seconds for a Remote Disconnected notification to appear on your TV screen.

  3. Wait while your remote restarts. When the Connected notification appears, you can use your remote.

Get more help

  • Charge your remote for 30 minutes using a USB-C to USB or Lightning to USB cable and a USB wall charger.

  • Unplug your Apple TV from its power socket. Wait at least six seconds and then plug it back in.

  • If the volume buttons on your Apple TV Remote stop working, find out what to do.

  • If your Apple TV Remote (aluminium or white) isn’t working, find out what to do.

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