Use the Apple TV Remote app

Learn how to use the Apple TV Remote app to control your Apple TV.

     The main screen of the Apple TV Remote app

When you first open the app

After you set up and pair your Apple TV Remote app, open it on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and tap Apple TV icon. Depending on your model of Apple TV, you'll see five or six main controls:

  • Devices: Tap Devices to return to the previous screen, where you can select a different device to control.
  • Touch surface: In the blank space above Menu, you can swipe to navigate and tap to select.
  • Play/pause: Tap Play / Pause icon to play or pause content.
  • Siri:* If you have an Apple TV (4th generation), you'll see Microphone icon. Touch and hold Microphone icon, say what you want, then release. 
  • Home: Tap TV icon  to return to the Home screen or double-tap to see recently used apps.
  • Menu: Tap Menu to return to the previous screen or menu.

You'll also see a keyboard appear in the Apple TV Remote app when you select a text field on your Apple TV. Use the keyboard to quickly enter text, like usernames, passwords, movie titles, and more.

Want to change the volume with your iOS device? Receivers with HDMI-CEC volume support let you adjust volume with the volume buttons on the side of your iOS device. You just need to plug your Apple TV directly into your receiver (not into your television). Get help with HDMI-CEC

* If you set up your Apple TV in a language, country, or region that doesn't support Siri—and if dictation supports your language setting—the Microphone icon control is for dictation instead of Siri.

The Apple TV Remote app     

After you select and play content

After you tap play, you'll see three more controls in your Apple TV Remote app:

  • Fast-forward: Tap Skip ten seconds ahead to skip ten seconds ahead in a video. (Or tap Fast forward to fast-forward a song.)
  • Rewind: Tap Skip ten seconds back to skip ten seconds back in a video. (Or tap Rewind to rewind a song.)
  • Details: Tap Details to see an overview of the content you're playing. Then tap Collapse icon to return to the previous view.

 

When you play a supported gaming app

If you have an Apple TV (4th generation), you and your friends can use your Apple TV Remote apps as game controllers in compatible apps. The number of supported players might depend on the limitations of the gaming app and your home network. 

While you can use the standard view of your Apple TV Remote app to play games, you can also use Game mode. Here's how:

  1. Open a supported gaming app on your Apple TV. 
  2. In the Apple TV Remote app on your iOS device, wait for Gaming icon to appear at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap Gaming icon, then turn your iOS device to a horizontal position. You'll see five controls: Menu, two thumb controls (A and X), Close, and a blank space that works like a Touch surface.**
    Tap the Gaming icon and turn your iPhone sideways to enjoy Game mode.

** If the Game-mode controls don't work as expected, check that you have the latest version of the gaming app that you're playing. If you still need help, contact the app developer of the gaming app for more information.

Learn more

To use features from the previous remote app to control iTunes content on your Mac or PC, get the iTunes Remote app from the App Store. Learn more about the iTunes Remote app

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