How to Use Your Android Phone as a Remote Control for Android TV - Making Technology Easier (2023)

Using the remote control that came with the TV is a thing of the past. Once you've upgraded to Android TV, it's much easier to use an Android smartphone or tablet as a working remote. If you've been using a physical TV remote until now, it only takes a few seconds to permanently switch to the Android experience. This guide will show you how.

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How to use an Android phone as a remote control with the Google TV app

Any Android TV lets you use the screens of your Android phone or tablet to control the big screen experience. On the one hand, it allows you to use Android TV as suchOutput to a Chromecast or sideload, the primary input device (your phone or tablet) can also act as a built-in remote control.

Currently theGoogle TV application(formerly Play TV and Movies) represents the primary method of enabling a remote control setting on Android. If you're using Android 10 or later, you can easily select Google TV from a list of top Google apps like Gmail, Drive, Photos, Chrome, Find Maps, and Meet. It is important that you update your phone to the latest software version.

Good to know– If you actively use your Android device throughout the day, it is recommended that you doSanitize and clean your phoneAt least once a day. To see how.

make the connection

1. If your device supports Google TV, you may be able to find a button called "TV Remote" by doing a simple search on your phone. On newer versions of Android, the TV remote is available as a button on the home screen.

2. After selecting the option, you may find nothing on the app screen until you set up Android TV.

3. At the top, tap Select device. Then start searching for available TVs.

4. Once an Android TV is detected, you can see it in the notification area. Make sure Android TV and your phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

5. Using your physical TV remote, check your Android TV settings to see an option called "Apps." It may be located differently on your specific TV model. But above all, it is easy to access from the home screen.

6. Now look for an option called “Android TV Remote Service”. Is aGoogle play appwhich can only be downloaded on Android TV. If you don't see this setting here, it will become visible once paired.

7. If your cable provider or TV manufacturer uses a different app, keep an eye on it. If you connect through aamazon fire stick, you can find the related TV remote control apps in the Amazon app store.

8. Wait for the Google TV Remote app on your phone to connect to the TV screen.

9. In many cases, pairing will not be established until a confirmed pairing request has been made to the device. This would display a six digit code on the screen.

10. Enter the pairing code on your mobile device to pair the two.

11. You should see a short notification that the Android remote is connected to your TV, or the icon for your TV model displayed in the app.

Use your Android as a remote control

1. Look for a big "magic button" in the middle. You can swipe left/right or up/down to, for example, change the channel or navigate through the options. This helps you navigate your TV like a pro, especially for commonly used on-screen options.

2. If you don't like "swipe", click the three dots in the upper right corner and select a "D-Pad control". It looks like your TV remote.

3. In addition to the sliders and d-pad for navigation (in the middle), there are the usual functions: volume up and down, stop, pause, mute buttons, and a power button.

4. If you seeYouTubeonetflixOn your Android TV, you need to type something to search. The Google TV Remote app has a keyboard that works for this purpose.

5. Anything you type in the TV app will appear on the big screen. That concludes everything you need to know about how to use this extremely useful Android feature.

Cima: If you are for some reasonthere is no signal on your tv, there are many things you can do, from checking the set-top box to HDMI cable connection and other device issues.

How to use an Android phone as a remote control for specific TV models

Is your Android phone not compatible with the latest versions of Android TV? In this case, you will not be able to play Google TV immediately. The good thing is that there are many third-party remote apps on Google Play that are specially designed for such situations.

1. First check your TV remote. Look up the manufacturer, model name, and any other specific information you can find.

2. Try searching Google Play for remote or similar apps associated with your specific TV manufacturer. They will most likely work without interference issues.

Listed below are some of the TV remote control apps that you should consider for your specific device.

• lg tv universal remote: Infrared remote controlfor all LG devices.
• samsung smart stuff:In addition to television,It also controls many other remote devices like smart speakers, smart devices, Nest, and more.
• remote control for panasonic tv: aPanasonic TV Official Remote Controlfor all Panasonic models.
• RoByteGenericName: the most downloadedTV Remote App for Roku TV.

Not all TV remote control apps will work equally well for your TV model, so you may need to experiment a bit. This is where universal remotes come in handy as they can easily work with a wide variety of models.

Control your Android TV with a third-party app

1. For this demo we will use an application calleduniversal tv remote control(or Unimote) from SensusTech. It works great with various models including Sony, Samsung, LG, Fire TV, Roku and more. One annoying thing about this app is unlimited ads. Having said that, this app would still help explain what a universal remote looks like.

2. After downloading and installing the app, you can see your specific TV model highlighted in the main menu. You must have the same Wi-Fi network for your Android phone or tablet and your TV for a successful connection. It can also work on a mobile hotspot, but it's a good idea to keep your hotspot device powered on at all times.

3. If you see a floating code on your screen, you'll need to re-enter it on your phone or tablet.

4. Enter the exact pairing code for your TV to access the universal remote control app. If you make a mistake, you will be prompted to re-enter the code.

5. Compared to the Google TV remote app, SensusTech's Unimote Universal Remote app has a sleeker, more natural menu with a dedicated TV guide, HDMI, and other features.

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frequent questions

Photo Credit: DCStudio viafreepik. All Sayak Boral screenshots.