Updated February 2017: Revised the article to explain how to use a third-party remote in tvOS.
If you're not a fan of the Siri remote (or you've simply lost the tiny little thing), you might wish to use a third-party remote to control your Apple TV. Good news: You can use a third-party remote to control your Apple TV. It's a super-simple, no frills process, so let's dive in!
How to set up a third-party remote with your Apple TV
- Wake your Apple TV and launch the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Remotes and Devices.
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Scroll down and tap Learn Remote.
- Tap Start to start the Learn Remote process.
- Aim your third-party remote at the Apple TV and follow the on-screen prompts. You will push the buttons on your third-party remote that correspond with those on the screen. As you press, the progress meter will fill — this is a visual representation of Apple TV learning the signals coming from your remote.
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Name your third-party remote.
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Optionally, tap Set Up Playback Buttons to teach Apple TV the Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast-Forward commands on your remote.
Your third-party remote should now work with Apple TV! If you ever want to remove your third-party remote or find the signals are non-responsive, you can delete a learned remote and start fresh!
How to delete a third-party remote connected to your Apple TV
- Wake your Apple TV and launch the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Remotes and Devices.
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Scroll down and tap on the name of your third-party remote.
- Scroll down and tap Delete Remote.
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Tap Delete Remote again to confirm.
Questions?
Run into trouble getting your third-party remote set up? Let me know in the comments below and we'll try to troubleshoot the issue!
