Here's the Upcoming Apple TV 'Remote' App - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Here's the Upcoming Apple TV 'Remote' App

by

At its recent Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled an all new "Remote" app for iOS devices, which has been entirely overhauled to make it easier than ever to control a fourth-generation Apple TV with an iPhone.

In the video below, we took a look at the Remote app to give MacRumors readers an early glimpse at what's in store. The new Remote app, which connects to an Apple TV via Bluetooth, mimics the exact layout of the Siri Remote for a navigation experience that's streamlined across different input methods.


When content like movies or music is playing, the Remote app includes a full "Now Playing" view for control purposes, along with a dedicated Menu button and a Siri button. As with the physical Apple TV Remote, navigation through the iOS app is done via touch gestures.

Entering text, like passwords and usernames, is much easier with the iOS Remote app because any text field automatically brings up a keyboard. Full Siri voice commands are supported, as is dictation. Because it includes the same gyroscope and accelerometer in the Siri Remote, an iPhone can be used as a dedicated game controller for playing games on the Apple TV.

The Apple TV Remote app is currently available to developers and can be downloaded through the Apple Developer website. It's not clear when the Apple TV Remote app will be released, but it may be released alongside tvOS 10 and iOS 10 this fall. The developer beta of the app only requires iOS 9.3.2 and tvOS 9.2.1, so there's a possibility it may launch ahead of the new operating systems.

For details on new Apple TV features coming in tvOS 10, make sure to check out our tvOS 10 roundup. Don't miss out on our previous videos, which have covered iOS 10, watchOS 3, and macOS Sierra:

- WWDC 2016 Overview in Seven Minutes
- iOS 10's Overhauled Lockscreen
- The New iOS 10 Photos App
- The New iOS 10 Messages App
- macOS Sierra - Siri
- iOS 10 Hidden Features
- watchOS 3 Overview
- iOS 10's Redesigned Apple Music Experience
- 3D Touch in iOS 10
- The New Home App for Controlling HomeKit Devices
- Everything New in tvOS 10

We've also got roundups for all of the upcoming operating systems, including watchOS 3, macOS Sierra, and iOS 10.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

Popular Stories

General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Third watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday April 20, 2026 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the third betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the second betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on ...
Read Full Article • 3 comments
apple tv plus the savant

Apple TV Series 'The Savant' Set for July Premiere After Delay

Monday April 20, 2026 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple is finally planning to release The Savant, an Apple TV series that it delayed following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The Savant is set to air in July 2026, according to Variety. The Apple TV show was supposed to come out on Friday, September 26, 2025, but Apple decided not to release it due to the topic and the political climate. When the series was pulled, star Jessica...
Read Full Article • 20 comments
Apple TV Silo

Apple TV's Hit Show 'Silo' is Returning Soon: Release Date and Trailer

Tuesday April 21, 2026 1:29 pm PDT by
Apple today announced that its hit sci-fi series "Silo" is returning for a third season starting Friday, July 3, and it shared a teaser trailer. "Silo" follows the lives of 10,000 people living in an underground bunker to escape the seemingly toxic wasteland outside. The people are unaware of why the silo was built, and those who seek the truth face deadly consequences. Rebecca Ferguson...
Read Full Article • 53 comments

Top Rated Comments

jclo Avatar
jclo
129 months ago
I know this article is principally about the app, but the Apple Remote is too symmetrical.

How do you find the right end in the dark?

Perhaps I could have phrased that better...
I press on the wrong end of the Apple Remote approximately 100 percent of the time when I'm trying to pause a show or fast forward or something. It's hard to tell, especially when you just reach over and grab the remote without really looking. Probably one of my biggest annoyances with the remote.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Benjamin Frost Avatar
Benjamin Frost
129 months ago
I know this article is principally about the app, but the Apple Remote is too symmetrical.

How do you find the right end in the dark?

Perhaps I could have phrased that better...
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T5BRICK Avatar
T5BRICK
129 months ago
How do you find the right end in the dark?
The concave Siri button goes on the left, the connected volume button goes on the right.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bone Ranger Avatar
Bone Ranger
129 months ago
No volume button. So you need 2 remotes.
Steve wouldn't like that. And thats no joke.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
Cougarcat
129 months ago
I guess you could attempt to locate the lightning-port with one of your fingers and thus figure out which way you're holding the remote? But yeah, I agree, it's hard to find the right end sometimes.
I hate how they made the IR port have the exact same shape shape as the Lightning, so in the dark both ends look exactly the same.

Another reason why it's so confusing is that I feel like I'm using an iPhone when holding it, not a trackpad, and on an iPhone the glass part of course is what you touch.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
s15119 Avatar
s15119
129 months ago
Great new FREE app to help control the amazing new Apple TV.

And all we hear are the negative nanny's.

This has become a depressing place to visit.

hint: apple owes you NOTHING. If you don't like their products, move on, there is too much value to life to be so miserable over so little.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments