Apple Releases Redesigned 'Apple TV Remote' App for iPhone

Apple today released an all new Apple TV Remote app for the iPhone, which is used to control the fourth-generation Apple TV along with older Apple TV models. Announced at WWDC, the new Remote app has been available for developers since June and was released to the public this afternoon.

The new Remote app, which connects to an Apple TV via Bluetooth, mimics the exact layout of the physical Siri Remote for a navigation experience that's streamlined across different input methods. Its design was inspired by the Siri Remote and is a significant improvement over the previous Apple TV remote app.


When content like movies or music plays, the Remote app features 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 using 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 requires iOS 9.3.2 or later to install and it works with the current version of tvOS, 9.2.2. It can also be used to control Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3 models.

The Apple TV Remote app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Caution)

Top Rated Comments

doverlock Avatar
101 months ago
Just in case it isn't entirely obvious (wasn't to me at first :P) this is a brand new app, not an update to the previous app. Couldn't find it yet through search, had to go to Apple's profile page in the App Store app to find it.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bpeeps Avatar
101 months ago
I got really excited for a second and then I saw the inclusion of "app" at the end of the title. Give us a new remote please, one where you can easily feel up from down.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
101 months ago
omfg... a separate app? seriously?
Apple replaces a current app with a reboot and everyone complains that it isn't exactly the same as the old one. Apple releases a separate app and keeps the old one around and... complaints about that too? Which path through this could Apple take that would result in no outrage?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chuck Kostalnick Avatar
101 months ago
I'm really glad that they released this in such a timely manner! We've only had the 4th Gen Apple TV for 10 months...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Richardgm Avatar
101 months ago
No native iPad app? In 2016?

Lazy.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WiseAJ Avatar
101 months ago
I got really excited for a second and then I saw the inclusion of "app" at the end of the title. Give us a new remote please, one where you can easily feel up from down.
You want to feel your Apple TV remote up?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Delta Feature

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

Wednesday April 17, 2024 9:58 am PDT by
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of...
iOS NES Emulator Bimmy Feature

NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]

Tuesday April 16, 2024 11:33 am PDT by
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple's rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/"homebrew" games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any...
iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Translate

All iPhone 16 Models to Feature Action Button, But Usefulness Debated

Tuesday April 16, 2024 6:54 am PDT by
Last September, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch ...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With the New App Store Delta Game Emulator

Wednesday April 17, 2024 12:19 pm PDT by
A decade ago, developer Riley Testut released the GBA4iOS emulator for iOS, and since it was against the rules at the time, Apple put a stop to downloads. Emulators have been a violation of the App Store rules for years, but that changed on April 5 when Apple suddenly reversed course and said that it was allowing retro game emulators on the App Store. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
iOS 18 Siri Integrated Feature

iOS 18 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Friday April 12, 2024 11:11 am PDT by
iOS 18 is expected to be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more...