How to Control Apple TV Using Your Apple Watch

The Siri Remote that comes with the Apple TV certainly has its critics. Some users find the glass Touch surface over-sensitive in the way it registers directional taps and swipes, which can make navigating onscreen menus a slalom-like experience where you're constantly having to correct for overshoot.

Not only that, the minimalist design of the Siri Remote isn't very tactile and there's no button backlighting, which means once you've dimmed the lights it's almost impossible to know whether you're even holding it the right way round.

Thankfully, there are alternative (and easier) ways to control your Apple TV. One solution is to use your iPhone, which we've written about previously. Another is to use an Apple Watch. Here's how it's done.

How to Link Your Apple Watch to your Apple TV

The steps below assume your Apple Watch is running watchOS 5 and that your Apple TV has tvOS 12 installed.

Before you start, make sure your Apple TV and Apple Watch are on the same Wi-Fi network. To do this on Apple TV, launch the Settings app and navigate to Network -> Wi-Fi. Similarly on Apple Watch, launch the Settings app and tap Wi-Fi.

Make sure you're in the same room as your Apple TV, your Apple TV is on, and you can see the screen on your TV output.

On your Apple Watch, launch the Remote app.
Tap Add Device.

On your Apple Watch, enter the passcode that appears on your Apple TV's display.

You should now see the Remote interface for controlling your Apple TV on your Apple Watch screen.

How to Control Apple TV Using Your Apple Watch

Swipe up, down, left, or right to move through the Apple TV menu.
Tap to choose the selected item.
Tap Menu to go back.
Touch and hold Menu to return to the Home screen.
Swipe left or right to scrub through media.
Tap to pause or resume playback.

If you're anything like us, you'll find that swiping your Apple Watch to navigate Apple TV menus is much easier than using the Siri Remote – and you'll be able to see what you're doing in the dark. Just remember that as long as your Apple TV is on, you can return to the remote interface on your Apple Watch at any time simply by launching the Remote app.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12, Apple Watch, watchOS 5

Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy), Apple Watch (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Defthand

17 weeks ago

ANYTHING is better than the stock Apple remote, even a potato with buttons. Did the intern not test it in a darkened room?

I appreciate the minimalism but the current remote has horrible ergonomics. A classic example of aesthetics before function.

Rating: 6 Votes

jasonefmonk

17 weeks ago

I’m just here to say that I like the current remote. The raised ring was enough of a change that I don’t have trouble orienting the device.

Rating: 5 Votes

spellnight

17 weeks ago

I wish there was a combination to lock the remote so when you are watching something and accidentally touch it, it won't fast forward, rewind, go back to the main menu, etc. Am I the only one with this problem? :mad:

Rating: 4 Votes

robotica

17 weeks ago

I love this feature! Really nice integration.

Rating: 4 Votes

rdowty

17 weeks ago

If they would only add volume control...

Rating: 2 Votes

Nozuka

17 weeks ago

i wish there was some automatic "now playing" icon on the watch face like for the iPhone. would make it much easier and faster to access the remote.

Rating: 2 Votes

Braderunner

17 weeks ago

i wish there was some automatic "now playing" icon on the watch face like for the iPhone. would make it much easier and faster to access the remote.

The Apple TV can be controlled with the Now Playing feature. But yeah, it would be nice if there was an icon. Or, a Now Playing complication available on faces that have complications. Better yet, if the volume could be controlled, and there was a Siri button on this screen. :rolleyes:
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I love this feature! Really nice integration.

This is a terrible integration, imo. Why no Apple TV Remote app like on iOS? With Siri and volume control?

Rating: 1 Votes

andsoitgoes

17 weeks ago

I agree. I’ve been waiting for Apple to do ANYTHING with the watch remote app ever since I got my AW in 2016.

It’s a complete and utter hot mess.

No ability to use Siri (SERIOUSLY?! There’s a bloody mic right there!)

Terrible media controls, the swipe is much harder to use than a physical remote or the pad on your phone. Play/pause is insanely tiny. The now playing, specifically for music, is hidden behind a bloody blur! You can’t see the album art of what’s playing for no reason. At all.

There’s zero logic that I’ve seen why the watch remote doesn’t emulate at least a portion of what the iPhone/iPad apps do. This remote is built on and focused on the 3rd generation ATV and it’s never been updated. It’s virtually the same thing if not exactly the same.

So if you want to basically use the old silver ATV remote, the watch will be fine I guess though it requires you to respect the bloody ATV far too often if you have more than one on you’re home network.

But for anyone wanting to actually get a good experience, just whip out your phone. There’s a good chance it’s right next to you anyway.

And Apple, DO something with this abandoned watch app. Maybe no one uses it and that’s why you haven’t updated it, but maybe if it wasn’t so utterly bare bones more people WOULD use it.

Rating: 1 Votes