How to control the TV through your Android phone

How to control the TV through your Android phone

Every year, TV manufacturers add new features to their devices in an effort to make life easier for users. Despite this, channel switching is still done using the remote control. What's to say, all the adjustment and switching to the necessary sections is done by means of a small device with buttons, which is quite often lost. Because of this, the developers of mobile applications have created programs that allow you to replace the familiar remote control. Let's figure out how to control the TV through your Android phone.

Can I control the TV remotely?

Most modern TVs support Smart TV, and as a consequence - have a built-in Wi-Fi module. It is through a wireless Internet connection that you will be able to control the TV without a remote control. It is worth noting that both devices necessarily must be connected to the same Wi-Fi routerSo there is no way to switch channels from another apartment.

Also, a small number of smartphone manufacturers are installing IR ports in their devices, which allows you to use even the oldest TVs. These companies include Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei. So, in order to control the TV from your phone, you need to meet the following conditions:

  • The smartphone must run the Android 5 operating system or higher. It will be problematic to install modern remote control applications on an outdated OS.
  • The TV must support Wi-Fi connection. The exception is smartphones with a built-in IR port. In this case, the TV can be the most common, without advanced features and Smart TV.
  • A special application must be installed on your phone. This can be either a program from the manufacturer, or a universal application from Google Play. By the way, about such software will be written in detail in the next paragraph.

Follow the requirements given, and then there will be no problems with setting up and connecting. We also recommend that you read our article on Connecting a smartphone to the TV.

List of Android apps

To steadily adjust the sound and switch channels on your TV from your smartphone, you need to download a special app to your phone. Some well-known TV manufacturers release their own programs, all of which are distributed free of charge. If the manufacturer of the device is an unknown Chinese company, then a universal software that works with all TV models comes to the rescue. Read about the most high-quality and proven utilities below.

Samsung TV Remote

Samsung TV Remote

As you can understand from the name, this program is designed only for Samsung TVs. You should not try to connect to a device from another manufacturer with it - it's simply not possible. Before you start, download the application to your phone. By the way, the software is available not only for Android, but also for iOS. At the first launch, click on the button "Allow"The TV is connected to your smartphone's Wi-Fi network and is connected to your smartphone's Wi-Fi network. After that, start the TV and connect it to the Wi-Fi network used by the smartphone. Next, follow the instructions of the system, making the necessary settings. At this stage, the program is ready to work. The number of downloads of the application has reached the 10 million mark, so let's consider why users have loved the Samsung TV Remote utility:

  • The ability to play videos and music stored in the phone memory;
  • support for streaming playlists (select multiple videos to be streamed in a row);
  • the ability to display the image from the smartphone screen on the TV;
  • the presence of a "sleep mode" function that automatically turns off the TV at a specified time;

If you are a happy owner of a Samsung TV, then feel free to install this application on your phone. It is difficult to find other analogues with such functionality.

LG TV Plus

LG TV Plus

This program only works with LG televisions and only with certain models. To find out if your TV is supported, see the app description on Google Play. After launching, give the software the necessary permissions to access the device storage. This is for broadcasting video or music directly to the TV. The next step is to review the license agreement and accept it. As for the connection to the TV, it is done as follows:

  1. On TV, we move on the way: Settings - Network - LG Connect APPS.
  2. Move the slider to the right next to the line "LG Connect APPS". If the function is already enabled, you do not need to change anything.
  3. Turn on the Wi-Fi on your smartphone and go back to the app. From there, search for TV.
  4. If the device is detected, a message with the code will appear on the screen.
  5. Enter this code into the program and press "Ok".

This completes the initial settings, which means that you can control the TV remotely. Before you do this, we suggest looking at the features of the software:

  • The ability to play video or audio from a smartphone;
  • automatic synchronization with the TV at the next connection;
  • support for entering channels from the keyboard;
  • the ability to change the color scheme of the interface;

For owners of LG TV - this application is the best option.

TV SideView

TV SideView

Sony Remote TV
Sony Remote TV
Developer: AppAgency Labs
Price: Free

The name might suggest that this is a universal program for controlling any TV model. In fact, this software is only for Sony televisions. Once launched, the application is immediately ready to work. It contains advertising, but it is not intrusive and does not interfere with the work. It is convenient that the virtual remote control has channel keys. This allows you not to call up an additional menu, but instantly switch the TV program. Settings of the utility are sparse - here you can only activate vibration when pressing and add an icon to the control panel. Whether this is a minus or not is up to each user to decide. As for the features of the software, they are as follows:

  • fully Russian-speaking interface;
  • easy to navigate the program;
  • quick pairing with the TV;
  • the free nature of the software;

All in all, TV SideView is a great utility for Sony TV owners.

TV Assistant

TV Assistant

Now let's move on to the universal applications for working with the TV. The first of them is TV Assistant, available on Google Play under the same name. At the first launch, the system offers to review a brief instruction on how to work with the software. If there is no desire to study theoretical material, you can simply click on the button "Skip".

After that it is enough to go to the section "Remote control" to pair with the TV. The connection is fast enough, as evidenced by the message on the screen of the device. The remote control in the utility is implemented correctly - all the keys are competently arranged and composed. The application interface is a little old-fashioned, but this is even a plus. By the way, you can learn about all the advantages of the program below:

  • support for all versions of Android;
  • fully russified interface;
  • absence of advertising:
  • The software is completely free of charge;
  • support for media sharing;
  • the ability to connect by QR-code (TV must support Smart Connect).

The utility is simple, but it doesn't require anything from a regular remote control.

TV Remote

TV Remote

TV Remote
TV Remote

This application is fully universal, that is suitable for any model of TV. After installation, start the software and configure the remote control. On the working screen, click on the button "Choose your TV"and among the list that opens, check the model of your TV. The list is really extensive, so use the search box for convenience. After pairing the devices, you can proceed to the control itself. Switching channels is possible both by using the special key and by manually entering the number. We suggest you to consider the main advantages of the TV Remote utility:

  • fully Russian-speaking interface;
  • support for manual channel entry;
  • a huge selection of TV models;
  • the ability to add a device to your favorites list;
  • fast connection;


Despite the advantages, there is only one disadvantage - the presence of built-in advertising. Unfortunately, it is impossible to turn it off.

Android TV Remote Control

Android TV Remote Control

Android TV Remote Control
Android TV Remote Control
Developer: Google LLC
Price: Free

As the name implies, this program is designed to control Android TVs. Before starting the program, turn on Wi-Fi to avoid unexpected errors. The first time you open the software, you need to accept the privacy policy and provide the necessary permissions. Then select the desired TV from the list of found devices and perform the pairing. From the features of the application we will highlight the following:

  • The software is completely free of charge;
  • Russian language support;
  • user-friendly interface:
  • technical support from Google;

SURE Universal Remote

SURE Universal Remote

SURE Universal Remote
SURE Universal Remote

This app allows you to remotely control not only your TV, but also other home appliances. For example, an air conditioner or a projector. The first time you open it, you need to give the program access to the location, as well as multimedia and files on your smartphone. Then click on the button "Add a device"and select the type of connection (via Wi-Fi or IR port). After that, among the huge list, find the model of the TV and pair it. Once again, we remind you that both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This restriction does not apply to controlling the TV via the IR port. From the main features of the utility we will note the following:

  • The program is completely free of charge;
  • software compatibility with all versions of Android;
  • support for entering channels from the keyboard;
  • user-friendly interface;
  • a huge selection of TV models;
  • Supports connection via both Wi-Fi and the IR port;
  • fully Russian-speaking interface;

Despite the fact that the application is free, it contains a fairly large number of ads. It is possible to turn it off, but you will have to pay a bit for that. The utility also offers its own voice assistant, which you can use to change channels or increase the sound.

ZaZa Remote

ZaZa Remote

Remote control:ZaZaZa
Remote control:ZaZaZa
Developer: Tiqiaa Co.
Price: Free

Another handy program that allows you to manage not only the TV, but also the rest of the appliances. Note immediately that the interface of the software is partly in English, although to understand the meaning of certain sections is possible for each user. After starting the program, you can see a small interactive instruction, at the end of which you should click on "Go Now". Now a small window appears at the bottom of the screen where you need to select "I know."and then grant permission to access the location. As you can see, the application is ready to work. To add a remote control, click on the button with the same name, and then select the type of device and its model. The main advantages of this software are:

  • complete free of charge;
  • support for all current Android versions;
  • user-friendly interface;
  • availability of a large number of models in the database;
  • quick pairing with the TV;

If you are looking for a reliable virtual remote control for TV, ZaZa Remote is a good choice.

Control the TV from your phone via the IR port

Control the TV from your phone via the IR port

The current trend is that the IR port is gradually being removed from new smartphones. The module takes up a lot of space, and a small number of people use it. If your smartphone has the right sensor, then you can control any, even an old TV. But to do this, you need to download a special application to your phone. As an example, let's take the utility Mi Remote. This program is installed by default on Xiaomi devices, but it can also be downloaded to any smartphone from Google Play. Here is a brief guide on how to configure the application:

  1. On the main screen, click on the button "Add a remote".
  2. Select the type of device to be connected. In the current situation it is a TV.
  3. In the list, look for the desired equipment manufacturer. For convenience, use the search bar at the top of the screen.
  4. Now turn on the TV and when prompted by the smartphone, answer "Included".
  5. Next, point the phone toward the TV and press the button suggested by the program.

If the TV responds to touch, it means that the app is set up correctly. Now you can control the TV from your phone via the IR port.

Control the TV from your phone via Wi-Fi

Control the TV from your phone via Wi-Fi

To control the TV via wi-fi, you need to make the initial settings. First, install the special application from the list above on your smartphone. This is done as follows:

  1. Go to Google Play and enter the name of the program in the search box.
  2. Open the page with the application and click on the button "Install".
  3. Wait for the download to complete, and then press "Open".

Now turn on Wi-Fi on the TV. Depending on the model this is done differently, but the general instruction is as follows:

  1. Go to settings.
  2. Go to the tab "Network".
  3. Open section "Wireless networks".
  4. Select the desired Wi-Fi network and click on it.
  5. If necessary, enter the password and complete the connection.

After that, start the recently installed application on your smartphone and select the desired TV model. A code should appear on the TV screen, which you will need to enter into the program on your phone.

Video tutorial

Answers to popular questions

Question: Can I use my tablet as a remote control?
Yes, you can. However, please note that it must support Wi-Fi connection.

Question: What TV control app can I download to my Honor phone?
You can download any app from the list above to your Honor smartphone.

Question: Which TV control is more convenient: Wi-Fi or IR port?
If your smartphone has an IR port, it is better to use it. That way you can switch channels even on completely old devices.

To summarize, the TV control via Android phone is a convenient and modern method that does not require any costs. It is enough to install a special program on your smartphone and pair the devices.

  1. I would like to know how to change channels on the TV from my phone

  2. Good articles. Often helpful. But here is the question. The smart AIVO TV when it was first connected and then until the hour X showed incomplete wifi reception, without a single bar. In the programs Planer, Zona everything went fine. It showed TV channels and videos. And one day the channels disappeared, and later the video stopped loading. Antenna shows full. Reset the settings. But the program still does not work. After installing the next program, after a period of time the same thing happens. There is a dishonest user in the house. Access to the TV is, to the router is not (I hide it), has his own line. The main indicator - the network icon on the TV. How to get rid of, please advise

  3. The best solution is to write an application in CommandFusion for your phone, install a Crestron control processor either with an IP-plugin or with an infrared emitter, if the TV does not support network connection, and perform direct selection of channels with one click. And the phone app in my opinion is not quite a functional solution.

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