KlikyTo use an Apple TV without the remote, put your phone on the same Wi‑Fi, open Kliky, pick the Apple TV and type the code it shows; iPhones also have Apple’s remote in Control Center. An Apple TV that is offline comes online with an Ethernet cable.
- Wake the Apple TV
- Join the same Wi‑Fi
- Connect from your phone
Control it from a phone or tablet
- Install Kliky from the App Store or Google Play.
- Connect the phone to the same Wi‑Fi as the Apple TV.
- Pick the Apple TV in the list and type the code shown on the TV.
You get a touch surface, Menu/Back, TV, Play/Pause and a keyboard. It works the same on an iPad and on Android, where Apple offers no remote of its own.
On iPhone and iPad, the built-in Apple TV Remote is in Control Center: swipe down from the top right and tap the remote icon.
Waking an Apple TV with no remote
An Apple TV has no power button. Connecting from a phone wakes it. If it does not respond, unplug its power cable for a few seconds and plug it back in; it starts up on its own.
If the Apple TV is not on Wi‑Fi
After a move, a new router or a reset, the Apple TV is offline and a phone cannot find it.
- Ethernet. Models with a network port come online as soon as a cable from the router is plugged in. Then connect from your phone and set up Wi‑Fi under Settings › Network.
- Your TV’s remote. With HDMI‑CEC on, the arrow and OK keys of many TV remotes move around the Apple TV’s menus.
- iPhone setup. A new or reset Apple TV offers “Set Up with iPhone”, which copies Wi‑Fi settings from an iPhone held nearby, but the first screens still need a remote or a TV remote over HDMI‑CEC.
Volume and turning the TV on
The Apple TV passes volume and power to the TV through HDMI‑CEC. If volume does nothing from the phone, enable HDMI‑CEC on the TV (Anynet+ on Samsung, SIMPLINK on LG, BRAVIA Sync on Sony).
Getting a remote again
Apple sells the Siri Remote separately and the current one works with every Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. Any infrared remote can also be taught under Settings › Remotes and Devices › Learn Remote, which is a cheap way to give guests real buttons.
