We know that the mobile smartphone industry has been tremendously developed. Using mobile smartphones, the possibilities are limitless. almost all the daily life routine-related things can be carried out Via our mobile smartphones or mobile apps. Since this is a blog and community related to remote controls, many readers are asking through the contact form and the comment box can I use my phone as a remote for TV? Here is the answer for you, and all that you need to know about it.
Can I Use My Phone As a Remote For TV?
Yes! You can use your mobile phone as a remote control for your TV. Keep in mind that you can only control your TV with your smartphone but not with an ordinary basic mobile phone that is used only for calling purposes. We make it possible to control your TV with your mobile phone with the help of universal remote control applications installed on your Android or iOS smartphone.
There are a lot of apps available for both Android and iOS platforms in their respective app stores. Those apps are available in both paid and free. We can download any of the apps and install them on our smartphone, do some settings, and then can be used as a remote control for our TVs.
How Can I Use My smartphone as my TV Remote control?
Download Remote Apps For TV
I am sure, you may be using an Android or iOS smartphone. To download the remote control app on your mobile phone, go to the app store of your mobile phone. If you are using an Android device, then go to the Google Play Store to search for remote apps, and if you are using an Apple iPhone, go to the Apple Store and search for universal remote apps. Install any universal remote app on your mobile. Before you proceed to install an application, select an app that has a high user rating and good feedback from installed users.
I have some suggestions that will help you to choose the best options.
There are free and paid remote apps for TV available on both iOS and Android platforms. If you choose the free version, there should be many ads shown while you using the app. And the paid version will be ad-free. You can select the app according to your wish. In the free version of remote apps, please also consider users’ comments on how that remote app performance is.
Here are some of the recommended mobile apps
- Universal remote app for all TVs by Boostvision: Works with almost all the well-known branded smart TVs such as LG, Samsung, Vizio, Toshiba, Westinghouse, etc.
- Mi remote controller: – All-in-one remote app works with smart TVs and many other types of devices such as AC, Fan, DVD players, home theater systems, receiver boxes, etc.
Does your mobile phone have a built-in IR emitter?
If your mobile phone has a built-in IR emitter, even IR remotes can be replaced with your mobile phone to control your TV or any other devices. Check the product details to see whether the phone is equipped with an IR emitter. Most of the well-known brands like Mi (Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone, Motorola) have IR sensors (But not all the models).
Here are some smartphones with IR sensor
| Brand | Models with IR Blaster |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi / Redmi / POCO | Xiaomi 13 Ultra, 13 Pro, 13, 12, 11 Series, Mi 10, Mi 9 Series, Redmi Note 12, 11, 10 Series, POCO X5 Pro, X4 Pro, X3 NFC, F3, F4 GT |
| Huawei / Honor | Huawei P50 Pro, P40 Pro, P30 Pro, Mate 50 Pro, Mate 40 Pro, Mate 30 Pro, Honor Magic 4 Pro, Magic 3 Pro, Magic 5 Ultimate |
| Vivo / iQOO | Vivo X90 Pro+, X80 Pro, iQOO 11, 10, 9 Pro |
| Samsung (Older Models) | Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, Note 4, Note 3 |
| LG (Older Models) | LG G5, G4, V20 |
| OnePlus (China Models Only) | OnePlus 3, 3T |
When you have mobiles with IR blasters, you only require mobile apps. Just set up and control your TV. Follow the instructions.
Install IR Based remote control app on your phone
There are two types of remote control apps are available. One is a remote app that works based on IR (Infrared waves) and another one is based on wifi. Some other apps are available that support both IR and WiFi.
I recommend you use the IR IR-based remote app on your mobile phone to control your TV or smart TV.
Why?
Because you need no WiFi connection to control your TV with your phone. With the IR IR-based remote app on your phone, you can control your TV like the original TV remote control. No need to connect with wifi. Just launch the remote app on your smartphone, and then you will get an app interface with various function buttons. Then use it to control your TV.
Setup Remote app with your TV Brand
Setting up the remote app with your TV brand is the same in almost all remote apps. Some of the remote apps require to sign up but some do not need. You need to select the device type in your remote control app installed on your mobile smartphone. Here, in this case, we need to select TV. There are other device categories available like set-top box (STB), DVD, etc. After selecting the TV, you need to select the brand name from the drop-down menu. In some apps, you can select a specific brand model. After selecting all those, then save settings and start using your phone as a remote for your TV.
What if your mobile does not have an IR blaster?
If your mobile lacks an IR blaster, you can install mobile apps that work based on WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity devices.
But if you still want to control your TV, it can be done through connecting streaming devices like Amazon FireTV. For this, you need to buy a special device IReTV receiver.
This device helps to make your remote control IR compatible, but only with streaming players like FireTV pendant, FireTV cube, and Firestick. Must use a Y-cable to establish a connection.
Use mobile remote apps for smart TVs
If you are using smart TVs, many apps allow you to control the WiFi network. IR communication is not possible. Different mobile apps have different setup processes. make sure both smartphones and smart TVs are connected to the same WiFi network.
Conclusion
Now need not worry whenever you have lost or broken your original TV remote control. Just download and install a better universal remote app then start using it with your TV. So many people are using an app on their phones to change the TV channels, volume control, mute, etc with their mobile phones in this way.
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