Apple TV Remote Reviews

I’ve tossed the Siri remote that came with my Apple TV 4K into the junk drawer. I could not get the touch sensitivity set correctly; either it was hyper hair trigger, or numb and unresponsive. I have a couple old unlocked iPhones laying around , so finding a remote is always within reach and quick. Press the Home button once and AppleTVRemote UI is there where I left it. If I’m sitting on the couch watching TV, I’m probably holding a phone or an iPad anyway, so that little slippery Siri remote is redundant. I would give Remote 5 stars if there was 2 changes. (1) A button to MUTE the HDMI audio. I’m not asking for a volume control; I would never use it. Just a MUTE. This feature is a no-brainer for user convenience, but I would be surprised if it is implemented due to inevitable blow back from sacred advertisers. The second change is for AppleTVRemote to not (sometimes) AUTO open the Devices screen asking to select a device.

The last Apple TV that Remote connected to should be the default. User can change that on the Devices button. All in all a very useful app that I use frequently.

I’ve never understood why so many people have negative reviews about AppleTVRemote. My family and I have been using this application since around 2011 with our first Apple TV (2nd generation) using multiple iPhone 4’s. Through the years we’ve upgraded to new iPhone hardware (4S, 5, 6, 6S, 7, XS) and new iOS software as follows as well as newer Apple TV models (3rd gen, 4th gen, 4K) and still use multiple on our home network. I (We) have never had a single issue with performance or operation of how AppleTVRemote works- period. Most of the negative reviews that I’ve seen are in relation to what sounds as potential networking related issues as this application uses your network to communicate, hardware limitations as to what is wanted out of the application or user error... take it for what it’s worth everyone in my family uses AppleTVRemote for a remote to control multiple Apple TV units throughout are home and none of us have ever had any issues.

I just used the remote app for the first time in a while because I had a cat in my lap and couldn’t reach the real remote and OMG it is TERRIBLE!!! The sensor square at the top used to be so responsive and wonderful, moving quickly to where I wanted it to go, but now it barely functions. I hope you guys are working on an update because this is unacceptable. If I was a manager there, I would have sent whichever update that screwed it up back to the developers to get it done right before I let shoddy workmanship like this go out to loyal customers. So not up to Apple’s usual par of excellence. Very disappointing. Reflects badly on developers and management.

Edit: seems to be working normally now but I’m gonna keep the review intact just in case

I’m honestly not sure what all the negative reviews are about. I just got my Apple TV and AppleTVRemote connected immediately and works flawlessly. Very easy to use. It actually solved a huge problem of mine which was difficulty of typing out email addresses and passwords when signing in to apps. When using the Apple TV remote app and you go to fill out an email or password, it pops up on your phone and you can easily type it out using your phones keyboard like a text message. Huge time savor. That alone made me love AppleTVRemote . Navigating is just as easy as on the remote. Honestly not sure what all the complaints are about.

The remote is pretty temperamental. It only works 50% of the time based on what device you’re trying to connect it with. The Apple remote I have on my iPhone works and connects automatically pretty easily with my parents Apple TV which is about two generations old. I have a brand new latest version Apple TV and it doesn’t connect to it 99% of the time automatically. You have to manually open up AppleTVRemote each time in order to connect to the Apple TV. The other Apple TV it pops off the top my screen and it connects just fine. It really is a 50-50 shot whether this Apple work with your device. Makes it a bit temperamental and not the best app to use. Ultimately AppleTVRemote is pretty useless and wouldn’t recommend. Apple seriously needs to put some work into AppleTVRemote. It is one of the worst Apple apps I have ever used.

What is wrong with you guys? The new update is beta version at best.

Some terrible UX decisions:
- The 10 sec rewind and forward buttons are now missing from both control center widget and AppleTVRemote .
- There's a new search button in the widget. But it does not search in the currently open app on the TV, but instead takes you to an entirely new search app.
- With control center widget open, previously the physical volume buttons would control the Apple TV volume. This does not work anymore.
- The widget from control center seems far slower to open. Whoever is the developer, can you please decrease the animation duration? Match the const value to the rest of iOS. Also, use a better animation easing curve while you are at it!
- Why does the control center widget occupy full screen? The UX does not match the rest of the control center and is jarring. Also, the previous view was easy enough to dismiss by just tapping outside the widget. Now home button is the only way to dismiss it. Sounds like a small thing but slows down the interaction by a lot.

Clearly regression testing was just ignored for this update.

The previous control center Apple TV widget was such a magically quick interaction experience. Why break it?

Prior to this I had been using what is now the iTunes remote. That works but with some features lacking. This gives me essentially every feature the hardware remote for my ATV 4 K does. One thing I didn’t know about is that the volume buttons on the phone does control the volume which goes through my tv to a soundbar. I only wish that the volume buttons would function if my phone locks and sleeps while playing a movie. I’ll have to play around with this a little more to see if that is possible. So far no issues, does not disconnect, always “sees” my ATV. Fingers crossed that it continues to work as well as it does

The remote app should just be the Apple TV app but with an option to send the show to Apple TV. Spectrum actually does this well surprisingly. AppleTVRemote let's you search for content and then once you find it you can play in AppleTVRemote or send to TV. It is amazing. All search and browse should be visual and in an app on iPhone and then throw it to the TV. Using the clunky physical remote is not a good solution. Scrolling does not meet same expectations that have been set by the phone. This remote app is basic and not at all useful when compared to spectrum fully featured "remote" that let's you watch on device or play on TV. Thanks for listening!

I haven’t had any issues with AppleTVRemote thus far. I was reluctant to download and use this but I figured that I’d give it a try. It works fine. My only issue, which can be fixed very easily if the developer reads reviews is, allow an option that you can set the device as a default device. I only have one Apple TV and I find it a little annoying to have to go in a drop menu to select it each time. Allow people to set a default device so that whichever tv they use most is selected. Aside from that, it’s easy to use and I don’t seem to have connectivity issues.

This update doesn't work. It won't wake up the Apple TV. I had to physically unplug the Apple TV and then re-plug it to turn it on. Previous version, i could enter passwords by using the keyboard and the numbers wouldn't show on the screen. This would keep it private in a room full of people. Now, I have to ask everyone to turn around so I can choose the numbers by swiping and clicking, because the numbers are in full view. Likewise , when doing a search, I used to just type on the keyboard but now i have to use the old swipe and peck method which takes a long time. I don't understand why the update has actually taken away functionality and returned AppleTVRemote to what it was several updates ago. You have gone backwards!

So evidently it’s pretty difficult to keep Apple products compatible as updates are made. I’ve been using my phone a remote for my Apple TV for quite sometime now. But recently, I found original remote. Awesome, right? Nope. Now it won’t work. Ok, I can continue using my phone, right? Wrong again! Now I get a message telling me to make sure my phone and my Apple TV are on the same network. Well, they are because I can still mirror my phone to the Apple TV, but yet it can’t recognize my phone as the remote. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled this worthless app, tried rebooting the Apple TV, rebooting my router and still nothing. I’m pretty sure this is one of Apple’s sneaky little tricks in hopes of you buying whatever new junk they’ve come out with now. So done with Apple and their BS.

On the list of expected functions a remote control offers, volume is right at the top. I spent over an hour searching the internet and Apple website in disbelief. I know it CAN be controlled, because airplay volume control works just fine. Why oh why oh why would anyone make a remote app that can’t control the volume of the device? Completely baffling and frustrating. No stars for you!

Update: if you enable your AppleTV to control other devices, then the physical volume buttons on your iOS device will adjust volume when AppleTVRemote is active. Why isn’t this documented? So, fine, a couple more stars.

A little tip for those of you who want to control volume on your Apple TV with AppleTVRemote . It’s not obvious but very intuitive once you figure it out. When AppleTVRemote is open, manipulating the volume buttons on your iPhone manipulates the volume on the TV. There aren’t any onscreen buttons, but I’d rather have hardware buttons anyway for something like volume.

Other than that, I’ve always loved AppleTVRemote and have never had any issues. It’s super clutch when I can’t find that Apple TV remote (at least half the time)

How does AppleTVRemote still not recognize my Apple TV after a period of time, even when any other app I am airplaying from does???? This is ridiculous. For the longest time I thought it was a problem with the Apple TV losing connection with wifi. Now I have Disney + and have no problem starting up and playing shows on Apple TV through airplay. But when I start up the remote, no Apple TV in sight. Its like the remote is losing connection with all wifi and then refusing to attempt to activate the Apple TV. Absolutely unacceptable that there has been no update or attempt to fix this for YEARS. At least now i know that i dont need to waste time restartinb my apple tv when the remote doesnt work because the apple tv is not the pronlem.

The most annoying thing about AppleTVRemote is that it often appears not to connect and requires you to unplug your Apple TV and plug it back in to get it to work.

BUT

You can force it to connect and wake your Apple TV by going into the control center, 3D-touching the Now Playing widget, tap the connect icon (where you would connect to AirPods), and select Apple TV from there. That forces the Apple TV to turn on and you can use the remote app from there. No more unplugging required!