TV Remote - Universal Remote Reviews

by Average Boring Guy

Possibly I need to be smarter but my IOS device and Samsung smart TV are connected to the same WiFi network but TVRemote does not recognize the tv. I’ve tried multiple times and did a reboot. I contacted the developer at the provided email and got no response - I’ll admit my email wasn’t polite but i just noted I wanted my $4 back.

I love the idea so if this works, I’m open to the developer changing my mind. Otherwise I’m just waiting for the receipt so I can request a refund through Apple.

by Jnusm

My tv keeps changing its IP address, so I had to keep adding a new tv in the settings to make it work. Apparently now this is a subscription app, so I have to pay .99 a month to be able to add a new tv. So I have to pay for it to even work at all, and I’m not doing that. I paid for the initial app, I’m not paying a subscription to use a limited remote replacement. The Roku app will do everything TVRemote will and more for free.

by Tyrion D Cat

TVRemote works fine once you power the TV on with the physical remote. If you power off the TV with TVRemote , it cannot power it back on. Even with the TV set in the standby quick start mode it will not start. The TV also disappears from TVRemote once powered off. After the TV is powered back on using the physical remote, TVRemote will sometimes find the TV within a few seconds and display the remote again. Other times you are forced to completely close TVRemote and after restart it may find the TV.
Tested TVRemote on my iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro. TV is 2018 LG OLED. Will request refund from Apple.

by Supercomicgirl

I paid for this back in 2021. I only ever use it to adjust volume. Now TVRemote has updated for a constant ‘tv remote premium’ that will pop up while I’m turning the volume down and will get selected since it pops up where the volume down button was. I will then get redirected to a purchase page. I already bought TVRemote. I have to then go back and drag the remote up to access the now hidden down volume button. Remove the banner. You should not be trying to force purchases on me when I already paid.

by MPJ66

I only gave TVRemote one star, solely because it did find my television. I read about TVRemote in an article from 9tp5 Mac & I thought it was the answer to my problems as the remote for my Samsung curved TVs broke & Samsung wants $106. Anyways, I pad for TVRemote , downloaded & installed it & it found my tv utilizing its auto find fiction. But that’s all it did. It couldn’t save the tv (even after I manually put in the model & serial number), it couldn’t control the tv, it was just a waste of time & money. I wish I could get my $3.99 back.

by Musiccity1

randywachs • a few seconds ago
I thought I was too old and experienced to fall for an article like this! I was lulled into complacency because this was posted under the 9 to 5 Mac banner. (Which is no longer a trusted or valued source.) I downloaded TVRemote . It doesn’t work on any of our less than two year old Samsung sets or a Toshiba. The $4 loss to start my day isn’t a really big deal. The concern over loss of network integrity is a very big deal and ruins my day! I expected more from 9 to 5 and got much, much, less. How about 0 Stars?

by KonaCoffeeDrgn

Power button didn’t even work for LG TV. can’t build extensive shortcuts as it can only do basic inputs and watch is not customizable other than use of Siri Shortcuts. Needs more work to be reconsidered will be requesting reimbursement since TVRemote did not function as expected.

Developer isn’t being honest or is not documenting its functionality more throughly. His website is nothing more than a resume. I’d pass unless you like getting your remote to turn on your tv in the first place which TVRemote claims should help you avoid.

by IyadG

I wanted this to work so bad but it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to for more than a few seconds. Won’t connect to shortcuts. The numpad doesn’t work. Channel up and down works once but does not do anything to the tv after the first time. I have to click with the actual remote which seems to wake it up and connect it again.

Edit: constantly disconnects, buttons aren’t reliable. It’s a mess.

by Ijulianvel

I didn’t realize my TV was no longer connected to WiFi, but that’s what was needed to get this working. Makes sense, but TVRemote didn’t really have any setup instructions. Those would be a good idea for new users. At least link to a website with instructions. 3 stars for it working for now, but I’ll give it some time and update the review accordingly. Nifty idea either way!

by Fromjtov

I didn’t realize my TV was no longer connected to WiFi, but that’s what was needed to get this working. Makes sense, but TVRemote didn’t really have any setup instructions. Those would be a good idea for new users. At least link to a website with instructions. 3 stars for it working for now, but I’ll give it some time and update the review accordingly. Nifty idea either way!

by Xjulianvel

I didn’t realize my TV was no longer connected to WiFi, but that’s what was needed to get this working. Makes sense, but TVRemote didn’t really have any setup instructions. Those would be a good idea for new users. At least link to a website with instructions. 3 stars for it working for now, but I’ll give it some time and update the review accordingly. Nifty idea either way!

by Newrulesjules

I didn’t realize my TV was no longer connected to WiFi, but that’s what was needed to get this working. Makes sense, but TVRemote didn’t really have any setup instructions. Those would be a good idea for new users. At least link to a website with instructions. 3 stars for it working for now, but I’ll give it some time and update the review accordingly. Nifty idea either way!

by Cd6445

6 Sony TV and 6 Apple TV. Found 0 :-(
I had high hopes based on on 9to5 Mac review but was let down.
Latest update provides support for Sony and now all 6 Tv’s are online. App works as needed for me now! Thanks Adam for the hard work and for supporting your product.

by Sawdust Engineer

Doesn’t work at all on Apple Watch, most functions don’t work on iPad, very limited functionality on iPhone. As with most of these apps, I can’t use it to turn on the tv since the tv doesn’t have a network connection when off.

Update: These problems were resolved in version 1.4.1 (TV is LG), once the TV is turned on.

by Clarkezone

This is a pretty awesome remote app, particularly due to the rich support for widgets. The one feature that appears to be missing as far as I can tell is there is no way of creating a widget to wake up the TV. The power button widget works to turn the TV off but not on and there doesn’t appear to be a wake action that can be mapped. With this gap filled, this would be a pretty perfect app. Great job!

by Md727

Most advanced TV on the market and TVRemote can’t find the tv on my network. I even have the tv connected via homekit. If TVRemote won’t work with this tv then the developer needs to go back to the drawing board. I’d like a refund.

After hearing from the developer you have to wait longer than I would have expected (4 min) for the TV to connect. It finally did so all is well now.

by Mister Ian

Would love to use TVRemote, unfortunately, TVRemote recognizes my television on the network, recognizes the manufacturer (Samsung) and then errors out telling me that the IP address isn’t correct. Disappointing because other apps have had no problem connecting, but I would have preferred to use this because of the Shortcuts support.

For reference, my TV is a bit older (UN50KU6300)
but the fact that other apps connect easily and TVRemote recognizes the device seems like it should be a no brainer to me.

by Brook Abbera

It works great but for some reason after usage on my samsung tv it makes me allow it’s permissions tv and it gets annoying after a while i can’t figure out how to make it just work automatically without me needing an actual remote

by Bbrjeff

Works great, it’s fast & simple to use. Also very convenient (iPhone and/or watch always with me), responsive, & intuitive. Most of all, the developers are always listening, what is more important than that? I recommend this one because of the fore-mentioned over the others!

I would love to see a dedicated page with just a volume toggle & favorite channel buttons or a page you can customize with the control features you want on it, then I’ll create it myself. This is just a wish, love TVRemote without it and you will too!

by Jeffreytgilbertoniphone

Because this works through wifi, it’s very fast as expected. Setup was easy. TVRemote is not like some others which allow you to configure the UI/controls, but the defaults are very good.

On LG TVs, there is no magic remote like ability to move the cursor around through a touchpad, but the directional controls work through the TV and though the Apple TV, not as an Apple TV remote would(voice controls and such), but like the LG Magic Remote does with the directional controls.

Aside from the minor critiques above which have workarounds or are not deal breakers, my one real disappointment here is that I have a Sonos speaker system connected through HDMI-CEC and/or HDMI ARC and the volume controls in the remote software do not work as they do for the LG Magic Remote. I cannot raise or lower volume or mute the volume of the Sonos through the TV.

by Hellojonm

I have a pretty cheap Samsung TV I think from Costco it’s a few years old.. this works amazing, every button works. I hope one day we can do quick actions like open apps like YoutubeTV with one button.. (it’s in the Samsung api) so I think it could be added.

It works when connected over the local WiFi, which is the magic of the remote, no IR blaster needed.

by Addisonjames

I’ve always wanted to turn my TV on and off using Siri and TVRemote has finally made it possible. Best part is IRL I can ditch my awful TV remote. Widgets work great. Tons of possibility with Shortcuts. The developer is helpful and friendly as well.

by Nhg75137

I don’t know what to say. It took a little longer than expected to find the tv, but once found, adding was quick and it works just fine.

If you have a tv/remote set up that bothers your more than being absent $4 then I’d recommend it.

by Huds0nn

I originally found TVRemote from the 9to5 Mac article, and instantly thought it looked great. After installing it, I was met with a very nice and clean UI, and it worked like a charm! For anyone who’s TVs aren’t showing up, remember that TVRemote is new, and not all TVs are supported yet! Overall, it’s a very nice app, and I really like how so many TVs are supported, and being added very often.

by Selurple

I primarily use TVRemote for creating home theater routines in Shortcuts, and it works very well for that. I’ve had issues with a couple updates breaking functionality and requiring me to redo them, but the dev clearly cares about making TVRemote as good as possible, so a few growing pains along the way are understandable. There’s still some mild quirks (shortcuts that run multiple TV commands in a row run slower than comparable apps I’ve tried, and with the current update I had to redo every TV Remote step twice for the settings to “stick” due to an odd bug that seemed to assume every option was set to “ask me every time” regardless of what was entered) but nothing that’s remotely a dealbreaker or doesn’t have an easy workaround.

Oh and if you’re not a nerd like me that likes making big dumb scripts to control every aspect of their home theater with Siri, this is also BY FAR the best standard TV Remote app I’ve used on the iPhone, and I’ve used a lot of ‘em. Clean, functional, and lots of great options that you may or may not ever need but are there if you do.

by Graykat777

So far, each time I attempt to use this on my tablet (iPad) a warning pops up on the TV wanting permissions. To allow them I must pick up the original remote and activate. This defeats the purpose of having a secondary remote. Bummed.

App Dev wrote me and quickly solved the issue! I am now giving TVRemote 5 stars !

by Not A Wb

As a published app developer, I can tell you there are many remote applications that do a few things somewhat well. This one pretty much nails, everything it attempts. Spend the full 20 bucks and get it lifetime.

by Johnboyfru

Got this pretty much right away. In just three weeks it’s developed so fast and well. Can’t wait to see where he takes it. Six stars.