Apple TV Remote Not Working? How to Diagnose & Restore It
An Apple TV comes with a remote that allows you to control it from the comfort of your bed or sofa. The remote that comes with an Apple TV pairs with it via Bluetooth, has a few buttons, and a touchpad-like area where you can use swipe gestures to navigate the Apple TV.
The remote pairs easily enough with an Apple TV, and if you happen to lose your remote, you can always buy another and pair it just as easily with your Apple TV.
Apple TV remote not working
An Apple Remote works great most of the time but there are exceptions. The Apple TV can’t really work without a remote since there is no other way to control it and it does not have a touch screen. If your Apple TV remote isn’t working, try the following.
How to Fix an Apple TV Remote
Charge remote
The Apple TV Remote’s battery lasts a long time (often months per charge on modern Siri Remotes). If the remote isn’t working, connect it to a power source and charge it for at least 30 minutes, then try again. Newer Siri Remotes (3rd gen) charge via USB-C; older models use Lightning. You can check battery level on Apple TV by going to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Remote.
- Tip: If you see a lightning bolt next to Battery Level in Settings, the remote is currently charging.
How to Reset Apple TV Remote
Try restarting (resetting) the remote first—it’s quick and often fixes connection glitches:
- Restart the remote (Siri Remote / Apple TV Remote): Press and hold TV/Control Center and Volume Down together for about 5 seconds until the Apple TV’s status light turns off and on again. Wait 10–15 seconds for a “Remote Disconnected” message, then it will reconnect automatically.
Unpair and repair the remote
If restarting doesn’t help, pair the remote again. The buttons you hold differ slightly by remote generation:
- Make sure your Apple Remote is near the Apple TV (3–4 inches / 8–10 cm).
- For modern Siri Remote (aluminum with clickpad): Press and hold Back (the < button) and Volume Up for 2–5 seconds.
For older Siri Remote (with “Menu” label): Press and hold Menu and Volume Up for 2–5 seconds. - Follow the on-screen pairing instructions. If asked, place the remote on top of the Apple TV.
- If pairing fails, unplug the Apple TV, wait at least a minute, plug it back in, and repeat the pairing steps.
Note: You may have to do this several times to get it right.
Restart Apple TV
Disconnect the Apple TV from the power outlet. Wait a minute, and plug it back in. Try using the remote.
Use your iPhone
You can use your iPhone to control the Apple TV via the built-in Apple TV Remote in Control Center (no separate app needed). On your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Control Center and add Remote if it isn’t already there.
- Open Control Center and tap the Apple TV Remote button.
- Select your Apple TV and follow any on-screen prompts.
- Use the on-screen remote to control the Apple TV.
Lost the remote? If you have iOS 17 or later and a 2nd-gen (or newer) Siri Remote, you can find your remote from iPhone: open Control Center > Apple TV Remote, tap your Apple TV name at the top, then tap Find and follow the on-screen guidance to locate it.
Note: The old iTunes Remote app is for controlling iTunes libraries, not Apple TV itself. Use the Control Center remote for Apple TV.
Replace Apple TV Remote
It is possible that the Apple TV Remote is damaged, or that it’s reached the end of its life. You can try pairing the remote you have with a different Apple TV and if it doesn’t work, try using a different/new remote. Apple’s current Siri Remote (3rd gen, USB-C) is widely available—Apple lists it at US$59; South African retailers typically sell it around R1,300–R1,800 depending on the store and stock. Always confirm compatibility with your Apple TV model (works with all Apple TV 4K generations and Apple TV HD).
Quick FAQs
On Apple TV go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Remote to see the Battery Level.
On newer remotes, hold Back (<) + Volume Up. On older remotes with a “Menu” label, hold Menu + Volume Up.
Restart the remote by holding TV/Control Center + Volume Down for ~5 seconds, then wait for it to reconnect.
Yes—the Remote app on watchOS can control Apple TV for basic navigation and playback.
Conclusion
The Apple TV Remote has a long battery life, and it generally has a long product life too. It has been known to run into occasional flukes but more often than not, it’s because users forget to charge their remote. With the steps above—charge, restart the remote, re-pair if needed, and fall back to your iPhone—you can usually get back up and running quickly.
References
- Restart or troubleshoot Siri/Apple TV Remote (Apple Support): https://support.apple.com/en-us/102569
- Pair or reconnect a remote to Apple TV (Apple User Guide): https://support.apple.com/guide/tv/reconnect-the-remote-atvbc9953e63/tvos
- Use iPhone as Apple TV Remote (Apple Support): https://support.apple.com/en-us/108778
- Find a lost Siri Remote with iPhone (iOS 17+) (Apple User Guide): https://support.apple.com/guide/tv/locate-the-remote-atvb9f872f61/tvos
- Check remote battery level (Apple User Guide): https://support.apple.com/guide/tv/charge-the-remote-atvb7d4de50d/tvos
- Siri Remote (USB-C) price/availability: US Apple Store (typically US$59) and South Africa retailers (example listings vary by retailer and stock).
What’s New in This Update
- Added remote restart shortcut (TV/Control Center + Volume Down) and updated pairing buttons (Back + Volume Up on newer remotes).
- Clarified charging ports (USB-C vs Lightning) and how to check battery level in tvOS.
- Updated iPhone control steps to use the built-in Control Center Remote (no separate iTunes Remote app needed).
- Included Find My-like feature on iPhone (iOS 17+) to help locate a lost Siri Remote.
- Added current pricing & compatibility notes for the Siri Remote (3rd gen, USB-C).
- New Quick FAQs section for common fixes and button mappings.
Last updated: 2025-10-09
