Control your TV from your phone or tablet. Quite recently, such an idea seemed something impossible, and even stupid. Today, the ability to control your TV using your phone doesn’t seem so fantastic, does it? Every modern person has a smartphone, so why not make it a replacement for the remote control? Apparently, the same thoughts came to the equipment manufacturers who brought the idea to life. As you might have guessed, a smartphone can replace the usual push-button remote control. I propose now to figure out how the TV is controlled, and what is needed for this.

What do you need to control your TV from your mobile phone?

Fortunately, the times when a simple task on devices had to be done with a bunch of dances with a tambourine are becoming a thing of the past. Equipment manufacturers today are trying to make the operation of their products as convenient and simple as possible with a processor. You no longer have to study forums trying to find out how to get your phone to replace a regular remote control. We will need the bare minimum: a modern smartphone and TV, as well as software. All.

It is clear that all this will not work thanks to air, although, if you look from the point of view of an ordinary user, this is approximately what happens. We, as advanced users, understand that to connect a mobile phone and a TV we need some kind of technology.

Wi-Fi connection

The most common, despite the emergence of new ones, remains Wi-Fi. Manufacturers install a wireless interface in everything possible. Therefore, in most cases, a modern TV does not remain deprived; I am already silent about smartphones, even the cheapest ones. As a rule, only TVs with Smart TV support Wi-Fi, a kind of operating system that turns it into a more functional device. That is, it will not be possible to control an old TV with a picture tube via Wi-Fi without additional devices. Which ones?

Android smart consoles, which have the capabilities of a small computer or tablet, come to the rescue. And now, you already have Wi-Fi. True, you can only control the TV-Box interface - you won’t be able to switch channels.

Xiaomi with IR port controls old TVs

Interesting solutions are offered by the well-known company Xiaomi, which is famous for its inexpensive, high-quality smartphones with productive hardware and other features. Chinese developers, namely they are engaged in the production of these mobile devices, decided that a modern gadget cannot do without an infrared port. These are the same sensors that have been installed in TV remote controls for decades.

Thus, most Xiaomi smartphones that have an infrared port can easily control TVs, even old ones, which can only dream of Wi-Fi. Moreover, they can control other equipment: air conditioners, projectors, etc. Therefore, if your TV from the early 00s is late, and the remote control has long been lost, you can buy a Xiaomi phone, extending its life.

As for the software, there is nothing complicated here either. Don't think that you have to connect your TV to your computer by running some programming environment. Everything is simple: download the application to your smartphone (for Android operating systems on the Play Market, iOS - App Store), pair your mobile phone and TV, set everything up for yourself, and enjoy the work done.

First, you can look for official applications for your specific TV. We bought a model from LG, look for information on the manufacturer’s website. The TV is from a little-known company, then we are looking for universal applications whose names contain something like Remote Control or Remote TV. We'll talk about universal applications below.

If you decide that you do not want to depend on Wi-Fi, and purchased a smartphone from Xiaomi with an infrared port, then you will not have to do any additional actions at all. The manufacturer has already done everything for the user. The Mi Remote application must be installed on your smartphone. Quite convenient and easy to learn. We go in, pair it with the desired TV and you can forget about the remote control.

Which app should you choose?

So, you now know what you need to control your TV using your smartphone or tablet. Next, I suggest you consider popular applications, and then we’ll move on directly to the connection process. And we will analyze applications mainly for Android devices, because they have a lot of universal utilities that are suitable for any technology, and branded ones in bulk. In addition, most of them are also available for iOS.

Let's start with the proprietary applications that the company offers when releasing a line of TVs. It is clear that only fairly large manufacturers who are able to allocate money for the development and support of the program can boast of such support. Of these, we immediately remember Samsung or LG. And yes, they provide their users with proprietary utilities for controlling TVs.

Controlling LG Smart TV from your mobile phone

The first ones in line are LG TVs. The company has been producing them for quite a long time, developing many modern low-cost solutions that occupy a significant market share. It is not surprising that they were one of the first to release an application for controlling TVs from a smartphone, and more than one. For models that were introduced before 2011, the LG TV Remote 2011 utility is presented. For newer solutions, another application has been developed -.

The applications are quite convenient, simple and functional. When you turn it on for the first time, you need to pair it, for which you need to enter a confirmation code on your phone or tablet that will appear on the TV screen. After which we can start using it. Applications allow you to broadcast images from your phone screen to a TV, manage programs and games, and browse Internet pages. The utilities are distributed free of charge and quickly find your TV. Updated versions can also work with other LG equipment, such as an audio system.

Application for Samsung Smart TV

The South Korean company, being one of the most famous in the world, simply could not help but release an application for its customers that will allow them to control their TV from an Android smartphone or tablet. Called Samsung SmartView, it offers a fairly convenient and simple utility. Its main feature is the ability to broadcast images both from the phone to the TV and in the other direction. So, you can watch your favorite show while in another room.

Another interesting feature is gyroscope support, which allows you to control games on the TV screen using your smartphone. Interesting, isn't it? But Samsung was never able to develop its brainchild, which received a lot of negative reviews in the Play Market. Users cite a bunch of errors and the inability to pair, so many prefer third-party remotes.

Applications for Sony and Philips TVs

Finally, a few words about programs for controlling Sony and Philips TVs. In general, they are not very different from the options discussed above, the manufacturers just added a little of their own. The Video & TV SideView: Remote application is available for Sony. Quite interesting, but with its own problems, which users note.

It can switch channels, adjust the volume and perform other functions inherent to the remote control. In addition, you can watch a TV program directly in the application, and the system will compile lists of recommended programs. Even more interesting is the feature with the ability to control the TV via a smart watch from Sony. Of course, the functions are somewhat reduced, but it looks quite unusual.

Philips MyRemote is a utility of the same name from Philips. Everything is the same, but the program is littered with advertising, which many users complain about. Supports almost all smart TVs from the manufacturer, quite easy to use, but pairing takes a long time.

Universal programs

Not everyone has TVs from the companies presented above, and not all users are satisfied with the proprietary utility. Therefore, universal applications that are supported by most Android devices, as well as many equipment, are relevant. To date, a huge number of programs have been presented, both good and not so good. We have selected a list of the most popular and high-quality ones.

So, the application with the self-explanatory name SURE Universal Remote received good ratings and reviews:

• Simple and convenient implementation,
• quick pairing,
• Works even with very old TVs.

I'm glad that the utility supports both Wi-Fi connection and control using an IR sensor. It is possible to broadcast photos and videos from a phone or tablet to a TV; it supports SURE Universal Remote and works with air conditioners and projectors. Among the minuses, we highlight annoying advertising, which is the price for free distribution.

But the developer Vsray Technology offers a “TV remote” application for tablets and smartphones. Yes, the name is simple, but in terms of functionality the utility outperforms many competitors. It stands out for its interesting interface, which is stylized like a regular remote control, apparently hence the name. The developer claims to support more than 220,000 devices, and the “TV remote” itself is available free of charge. True, the utility only works in conjunction with the infrared port, and is simply overflowing with advertising.

Finally, another interesting program for controlling your TV via a smartphone or tablet is smart IR remote. It does not have as many downloads as those presented above, but many users in thematic discussions mention this particular utility. Among its advantages, it is credited with the most successful interface, regular updates, a wide base of supported devices, and convenience. smart IR remote is available for download on smartphones and tablets for free.

I think this will be enough. Already from our list you can choose an application to your liking, and if not, then no one forbids you to try other solutions, of which there are plenty in the Play Market, and almost all are available for free (only advertising gets boring). Go ahead.

Instructions: How to connect a phone/tablet to a TV

Well, you are now familiar with the theory, let's move on to practice. To begin with, use phones with an infrared port. Everything is simple here. We download (if not) the application, point the smartphone with the transmitter at the TV so that the devices detect each other, and pair. That's it, you can fully use the virtual remote control.

The situation with connecting via Wi-Fi is a little more complicated. We can make the connection in two ways: directly or through a router.

1. In the first case, it is necessary that both devices (TV and smartphone (or tablet)) support Wi-Fi Direct. The technology is very widespread, therefore it is present in many modern devices.
2. The second method allows you to do without Wi-Fi Direct by connecting your TV and phone to the same network. By the way, the TV can be connected to the router by wire (Ethernet), which users often resort to to ensure a higher and more stable connection speed. Simply, commands will be sent wirelessly from the smartphone to the router, and from it via a wire to the TV. I think you won’t have any problems connecting to one network.

All that remains is to install the application by selecting the one you like from the list compiled by us, or download it from the Play Market. As a rule, the utilities are easy to use, even if they are only in English.

To pair two devices, you need to enter a PIN code in the application, which will appear on the TV screen after the connection request.

By default, you can immediately start using the basic functions of the remote control: switch channels, adjust the volume, etc. After spending some time tinkering with the settings, you can optimize applications for your personal needs.

Wake-On-LAN – you can’t turn on the TV without it

We cannot fail to mention the problem faced by many users who want to control their TV via their phone. No, this is not advertising coming from all sides. Getting rid of it is quite simple: we purchase the premium version of the utility. I want to tell you about such a feature as Wake-On-LAN.

This function, if present on the device, allows you to turn it on by sending data packets via a local network (in our case, the Wi-Fi wireless interface). That is, if the TV does not have Wake-On-LAN, you simply cannot turn it on through the application; you will still have to look for the remote control and the power button.

When enabled, all other commands are available, including shutdown. Therefore, if you want your TV to be able to turn on from a command from a smartphone, then look in the Wake-On-LAN specification. By the way, this technology will be useful if the Smart Home system is implemented in the home.

Application Features

It wouldn’t hurt to tell you what the utilities we talked about today can do. Firstly, after pairing, an interface styled like a regular control panel is available. That is, we have a set of buttons for switching channels, navigation keys for adjusting the sound, and also a power button. Naturally, all of them can be made in a different style, form, as the developer already wanted. But the main thing here is to choose not by beauty, but by convenience and performance.

Touchpad

Often applications have additional features, and quite a lot. The first thing you need to note is the mouse and keyboard modes. The first, in fact, is a kind of touchpad, which is the screen of a phone or tablet. Swipe your finger to select the options you want.

Keyboard mode allows you to search for necessary information and write messages to friends. In addition to them, developers are increasingly adding gamepad emulators to such utilities, which make the game process more convenient.

Phone screen mirroring

No less interesting is the ability to broadcast images from your phone screen to your TV. It will not be difficult to send family photos to the big screen to enjoy viewing. You can stream videos and movies without bothering with downloading, and music can be turned on in a similar way.

Some applications, on the contrary, allow you to broadcast content from your TV screen to your tablet or phone. Quite a useful feature with which you can watch your favorite show while in the kitchen or another room.

TV program

If you love TV shows, then you definitely need a TV program. It’s not very convenient to constantly search for it on the Internet, so developers add them directly to applications for controlling the TV. Now you will always have at your fingertips a list of programs for the coming weeks. In addition, the system can determine what you like to watch the most. Is football your weakness? Please, the application will notify you about upcoming matches. Do you prefer cooking shows? Get a whole list.

Almost all management utilities have a separate menu with various applications that can be launched on the TV. This may include a browser, programs for watching TV online, and some games.

Smart watch as a remote control

Finally, I would like to note the ability to control TV through a smart watch, which I mentioned just above. Among Android devices, this function is quite functional on . A watch paired with a smartphone has a minimal set of commands, but you can definitely change the channel or add sound. This method is convenient because the smart watch is almost always at hand, or rather on it. In the near future, such an opportunity simply must appear on all SmartWatches.

Advantages of controlling your TV from your phone

The remote control is such a thing that always gets lost somewhere. He can fall behind a pillow; small children do not avoid him. We always have a smartphone at hand, and if we lose it, it won’t be difficult to find it – we just call the number. In the age of technology, when the phone accompanies us everywhere, it is easier to open an application to control the TV than to get up from the couch and go to the other side of the room for the remote control. Until recently, you had to go to the TV to change the channel.

Not a single device is immune from breakdowns, including IR remote controls. If you dropped it, that's it, your modern TV becomes “uncontrollable”. After all, most models today do not have any mechanical buttons other than power. And here a phone with a virtual remote control can help out.

Modern remote controls, of course, differ from those that were introduced 15 years ago. They have become more functional, more beautiful, more convenient, and equipped with additional capabilities. And yet they are still the IR remotes that are best at changing channels. But modern televisions can not only broadcast TV programs. New models that have received Smart TV allow you to browse the Internet and play games, but this is poorly implemented on the remote control. Another thing is smartphones, which have special sensors, and many applications for controlling a TV often receive gamepad emulators as an addition.

The application also allows you to control many other equipment that supports remote controls. Your smartphone will control air conditioners and many other devices. You can even control TVs in shops and cafes, but we do not recommend you do this.

Bottom line

Technologies do not stand still. The telephone, which until recently was only a means of communication, today combines a whole range of capabilities. Internet access, cameras, thousands of games, and today you learned that a modern smartphone can be turned into a good remote control for controlling a TV. We hope this article will help you understand the basics of connection, freeing you from being tied to a traditional IR remote control.

Almost all modern TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, Philips and others (supporting Smart TV) can be controlled (switch channels, adjust volume, launch Smart applications, etc.) using a phone or tablet. For a clear example, I’ll show you how to control an LG TV from an iPhone (everything will be the same for Android). By the way, this guide is suitable not only for LG TVs, but also for Philips, Sony, Samsung and others, the only difference will be in installing different applications (each manufacturer has its own).

In order to control the TV, it is necessary that the TV and smartphone/tablet are connected to the same local network. It is also necessary that the appropriate application be installed on your smartphone/tablet. In practice, it looks like this: you need to connect your TV to the router (via Wi-Fi or network cable) and connect to the same router from a mobile device.

There are quite a few applications in the App Store or Play Market for connecting mobile devices to a TV, both paid and free. In this example, we will look at applications that were developed by LG.

At the time of writing, there are three applications:

LG TV Remote 2011 - this application should be used for TVs manufactured in 2011

LG TV Remote - this application is suitable for TVs produced in 2012-2013.

LG TV Plus - this application is intended for TVs produced in 2014 and later with Web OS.

More detailed information can be found in the description of each application.

In my case, I use an LG TV with Web OS, so further we will talk about setting it up.

Attention!!! To avoid problems with connecting mobile devices and managing them, we recommend update TV firmware .

After installation, launch the application and turn on the TV you want to connect to.

Allow the program to send you notifications.

Click the "Start" button.

Accept the license agreement.

The program will scan the network for the presence of TVs and indicate them in the program. Select the one you need, in this case there is only one.

A PIN code will appear on the TV.

Enter it on your phone/tablet.

As a result, you will see a control menu that is quite easy to understand.

Please note that there is more than one menu. In one of them you can launch a Smart application or switch the input to another device.

Galaxy Universal Remote. Turn your phone into a universal remote control for all your equipment using the phone's built-in IR port. No Internet connection, any special permissions, or any sensors other than an infrared port are required! Control your TV, set-top boxes (for example Tricolor TV), receiver, amplifier, DVD player, Blu-Ray player, air conditioner, projector, DSLR, PlayStation3, Xbox 360, and many of your other devices! Prank your friends using the universal remote control on your phone!

Key Features:

• Save each of your devices as bookmarks so you can easily access them later.
• Control all devices from one screen using the function of creating a universal composite remote control.

For example, the channel switch is from the TV, and the volume is from the amplifier or receiver. Finally you will have one remote control for your entire home theater!

• Customize your remote, you can change the number of tabs, layout, colors, style of each button and much more.
• Saving a sequence of actions (macros) that will be performed with one click. For example, you can turn on the TV, turn oncable box, wait one second, go to channel 100 and increase the volume. All these actions are saved on one button.
• You can send us your own IR code and save it to the button.
• If your device is not listed, you can use the scan mode to automatically check all possible makes and models to find at least one compatible one.
• Backup and restore all saved devices and remotes. So that you can easily transfer them to another phone.

Note: This app only works with phones that have a built-in IR port:

• Samsung Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge / S5 / S5 Active / S5 Mini / S5 Duos / S4 / S4 Active / S4 Mini / S4 Zoom. Galaxy Note 4 / Note 3 / Note Edge / Note 8.0 / Note 10.1 / Note Pro. Galaxy Tab 4 / Tab 3 / Tab 2 / Tab Pro / Tab S / Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy J, Galaxy Mega
• HTC One M9 / M8 / M7, HTC One Max, HTC One Dual Sim, HTC Butterfly 2 / Butterfly S, HTC Desire 600 / Desire 200
• LG G4, LG G3, LG G Flex2
• Xiaomi Mi 4

Download Galaxy Universal Remote for Android you can follow the link below.

Developer: Moletag
Platform: Android 4.0 and higher
Interface language: Russian (RUS)
Root: Not needed
Status: Full

As Android devices develop, more and more useful programs appear in the Play Market. One of these is an application for remote control of a TV. Using such a program, you can completely replace a regular remote control with your Android. In this case, control options will not be limited to just switching channels or adjusting the volume. To use your device as a TV remote control, you must have an infrared port on your Android. Or the TV must be able to connect to Wi-Fi. But first things first.

Remote TV universal (Download)

This is a completely free remote control for Android to control almost any brand of TV.

To use this application, your device must be on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV. To synchronize devices, you will need to enter a message into the program that will appear on the TV screen. Thanks to wireless network operation, control You can watch TV even while in another room.

Of the minuses, we note that the application does not know how to turn on the TV. Those. To use the application, you first need to turn on the TV using the original remote control, and only then you can switch channels using Android.

TV remote control (Download)

Quite an advanced application for controlling your TV. Absolutely free, downloaded more than 10 million times, average rating - 4.4 points out of 5 possible.

Advantages of the application:

1. Clear and simple controls. Easy synchronization with TV. Training mode and lots of tips.
2. The main advantage of the application is its support for more than 200,000 TV models. This list is constantly growing, it is quite difficult to find a device that is not on this list.

Super TV Remote Control (Download)

This application will turn any phone or tablet based on Android OS into a full-fledged remote control. Supports more than 90% of all known TVs. Can work via Wifi network. It features minimal latency when exchanging data between devices. The program is provided free of charge and has no paid functions. Recently, the rating has suffered greatly due to the huge amount of intrusive advertising. Although this does not prevent the application from having more than 5 million users.

Universal remote control Galaxy (Download)

This remote control was developed by Moletag. It has many non-standard features that you will not find in other Android applications. You will have to pay about 220 rubles to use the program, but it is worth it.

The main advantages of the Galaxy remote:

1. Ability to control a large number of devices: projectors, air conditioners, DVD players, etc.
2. The adaptive interface will allow you to configure any TV functions to the desired buttons.
3. Huge number of supported devices. Even if your device was not found in the list of supported ones, the program will independently select similar devices and try to synchronize using their settings.
4. Works on most Androids, with OS versions older than 4.0.

Dear readers! If you have any questions or comments on the topic of the article, please leave them below.

Setting up the remote control via your phone is easy. We have selected for you several simple applications for controlling home appliances via IR port"

Today, with the help of even the most ordinary smartphone, you can perform dozens of tasks for which ten years ago you needed a separate device. It no longer even occurs to anyone to talk about a mobile device as a replacement for an audio and video player, a digital camera, or a portable game console, since these functions naturally transferred to smartphones and became part of everyday life.

In a short time, new features will be added to this ever-expanding natural arsenal of smartphones. For example, today, to pay for purchases in supermarkets, you just need to bring an Android smartphone with a built-in NFC chip to the terminal, or increasingly, automakers are equipping their new models with the ability to remotely control from a smartphone, albeit for now only to start the engine or drive the car from the parking lot to driver, but this is just the beginning. Therefore, a remote control via a phone is unlikely to surprise anyone.

So IR port control in our lives becomes not only a reasonable, but also an absolutely natural choice. After all, sometimes, sitting comfortably on the sofa with a phone, you may want, for example, if you don’t check the contents of the refrigerator without getting out from under a cozy blanket, then at least turn on the TV and watch your favorite show after a long working day, without searching all the surroundings in search of an unknown remote control.

The capabilities of Android today allow use almost any phone as a TV remote control. To connect, you can use different interfaces, the most common being an infrared port or a Bluetooth module. Let's look at how to set up a remote control on an Android phone using various paid and free applications. Smart TVs usually also support Wi-Fi connectivity, and many major manufacturers release their own Android remote apps with advanced features, such as LG TV Remote, Samsung Smart View, Video & TV SideView: Remote from Sony.

To set up a remote control via your phone to control different TV models, there are many paid and free universal programs, the most popular of which we will consider.

How to set up a remote control via your phone: TOP applications

TV remote control

To use, you need to install the remote control on your phone, after which three modes will be available:

• control via infrared port;
• advanced mode;
• universal mode.

The program interface is quite simple and intuitive. The application is compatible with most models of modern and old TVs, so it can be used both for older models that support IR port control, and for new smart TVs.

To control the device's IR port, you need to have a corresponding module in your smartphone; other modes work via Wi-Fi, then the program can connect to the TV on your home network automatically.

TV Remote Control

A program that allows you to use your phone as a TV remote control. The application does not have a Russian-language version, but understanding the simple interface and how to configure the remote control via your phone will not be difficult anyway. You just need to select the operating mode (infrared port or Wi-Fi connection) and the TV model. You can install the remote control on your phone for free, but in this case you will have to come to terms with the fact that it sometimes displays advertising on the control screen.

The program supports standard TV switch functions: power control, volume adjustment, number keys and channel switching.

The application is compatible with TVs from Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Sharp, Akai, JVC and other manufacturers.

Galaxy universal remote control

A paid program that allows you to control your equipment through the infrared module of your smartphone. Using this application, you can set up a remote control via your phone for a TV, receiver or tuner, audio system, media players, air conditioner, projector, digital camera, game console and other types of equipment.

Among the main functions of the program:

• creating bookmarks for individual devices and saving settings;
• control of the IR port for several devices using the universal customizable remote control function, where, for example, you can set the channel switching button from the TV, and the volume setting from the audio system;
• the ability to customize the appearance of the remote control (choice of color, button size, and much more);
• absence of annoying advertising and banners;
• saving a sequence of actions (for example, turning on several devices by pressing one button);
• backing up program data and restoring it on another smartphone;
• using widgets to control devices directly from the main phone screen.

Easy Universal TV Remote

Another simple application that allows you to use your Android tablet or phone as a TV remote control. The program is similar in functionality, differing mainly in the interface; the ability to turn on/off the TV, adjust the volume, change channels, etc. is available.

To configure the remote control via your phone, you just need to select the connection type from the three available and the TV model; declared support for most brands of TVs: Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic and others.

SURE Universal Remote

Simple IR port control for household and digital appliances. It uses an infrared port and WiFi to control Smart TVs and media players, and play media content from a smartphone to Smart TV.

Using the application, you can configure a “device system” for which one configured “remote control” will be used, so that they turn on and off by pressing one button.