How to Find a Lost Apple TV Remote With Your iPhone

Although the Apple TV offers app and voice controls, nothing beats the convenience of grabbing the Siri Remote when you want to veg out. However, like all remotes, Apple’s clicker has a habit of slipping between the couch cushions or winding up in the places you least expect.

Instead of tearing your home apart the next time you lose your Siri Remote, you can use your iPhone instead. We’ll show you how easy it is.

Find Your Lost Apple TV Remote: How it Works

While the user interface looks similar to how you use an AirTag, there are a few key differences when it comes to locating the Siri Remote with your iPhone. The biggest of which is that the process relies on the limited wireless capabilities of the Siri Remote, which lacks a U1 Ultra-Wideband chip for Precision Finding.

The lack of a U1 chip means the process is less reliable than locating an AirTag. You’ll need to be relatively close to your remote just to start, and once your iPhone picks up its signal, you won’t see detailed directions.

Also, unlike AirTags, finding your missing remote doesn’t take place in the Find My app. Instead, you’ll need to utilize your iPhone’s Apple TV Remote app in Control Center.

The Siri Remote doesn’t have an onboard speaker either, so you’ll need to rely solely on visual cues to locate it. Since they lack directions, you’ll only see messages such as Near or Far when tracking.

Find Your Lost Apple TV Remote: What You’ll Need

Before you can locate your missing remote with your iPhone, you’ll need to ensure that your devices are compatible. Apple’s locator only works with second-generation (or later) Siri Remotes, so you’re out of luck if you have an older set-top box.

You’ll also need to update your Apple TV to tvOS 17 or later. The same goes for your iPhone, which must be running iOS 17 or later before the Find feature appears.

Since the Siri Remote locator relies on local wireless signals for tracking, you’ll need to enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your iPhone. This method also requires you to be close to your remote, so you might need to walk around your home before it picks up a signal.

Finally, you’ll need the Remote app enabled in Control Center on iOS as this feature doesn’t use the Find My app. If you need help with that, you can check out our guide for customizing Control Center on iPhone.

How to Find Your Apple TV Remote With Your iPhone

Using your iPhone to track down your lost Apple TV Remote is quick and easy. You’ll start in the Control Center’s Remote app.

1. Swipe downward from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center or upward from the bottom if you have an iPhone with a Touch ID Button.
2. Tap the Apple TV Remote button.
3. Tap your Apple TV at the top of your screen.
4. Tap Find.
5. Move around to locate a signal from your Apple TV Remote.
6. Continue to move until your iPhone changes from far to near status.
7. Keep moving by following the on-screen feedback until it changes to here.
8. Look around the area to locate your remote, then tap the X button to return to the Apple TV Remote in Control Center.

While the Find option in Control Center is handy for locating your lost remote, there may be times when you simply cannot track it down. Don’t panic—there are plenty of Siri Remote alternatives to control your Apple TV—and you can always purchase a replacement remote if needed.

Your iPhone Makes it Easy to Find Your Apple TV Remote

Thanks to Apple’s slick tracking feature on your iPhone, you’ll never be without your precious Siri Remote again. All it takes is a couple of taps and a few steps to track it down the next time it decides to disappear.