Apple TV Remote Not Working? 6 Quick Ways to Fix It

Fix an unresponsive Apple TV remote quickly

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: July 26, 2024 Fact Checked

Is your Apple TV remote not responding? This can happen if the remote is out of battery or loses sync with your TV. Whether you're using 1st generation, 2nd generation, or newer, you can easily reset and fix your remote. Here's what to do if your Apple TV remote is not working.

Fixing an Apple TV Remote

If you have an Apple Remote (aluminum), replace the coin battery. For newer devices, charge the remote with the proper cable for at least 30 minutes. To reset your remote, press and hold the Control Center and Volume Down buttons for at least five seconds.

1

Check the batteries.

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Put a new battery in. If you have an Apple Remote (aluminum), you'll need a CR2032 or BR2032 lithium 3V coin battery. It's best to use freshly purchased batteries so you know they're new.
- If you're confident the battery is new, take it out and wait a few minutes. Then, put it back in again.
- Make sure the positive (+) side is facing you when you put it back in.

2

Charge the remote.

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Make sure your remote is fully charged. Newer Apple TV remotes have a USB-C or Lightning port that is used to charge. Use the cable that came with the device or similar.^{[1]
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- Wait at least 30 minutes for the remote to charge. Avoid using it while it's charging.

3

Restart the remote.

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Restarting your remote will often fix the problem. You can restart your Apple TV remote by pressing a combination of keys. Make sure to try this method after charging your remote first. Do the following:
- Press and hold the Control Center button (monitor) and Volume Down (-) button.
- Release the buttons after 5 seconds, or if the status light restarts.
- Wait for a Connected notification to appear on your TV.

4

Pair your remote again.

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Your remote may have been unpaired from your TV. To pair your Apple TV remote again, do the following:
- Make sure your remote is about 3 inches from your TV.
- Press and hold the Back/Menu button (<) and Volume Up button (+) for 5 seconds.
- Place your remote on top of your TV to pair.

5

Use the Apple TV remote on your iPhone.

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Your iPhone has a built-in Apple TV remote. When your Apple TV remote isn't working, you can use your iPhone to control your Apple TV. To open the Apple TV:
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (for iPhones with Face ID) or swipe up from the bottom (for iPhones with Touch ID).
- Tap the remote control icon and select your Apple TV from the list.
- If the remote icon isn't there, you'll need to add it to Control Center in Settings > Control Center.^{[2]
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6

Get support from Apple.

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Contact Apple support for help. This may be a hardware issue, and you may still be covered by Apple's warranty.^{[3]
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- You can contact Apple on their website at https://getsupport.apple.com/.