This article was updated and checked for accuracy in April 2024. It was originally published in 2015.
The IR blaster is officially a niche feature these days. It’s becoming rarer and rarer as a feature as phones try to remove as many ports as possible. But the ones with the IR blaster are useful for all sorts of little things. One such example is the remote control for anything that has an IC receiver. This can include TV, air conditioners, some thermostats, cameras and other such things. Today let’s talk about TV remote controls. These are the best TV remote apps for Android.
Today, most manufacturers have remote applications for their products. For example, LG and Samsung have TV remote apps for TVs, and Google has Google Home as a remote control for its products. We recommend that you check them first before using any of the apps below.
Best TV Remote Apps for Android
All TV remote controls
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($3.99 – $24.99 per item)
Umme Aimon Shabbir / Android Authority
The All TV remote control does what its name suggests: it allows you to turn your smartphone into a universal remote control for your TV. It gives you easy control over power, volume buttons, channels and more. It supports Roku, Samsung, Panasonic, Mi, Sony and LG. Download the app, go through the setup process and connect to your TV with one click. The app is good for what it does; however, it has ads, which can be annoying.
Google Home is definitely among the best remote apps. Its primary function is to control Google Home and Google Chromecast devices. That means you’ll need one of those to make this work. Otherwise it’s pretty simple. You just need to select a show, movie, song, picture or anything else. Then transfer it to the screen. It can’t do things like change the channel. It also cannot change the volume. However, you can adjust the phone volume, which has the same effect. It will only get better as time goes on. The application is free. However, Google Home and Chromecast devices cost money.
The official Roku app is great for Roku owners. The app lets you control almost everything on your Roku. All you need an actual TV remote control is the volume. The Roku app remote comes with fast forward, rewind, play/pause and navigation buttons. It also comes with voice search. It’s not what you’d think about TV remote control apps because you don’t need an IR sensor to use it. However, those with a Roku don’t need a full remote app. The app is also free.
Remote control for Samsung TV
Price: Free
Umme Aimon Shabbir / Android Authority
This remote app is a great choice to control your TV, especially for Samsung. Initial setup requires manual confirmation, but after that it’s smooth sailing. The app connects to your TV via WiFi, and your phone must be on the same network. A common problem is persistent connection prompts, but these can be quickly resolved through the settings menu. The app has ads and no way to pay to remove them, but it works fine.
Lean Remote Universal
Price: Free
Unified Remote
Price: Free
Unified Remote is one of the more unique remote applications. It helps to control your own computer. This is useful for those with HTPC (home theater computer) setups. There is support for PC, Mac and Linux. It also comes with a keyboard and mouse for better input control. It’s also great for Raspberry Pi devices, Arduino Yun devices, and more. The free version has a little over a dozen remote controls and most features. The paid version includes 90 remote controls, NFC, Android Wear and more.
Remote for Android TV
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($3.99 – $19.99 per item)
Umme Aimon Shabbir / Android Authority
The Remote for Android TV app offers a convenient solution for controlling your Android Smart TV without the need for a physical remote control. First you need to connect the app to your TV. Make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same WiFi network as your TV. The app works great and is easy to use, allowing you to control the TV using voice commands and the built-in keyboard. It also includes a touchpad; you can easily monitor volume levels directly within the app. There are several ads.
Posted: Kodi Remote Control
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($0.99 – $6.49 per item)
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Yatse is one of Kodi’s remote control apps. It has tons of features. You can stream media to your streaming devices as needed. It also has native support for Plex and Emby servers. You can access the offline library and control Kodi, which even supports Muzei and DashClock. We are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the capabilities of this application. However, this is best used on a home theater computer connected to your TV. You can try it for free.
TV manufacturer applications
Price: Free
Most TV manufacturers have remote apps for their smart TVs. These apps usually have all kinds of functions. They connect to your smart TV via WiFi. This means you don’t need an IR blaster to work. You can change the channel or the volume. It will even allow you to select apps on the TV. Some of the manufacturer’s apps are quite good. Especially Samsung and LG do a good job with their apps. Some are not so great. We could not test every manufacturer. Fortunately, almost all of their remote apps are free to download. Therefore, you can try them without financial risk. We connected the Vizio. Search for your manufacturer in the Google Play Store to find others.
OEM remote phone applications
Price: Free
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Most phones with an IR blaster come with a remote app. You can usually find them in the Google Play Store. For example, some Mi devices use Xiaomi’s built-in TV remote app (linked). These are applications that manufacturers have tested on their devices. So it is quite likely that it will work at least well. You usually don’t have a lot of features. However, OEMs include these apps on their devices for a reason. At least they usually do. Sometimes they will even pre-install the pro version so you don’t have to buy it. You can try them to see if they work because you already have them.
If we missed any of the best TV remote apps for Android, let us know in the comments.