Try these steps first
- Find out which Apple TV remote you have. If you have a Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote, charge it for 30 minutes using a Lightning to USB cable and a USB wall charger. If you have an Apple Remote, replace the battery.
- Stay within range of your Apple TV and move anything that blocks the path between your remote and the front of your Apple TV, television, receiver, and sound bar.
- Unplug your Apple TV from the wall power outlet. Wait at least six seconds, then plug it back in.
If your remote still isn't working as expected, follow the steps for your type of remote. After each step, see if you still need help.
For some Mac users, remote access software became a category to consider when Apple removed Back to My Mac from macOS Mojave, and it was completely turned off on July 1 of this year. Press Menu or Apple TV App/Home on your remote to check if your Apple TV is asleep. Try to pair your remote again. Point your remote three inches away from your Apple TV. Then press and hold your remote's Menu and Volume Up buttons for five seconds. If asked, place your remote on top of Apple TV to complete pairing.
Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote*
Apple Mac Remote Usb
- Press Menu or Apple TV App/Home on your remote to check if your Apple TV is asleep.
- Try to pair your remote again. Point your remote three inches away from your Apple TV. Then press and hold your remote's Menu and Volume Up buttons for five seconds. If asked, place your remote on top of Apple TV to complete pairing.
- If your remote isn't scrolling as expected, you might have turned Accessibility features on. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility and check your settings.
- If you have an Apple Remote (aluminum or white), try it instead of your Siri Remote. Or, if you already set up your Apple TV, you can use the Apple TV Remote in Control Center for iOS or iPadOS to control your Apple TV.
If you still need help, contact Apple Support.
Apple Remote (aluminum or white)
- Unlink your Apple Remote to your Apple TV. On your Apple Remote, hold down Menu and Left for six seconds. Then on your Apple TV, look for above an icon of a remote.
- Link your Apple Remote to your Apple TV. On your Apple Remote, hold down Menu and Right for six seconds. Then on your Apple TV, look for above an icon of a remote.
- Unplug your Apple TV from the wall power outlet. Wait at least six seconds, then plug it back in.
If you still need help, contact Apple Support.
Learn more
- Find out how to set up the Apple TV Remote in Control Center for iOS or iPadOS.
- Learn how to use your Siri Remote.
Apple Mac Remote Support
Apple Mac Remote Access
*Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD ships with the same remote everywhere. In countries and regions that support Siri, the remote is called Siri Remote. Elsewhere, it’s called Apple TV Remote. Siri works on either remote as long as your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD is set up with a language and country or region that supports Siri.