Itsytv says “No Apple TVs found.”

Itsytv needs local network access to discover Apple TV devices. If you declined the permission prompt, open Settings → Privacy & Security → Local network and enable Itsytv. Your iPhone and Apple TV must also be on the same Wi-Fi network.

My Apple TV doesn't show a PIN code when pairing.

Your Apple TV is probably restricting which devices can connect. Open Settings → AirPlay and Apple Home, set Allow access to Anyone on the same network, and make sure Require password is Off. Then check Settings → General → Restrictions and confirm AirPlay Settings and Remote App Pairing are both Allow. Keep them there — Itsytv needs them that way to maintain a connection.

The remote panel closes a few seconds after connecting.

Your AirPlay access is set to Only people sharing this home. Open Settings → AirPlay and Apple Home on your Apple TV and change Allow access to Anyone on the same network. Done.

Now playing information isn't showing.

Itsytv relies on AirPlay to receive now playing updates. Open Settings → AirPlay and Apple Home on your Apple TV and make sure AirPlay is set to On.

Now playing shows the wrong show or movie.

Apple TV occasionally reports now playing information from a previously used app instead of the current one — a known quirk of the Apple TV protocol itself. Restarting the streaming app on your Apple TV or switching playback usually clears it.

Netflix doesn't show now playing details.

Netflix recently updated their Apple TV player and no longer reports show information to the system. That means Itsytv can't display the title, artwork, or episode for what's playing in Netflix. This is a Netflix-side limitation. Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and most other streaming apps continue to work normally.

Volume buttons aren't working.

Volume control depends on your Apple TV configuration. If your TV uses HDMI-CEC for volume, the buttons will work. If your Apple TV is set to control volume over IR (infrared), commands from Itsytv won't reach the TV. Check Settings → Remotes and Devices → Volume Control on your Apple TV to see which mode is active. The mute button isn't supported by the protocol yet.

On Mac: I launched the app and nothing happened.

Itsytv on Mac is a menu bar app — a tiny TV icon in the top-right, not a Dock tile. On MacBooks with a notch, macOS silently hides menu bar icons that don't fit behind the notch. Hold ⌘ Cmd and drag unused icons off the menu bar; when Itsytv reappears, ⌘-drag it somewhere safe.

Itsytv · Guides

Apple TV remote guides and troubleshooting

Practical, step-by-step answers to the Apple TV remote problems people actually hit – written by the maker of Itsytv, useful whether you use the app or not.

Apple TV remote not working? Every fix, in order
Why the Siri Remote stops responding and the fixes that actually work: charging, the restart button combo, re-pairing, restarting the Apple TV, and what to use while your remote is dead.
Fix Apple TV remote volume buttons not working
Why the Siri Remote's volume buttons stop working: HDMI-CEC vs IR volume control, the Learn New Device trick for soundbars, and why remote apps can only change volume in CEC mode.
Siri Remote battery: check the level, charge it, fix charging
How to check the Siri Remote battery level on Apple TV, how long charging takes over Lightning or USB-C, what to do when the remote won't charge, and which old Apple remotes take a replaceable CR2032.
How to set up and use Apple TV without a remote
Setting up an Apple TV with no Siri Remote: navigate the setup screens with your TV remote over HDMI-CEC, transfer Wi-Fi and Apple ID from an iPhone, then use a software remote permanently.
How to use your iPhone as an Apple TV remote
Two ways to turn an iPhone into an Apple TV remote: the free built-in Control Center remote, and what a dedicated app like Itsytv adds – app launcher, now-playing details, multi-room, and a real keyboard.
How to control Apple TV from your Mac
macOS has no built-in Apple TV remote. How to control an Apple TV from the Mac menu bar with Itsytv (free, open source, brew install --cask itsytv), plus AppleScript and Shortcuts automation examples.
Best Apple TV remote apps in 2026, honestly compared
An honest comparison of every way to replace an Apple TV remote: the free built-in Control Center remote, a $59 Siri Remote, subscription remote apps, and Itsytv's one-time $4.99 purchase.
Lost your Apple TV remote? Here's what to do.
Your iPhone is already an Apple TV remote – the three options while you figure out where the Siri Remote went.
Apple TV pairing not working? Here's the full fix.
The five tvOS settings that block remote apps from pairing, and the fix for each specific symptom.
Using your phone as an Apple TV keyboard
Stop typing passwords with a d-pad – how to use a real keyboard on tvOS.