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

Siri Remote battery: check the level, charge it, fix charging

Updated 2 July 2026

Check the Siri Remote battery on the Apple TV under Settings → Remotes and Devices, where a battery icon shows the current charge. The remote itself has no indicator light. Charging is over Lightning (1st and 2nd generation) or USB-C (3rd generation); 30 minutes is enough to revive a flat remote and a full charge takes around three hours, lasting a couple of months of typical use.

Check the battery level

On the Apple TV, open Settings → Remotes and Devices and look at the Remote entry – the battery icon next to it shows the charge, and selecting it shows the percentage. tvOS also pops a low-battery notification on screen, but only when the remote is almost empty, which is why a Siri Remote seems to die without warning.

If the remote is too dead to navigate there, control the Apple TV from an iPhone instead: the free Apple TV Remote in Control Center, or Itsytv on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Both pair with a PIN shown on the TV screen, no physical remote needed.

Charging: connector, time, and quirks

1st generation Siri Remote (2015, glass touchpad on top) and 2nd generation (2021, silver with power button): Lightning port on the bottom edge.
3rd generation Siri Remote (late 2022 onwards): USB-C port. Visually identical to the 2nd generation otherwise.
30 minutes of charging is enough to get a flat remote responding; a full charge takes roughly three hours.
There is no charging light. The only way to see charge status is Settings → Remotes and Devices on the Apple TV.
Any USB power adapter or computer USB port works; the remote does not need a fast charger.

Remote won't charge

Swap cable and power source. Cheap or worn Lightning/USB-C cables are the top cause. Try the cable and charger you use for your phone.
Clean the port. Pocket lint compacted in the port stops the connector seating. Clean it gently with a dry toothpick or a soft brush – no metal.
Charge for 30 minutes, then force-restart. Leave it on power for a full 30 minutes, then press and hold the TV/Control Center button and Volume Down for five seconds to restart the remote, and check the level in Settings → Remotes and Devices.
Still flat? The battery is likely dead. The Siri Remote's lithium battery is sealed and not user-replaceable. Apple services it, but at a price close to a new remote ($59) – at that point a software remote or a replacement makes more sense.

Old remotes with replaceable batteries

The slim aluminum Apple Remote (and the white plastic remote before it) takes a standard CR2032 coin cell. Open the tray on the bottom with a paperclip and swap the cell – a two-minute fix that revives most "dead" aluminum remotes. These IR remotes still work with modern Apple TVs for basic navigation.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check the battery level of my Apple TV remote?

On the Apple TV: Settings → Remotes and Devices. The Remote entry shows a battery icon; select it for the percentage. The remote has no indicator light of its own.

How long does the Siri Remote take to charge?

About three hours for a full charge, which lasts around two months of typical use. 30 minutes is enough to bring a completely flat remote back to life.

Does the Siri Remote have a replaceable battery?

No – all Siri Remote generations have a sealed lithium battery charged over Lightning or USB-C. Only the old aluminum and white IR remotes take a replaceable CR2032 coin cell.

My Siri Remote battery drains fast. What can I do?

Restart the remote (TV button + Volume Down for five seconds), update tvOS, and re-pair if it continues. A remote that discharges in days rather than weeks usually has a failing cell, and since it is sealed, a $59 replacement or a $4.99 software remote like Itsytv is the practical fix.

Related guides

Get Itsytv

Itsytv turns your iPhone, iPad, and Mac into a full Apple TV remote – circular d-pad, app launcher, now-playing panel, real keyboard, and multi-room switching. A one-time $4.99 purchase, no subscription. The Mac version is free and open source via Homebrew. Download on the App Store →