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

How to set up and use Apple TV without a remote

Updated 2 July 2026

You can set up and use an Apple TV without ever touching a Siri Remote. Most TV remotes navigate Apple TV menus over HDMI-CEC – the directional and OK buttons just work. Use the TV remote to get through initial setup, hold your iPhone nearby to transfer Wi-Fi and Apple ID automatically, and then use the iPhone (Control Center or Itsytv) as the permanent remote.

Brand-new Apple TV, no remote

Navigate setup with your TV's remote. Apple TV accepts navigation commands over HDMI-CEC out of the box. Point your normal TV remote at the TV and use its arrow and OK/Enter buttons – on most TVs from the last decade this drives the Apple TV interface directly, no configuration needed. If nothing happens, enable HDMI-CEC in the TV's settings (Samsung: Anynet+, LG: Simplink, Sony: Bravia Sync).
Use iPhone proximity setup for credentials. When the Apple TV shows the "Set Up with iPhone" screen, unlock your iPhone, hold it next to the Apple TV, and follow the prompts. Wi-Fi password and Apple ID transfer automatically – this skips the worst of the on-screen typing.
Finish setup, then switch to a software remote. Once the Apple TV is on your Wi-Fi, the free Apple TV Remote in iPhone Control Center starts working, and Itsytv can pair from iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Pairing shows a four-digit PIN on the TV screen, which you type into the app – the physical remote is never part of the process.

Already-set-up Apple TV, remote lost or broken

If the Apple TV is already on your network, skip straight to a software remote: open Control Center on an iPhone and tap Apple TV Remote, or install Itsytv and pair with the on-screen PIN. Both work immediately.

The awkward case is an Apple TV that is set up but no longer on a reachable network – it moved house, or the Wi-Fi password changed. The trick there is a network cable: plug Ethernet into the Apple TV (or a USB-C/Ethernet adapter setup for models without a port, using the TV-remote CEC navigation above to change Wi-Fi settings). Once the Apple TV and your phone share a network again, any remote app can pair.

What a software remote can and can't do

Pairing never requires the physical remote – the PIN appears on the TV screen.
Everything the Siri Remote does over Bluetooth works from an app: navigation, select, back, home, play/pause, text input.
Volume works when the Apple TV uses HDMI-CEC volume; learned infrared volume codes need the physical remote (phones have no IR blaster).
Itsytv adds what the physical remote never had: an app launcher, a now-playing panel with details, multi-Apple TV switching, and a real keyboard.

Frequently asked questions

Can I set up a new Apple TV without the Siri Remote?

Yes. Use your TV's own remote over HDMI-CEC to navigate the setup screens (arrow and OK buttons work on most TVs), hold an iPhone nearby to transfer Wi-Fi and Apple ID, and then use a software remote such as the Control Center remote or Itsytv permanently.

Does pairing a remote app require the original remote?

No. When a remote app requests pairing, the Apple TV shows a four-digit PIN on the TV screen; you type it into the app. The physical remote plays no part.

My TV remote doesn't control the Apple TV. Why?

HDMI-CEC is off or unsupported. Enable it in the TV settings – it is called Anynet+ (Samsung), Simplink (LG), Bravia Sync (Sony), or Viera Link (Panasonic). Very old TVs and some cheap HDMI switches don't pass CEC.

Is there a permanent remote replacement that isn't a subscription?

Itsytv is a one-time $4.99 App Store purchase covering iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with no subscription. The Mac version is also free and open source via Homebrew.

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 →