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 · Guide

Lost your Apple TV remote? Here's what to do.

2-minute fix · $4.99 one-time · no subscription

Your iPhone is already an Apple TV remote. Install Itsytv, pair with a PIN, and you're controlling your Apple TV in under two minutes — whether the original Siri Remote ever turns up again or not.

The Siri Remote is beautiful. It's also small, silver, and unusually talented at hiding in sofa cushions. A replacement from Apple costs $59; Itsytv costs $4.99 once and gives you every button the physical remote has — plus a real keyboard, a now-playing panel with cast and ratings, an app launcher, and support for every Apple TV in the house.

Three options while you figure out where it went

1. Itsytv — the fast fix

$4.99 once. iPhone, iPad, and Mac included. Installs in seconds, pairs in two minutes, and unlocks features the Siri Remote never had: a full iOS keyboard for search and passwords, content details with cast and plot, and multi-room switching if you have more than one Apple TV. Works on tvOS 15 and later.

Download Itsytv on the App Store →

2. Apple's Remote in Control Center — free, but basic

Swipe into Control Center on any iPhone or iPad and tap Apple TV Remote. It's functional for emergency button-pressing but lacks the app launcher, now-playing details, multi-room switching, and customisation. It also routes through AirPlay, which is slower and has its own permission quirks.

3. Buy a new Siri Remote — $59 from Apple

Apple still sells the Siri Remote standalone. Fine if you prefer the physical click, but slower to arrive than an App Store install and twelve times the price.

Pairing without the original remote

If you lost the remote before setting anything up, pairing can feel like a chicken-and-egg problem — but it isn't. Apple TV shows the PIN on the TV screen when Itsytv requests a pairing session; you never need the physical remote to authorise the request.

If a PIN doesn't appear, the most common cause is a restriction on your Apple TV. See the pairing troubleshooting guide for the five settings that control this.

Will the Siri Remote still work when it turns up?

Yes. Itsytv and the original remote coexist — tvOS treats Itsytv as just another input device. When the silver slab resurfaces between the couch cushions, you can use either, or both, without conflict.

Also worth knowing

Itsytv works with Apple TV 4th generation or later running tvOS 15+.
Communication is end-to-end encrypted; pairing credentials live in Keychain.
The Mac version is free via Homebrew (brew install --cask itsytv) and open source on GitHub.
Related reading: using your phone as an Apple TV keyboard.