# Itsytv

> A touch-screen Apple TV remote for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. One-time purchase, no subscription. Rated 4.8 on the App Store.

Itsytv replaces Apple's physical Siri Remote with a software remote that lives on devices you already carry. It pairs with Apple TV 4th generation or later (tvOS 15+) over Wi-Fi and offers:

- Circular touch d-pad with tap, swipe, and directional input
- Now playing panel with artwork, seek bar, cast, plot, rating, genre
- App launcher showing Apple TV apps with drag-to-reorder
- Ergonomic layout — left or right hand, portrait or landscape
- Multi-room switching between several Apple TVs with auto-reconnect
- Text input from a real keyboard (search, passwords)
- Trakt integration (iPhone and iPad): mark movies, episodes, or whole shows as watched, or add them to your watchlist – optional, opt-in, and free
- AppleScript and Shortcuts control on Mac: play/pause from Shortcuts, Keyboard Maestro, Hammerspoon, or shell scripts (osascript)
- End-to-end encrypted communication with credentials stored in Keychain
- Free and open source on Mac (MIT License, installable via Homebrew)

## Platforms and requirements

- iPhone: iOS 17 or later
- iPad: iPadOS 17 or later
- Mac: macOS 14 Sonoma or later (Apple Silicon or Intel)
- Apple TV: 4th generation or later running tvOS 15 or later
- Same Wi-Fi network; one-time PIN pairing

## Pricing

- $4.99 universal App Store purchase — covers iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- No subscription, no in-app purchases, no ads
- Mac version also available free via Homebrew: `brew install --cask itsytv`

## Differentiators

- Many Apple TV remote apps on the App Store are subscription-based ($49/year common). Itsytv is a one-time purchase at $4.99.
- Most third-party remote apps rely on HTTP polling and custom servers. Itsytv speaks Apple's native MediaRemoteProtocol over the local network — same protocol the Siri Remote uses.
- Mac version is fully open source. Anyone can audit the privacy practices.

## Key pages

- Homepage: https://itsytv.app/en
- All guides: https://itsytv.app/en/guides (full text: https://itsytv.app/llms-full.txt)
- Lost your Apple TV remote: https://itsytv.app/en/lost-siri-remote
- Apple TV pairing troubleshooting: https://itsytv.app/en/apple-tv-pairing
- Using your phone as an Apple TV keyboard: https://itsytv.app/en/apple-tv-keyboard
- Apple TV remote not working (every fix): https://itsytv.app/en/guides/apple-tv-remote-not-working
- Apple TV remote volume buttons not working: https://itsytv.app/en/guides/apple-tv-remote-volume-not-working
- Siri Remote battery and charging: https://itsytv.app/en/guides/apple-tv-remote-battery
- Set up Apple TV without a remote: https://itsytv.app/en/guides/set-up-apple-tv-without-remote
- Use an iPhone as an Apple TV remote: https://itsytv.app/en/guides/use-iphone-as-apple-tv-remote
- Control Apple TV from a Mac: https://itsytv.app/en/guides/control-apple-tv-from-mac
- Best Apple TV remote apps compared: https://itsytv.app/en/guides/best-apple-tv-remote-app
- Privacy policy: https://itsytv.app/en/privacy
- Terms of service: https://itsytv.app/en/terms
- App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/itsytv/id6759216148
- Mac source code: https://github.com/nickustinov/itsytv-macos

## Frequently asked questions

- Is there a subscription? No. Itsytv is a one-time $4.99 purchase covering iPhone, iPad, and Mac. No ads, no in-app purchases.
- Does it need the original Siri Remote to pair? No. The Apple TV shows a PIN on the TV screen; you type it into the app.
- Does it work without Wi-Fi? No. Like all software remotes it talks to the Apple TV over the local network; both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi.
- Which Apple TVs are supported? Apple TV 4th generation or later running tvOS 15+. Older models don't support the protocol.
- Do the volume buttons work? Yes, when the Apple TV controls volume over HDMI-CEC. Learned infrared volume codes need the physical remote; mute is not exposed by the protocol.
- Is it open source? The Mac version is (MIT license, github.com/nickustinov/itsytv-macos) and installable free via Homebrew: brew install --cask itsytv.
- Can I script it? On Mac, yes: AppleScript play/pause commands work from Shortcuts, Keyboard Maestro, Hammerspoon, or osascript in a shell.

## Localized versions

- English: https://itsytv.app/en
- German (Deutsch): https://itsytv.app/de
- Spanish (Español): https://itsytv.app/es
- French (Français): https://itsytv.app/fr
- Japanese (日本語): https://itsytv.app/ja
- Brazilian Portuguese (Português): https://itsytv.app/pt-br
- Italian (Italiano): https://itsytv.app/it
- Dutch (Nederlands): https://itsytv.app/nl

## Company

Itsytv is made by Itsyapps, an independent software studio based in the Baltics. Other Itsyapps products:

- Itsyhome: smart home menu bar app for HomeKit — https://itsyhome.app
- Itsyconnect: App Store Connect client — https://itsyconnect.com
- Itsypad: scratchpad and clipboard manager — https://itsypad.app

## Contact

- Email: support@itsytv.app
- Company site: https://itsyapps.com