How to turn your Android into a remote control

You almost always have your cell phone within reach, so why not use it as a remote control control the television, radio or almost anything else with a remote control? Thanks to technological advances – and others that have been with us for literally decades – your cell phone is the closest thing to a universal remote control.

We will see how to use your mobile as a remote control, whether it has an infrared port or not. You don’t know if your phone is equipped with this sensor? We will also see how you can find out.

Infrared: yes or no

A 2003 Nokia had an infrared port, but does your current cell phone have one? Even if the sensor experienced a small renaissance in 2014, today only a few brands still integrate it… sometimes, mainly Xiaomi and Huawei.

Unlike other technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or NFC, the infrared port must be exposed and It’s visible, so it shouldn’t be difficult for you to find it on your mobile. Of course, keep in mind that sometimes its appearance is so discreet that it can go unnoticed, as in the following image, where we can see the infrared port of the Xiaomi Mi A1.

If your phone is dark or you don’t have it in front of you right now, you can install a remote control app need infrared port, like the AnyMote universal remote control. The first thing you see when you open the app is a notice that your phone does not have an infrared port.

Your phone doesn’t have infrared? Nothing happens. More and more televisions and devices use other technologies such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi so you can control them remotely, provided they are Smart TVs.

If your mobile is equipped with infrared

Mi Remote, Xiaomi’s remote control application

If your mobile phone has an infrared port, you have countless applications to control not only TVs, but also virtually any gadget with a remote control. All you need is a pre-configured app to send the right codes.

Typically, when a mobile phone integrates the infrared port, it also adds its own application to use it. Xiaomi includes Mi Remote on its phones (which you can install on other phones) and Samsung includes Peel Remote, but if you can’t find it on your phone or the pre-installed app doesn’t convince you, you have lots of alternatives on Google Play.

AnyMote Universal Remote

AnyMote Universal Remote is one of the most popular remote control apps and it’s easy to see why. The list of supported devices is endless, including TVs, consoles, TV boxes, projectors, cameras, and speakers.

The operation is very simple, since you just need to find your device in a list and test if it works. The app itself allows you to easily try different configurations in case it doesn’t work. Once you have it, you can put the device away so you always have it within reach and use your phone as a remote control.

AnyMote Universal Remote + WiFi Smart Home Control 4.6.7

Android version: since 4.0.3
Developer: Color Tiger
Download at: Google game
Price : Free
Category: Tools

If your mobile does not have infrared

If your phone doesn’t have an infrared port, you can still use it as a remote control, although you’re almost entirely exposed to the specifications that each manufacturer has made for each device. It is therefore preferable to use the official app of the brand or device.

Here we must warn you that some brands are unclear about this, as is the case with Samsung, which has been making us dizzy for years, first with Quick Connect, then Smart View, Samsung Connect and finally SmartThings. These are the official applications to control the main television brands.

For Samsung TVs

The umpteenth iteration of Samsung’s TV remote app is SmartThings. It’s a complete application for the entire Samsung smart ecosystemin which the televisions are also located.

Smart objects

For Sony TVs

Old televisions Sony Bravia Use the SideView app to turn your Android into a remote control. If it’s a new model with Android TV, see the generic listing with the Android TV app below.

Video and TV SideView: Remote control

For LG TVs

If your TV is LG, wait because you don’t have a remote control app, but three applications, depending on the model. LG TVs released in 2011 were required to download LG TV Remote 2011 and smart TVs sold from 2012 onwards were required to install LG TV Remote, but both apps are no longer available on Google Play. Latest LG TVs with WebOS from 2014 need [LG webOS Magic Remote](LG webOS Magic Remote).

LG webOS Magic Remote

For Philips TVs

Philips televisions require the brand’s TV Remote application to control the television from your mobile, with certain advanced functions such as the program guide or the voice command

. It is compatible with models from 2014. Models from 2013 and earlier are controlled via Philips My Remote, which is no longer on Google Play (here is its APK).

Philips TV remote control

For Thomson and TCL TVs

Although it is not said anywhere, the official application for controlling Thomson TVs from Android receives the generic name of TV remote control, from TCL, which is responsible for Thomson televisions in Europe and the United States. On models with Android TV you must use the generic application that we will see below.

Remote

For Panasonic TVs

If you have a Panasonic TV, the app you should use depends on the year the TV was manufactured. The models of 2011/2012 require the Panasonic TV Remote app, while these models years later They require Panasonic TV Remote 2. As if that wasn’t enough, Android models released from 2011 to 2018 use Panasonic TV Remote 3.

Remote control for Panasonic TV

Panasonic3 TV remote control

For phones with Android TV or Google TV

On TVs with Android TV, you can use the “hidden” remote in Android’s quick settings, in addition to being able to do so from the Google Home app. With these virtual controls it’s much easier write on fabric.

The Android TV Remote Control app was previously used, but Google stopped supporting it to integrate the functionality into the Google TV app (formerly Play Movies). If you’re not convinced by these built-in controls, you can also use the third-party Android TV Remote app.

Google TV

For other televisions

If your TV is not from another brand, the official application does not work for your model or is simply a disaster (which is possible, because some are quite bad), you will still have the generic applications compatible with many models.

The same AnyMote that we recommend if your phone has an infrared port also includes compatibility with some smart devices over W-Fi, although you’ll probably have better luck with a specialist like SURE Universal Remote, which boasts compatible with over a million devices.