How to connect your phone to your TV
To control a TV from your phone, the two need to be on the same Wi-Fi and paired once. It takes a minute or two. Here's what happens at each step, and what to check when the phone can't find the TV.
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Connect and pair, step by step
- 1
Switch the TV on and connect it to your network
Use the TV's network settings to join your Wi-Fi. A TV connected with a network cable works too, as long as it's on the same router as the phone. - 2
Put the phone on the same network
Same network name as the TV. Guest networks usually keep devices apart, and so does a VPN on the phone that blocks local devices; turn it off while you pair. - 3
Allow local network access
On iPhone, the remote app asks to find devices on your local network. Allow it. If you said no earlier, turn it on in Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network. - 4
Let the app find the TV
The app lists the TVs it finds on your network, usually by name. Some apps, Rimokon included, can also add some TVs by the IP address shown in the TV's network settings. - 5
Pair with the code or by accepting on the TV
Depending on the TV, it shows a code that you type into the phone, or asks you to allow the connection on screen. Some TVs need a setting turned on first that lets phone apps control them. - 6
Try a key
Press Home or turn the volume up. If the TV reacts, you're done; from now on the phone reconnects by itself.
If the phone can't find the TV
- Check that both really are on the same network, not a guest network or a separate extender network.
- Make sure the TV is fully on, not just showing a standby light.
- Restart the TV and the router, then try again.
- Turn off a VPN on the phone while you pair.
- Look in the TV's settings for an option that allows control from other devices or apps, and turn it on.
- Some routers have a setting, often called client or AP isolation, that stops devices on Wi-Fi from seeing each other. If it's on, the phone can't reach the TV.
Where Rimokon fits
Rimokon finds the TVs on your home network and walks you through pairing each one. Once someone in your household has paired a TV, everyone else in the household can use it from their own phone without pairing again.
Pairing works over your Wi-Fi only. It works with Google TV and Android TV, Apple TV, Samsung, LG, Sony, Fire TV, Roku, Philips, Panasonic and VIZIO, but not with every TV: Hisense VIDAA, Titan OS and the newest Fire TV Sticks (Vega OS) aren't supported yet. See which TVs work.