Android TV & Google TV
How to control a Sony TV with your iPhone
Nefarius Apps10 min read
You can control a Sony TV with your iPhone. A Sony Bravia smart TV accepts commands over Wi-Fi from an app on a phone that is on the same network. The app to use depends on the model. Sony's own remote app for iPhone, BRAVIA Connect, supports only the recent models on Sony's list. Other Sony smart TVs run Google TV or Android TV, and the Google TV app or a universal remote app controls them.
Which iPhone app works with which Sony TV?
Four types of app can control a Sony TV from an iPhone. Each one connects in a different way, and each one supports a different group of TVs.
| App | Works with | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| BRAVIA Connect, from Sony | Only the Bravia models on Sony's list | iOS 15 or later, and the latest TV software |
| Google TV, from Google | Sony TVs that run Google TV or Android TV | The same Wi-Fi network, and a code shown on the TV |
| Apple TV Remote in Control Centre | Sony TVs that support AirPlay and Apple HomeKit | The TV added to the Home app, and the same Wi-Fi network |
| Tivi | Sony TVs that run Google TV or Android TV, and Samsung and LG TVs | The same Wi-Fi network, and a code shown on the TV. No account |
The sections below explain each app. If you do not know which system your Sony TV has, read the next section first.
What does a Sony TV run?
Sony smart TVs do not use a system made by Sony. They use Google's TV platform, in one of two forms:
- Sony TVs from the 2021 Bravia XR range onward use Google TV. 9to5Google reported in January 2021 that Sony would use the Google TV interface on all new releases.
- Before that, Sony used Android TV. In the same report, 9to5Google wrote that Sony had used Android TV for more than six years.
For a remote app, the two are almost the same. The phone speaks to the same remote service on the two systems. The difference between Android TV and Google TV explains how to see which one your TV has.
This fact is more important than the model name. An app made for Google TV or Android TV can control a Sony TV, although the app does not have Sony in its name.
Sony's own app: BRAVIA Connect
BRAVIA Connect is Sony's remote app for iPhone. Sony's help guide says that you can install the app on your smartphone to operate the TV and to set up a compatible audio system. The App Store lists the app as free, and it needs iOS 15.0 or later. Its earlier name was Home Entertainment Connect.
The limit is the model list. As of October 2026, the App Store listing gives these compatible TVs:
- BRAVIA 9 II and BRAVIA 9
- BRAVIA 8 II and BRAVIA 8
- BRAVIA 7 II and BRAVIA 7
- BRAVIA 5
- BRAVIA 3 II and BRAVIA 3
- BRAVIA 2 II
- the A95L series and the XR8 series
If your TV is not on the list, BRAVIA Connect cannot control it. The list can change, so check the App Store listing for the current list.
Sony also gives two conditions. The software of the TV must be up to date before you use the app. In addition, the function is not available for every model, region and country.
The TV has a setting for the app, and its name changes with the model:
- The help guide for the BRAVIA 9, 8, 8 II, 7, 5 and A95L puts it in Settings, Network and Internet, Remote device settings. The option Control remotely lets a registered device operate the TV.
- The help guide for the BRAVIA 3 II lists an option with the name BRAVIA Connect remote control feature in Network and Internet. This option lets the BRAVIA Connect app control the TV.
The Google TV app
The Google TV app is Google's app for iPhone, and it includes a remote. Google says that you can use the app to control your Google TV or Android TV. Thus it works with Sony TVs that are not on the BRAVIA Connect list.
Connect the iPhone and the TV to the same wireless network. Then do these steps from Google's instructions:
- Open the Google TV app on the iPhone.
- Tap TVs nearby, near the bottom right of the screen.
- Select your Sony TV.
- Enter the code that the TV shows on its screen.
- Tap Pair.
Google lists these functions for the remote: turn the TV on or off, change the volume, control playback, start Google Assistant, and enter text. You type the text on the keyboard of the phone, which is quicker than selecting letters on the TV screen.
You enter the code on the phone. You do not press a button on the TV. Thus you can do the first connection when you cannot find the Sony remote, if the TV is on and connected to Wi-Fi.
Apple's Control Centre remote through HomeKit
The iPhone has a remote of its own in Control Centre. Apple says that the Apple TV Remote works with Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD and AirPlay-compatible smart TVs. For a smart TV, Apple tells you to add the TV to the Home app and to assign it to a room.
Sony's help guides for recent Bravia models say that the TV supports AirPlay 2 and Apple HomeKit. To set it up, Sony gives this procedure:
- Press the Input button on the Sony remote.
- Select AirPlay.
- Obey the instructions on the screen to set up Apple HomeKit.
Sony's guide for the BRAVIA 9, 8, 7, 5 and A95L adds that AirPlay needs Google TV setup and an internet connection. The iPhone must be on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV.
This procedure needs the Sony remote one time, for the first step. It is a good option if you have the remote now and want a second remote on your phone. It is not a solution for a remote that is already lost.
One app for a Sony TV and other brands
BRAVIA Connect controls only Sony products. In a home with a Sony TV in one room and a Samsung or LG TV in a different room, each brand needs its own app.
A universal remote app prevents this. Tivi, a universal TV remote app for iPhone from Nefarius Apps, finds the TVs on your Wi-Fi network automatically. It controls Samsung, LG, Android TV and Google TV sets. You do not need an account.
Tivi controls a Sony Bravia TV through the remote service of Google TV and Android TV. The first connection uses a code:
- Make sure that the TV is on and that the iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open Tivi and tap your Sony TV in the list.
- Read the six-character code on the TV screen.
- Enter the code in Tivi.
After that, the TV is saved in Tivi, and the next connection takes one tap. The remote in Tivi has these buttons: the arrow pad and OK, volume and mute, play and pause, previous and next, back, home, menu, and power off. Tivi does not control Roku devices or Apple TV.
Controlling an Android TV or Google TV from an iPhone gives more detail about the code and the buttons.
Can an iPhone turn a Sony TV on?
An iPhone can turn a Sony TV on if a setting on the TV permits it. Sony's help guides connect this function to one setting, and the name of the setting is different on different Bravia models.
| Sony models in the help guide | Setting | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| BRAVIA 9, 8, 8 II, 7, 5, A95L, XR8B and XR8C | Remote start, set to On (Powered on by apps) | Quick Settings, Settings, Network & Internet, Remote start |
| BRAVIA 9 II and 7 II | Energy modes, set to Optimised or Increased | Quick Settings, Eco Dashboard, Energy modes |
Sony writes that, with this setting, you can turn on the TV with apps on a mobile device such as an iPhone. Sony gives this information in its instructions for AirPlay and HomeKit. It does not name the other apps that the setting works with.
Change the setting before you need it. You must use the TV menu to change it, and the menu is easier to use while you have the remote.
When the Sony TV does not connect
If the app does not find the Sony TV, or the connection fails, do these checks in sequence:
- Make sure that the TV is on.
- Make sure that the iPhone and the TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Google gives this as the first condition for its remote.
- Make sure that the app has Local Network access in the iPhone settings. Without this permission, the app cannot see devices on your network.
- Disconnect the TV power cord, wait 10 seconds, and connect it again. Then set up the remote again. Google recommends this procedure for its remote.
- Update the TV software and the app. Sony says that BRAVIA Connect can need the latest version of the two.
If the TV does not appear in the app after these checks, use the checklist for a TV that doesn't show up.
If the Sony TV is not a smart TV
A Sony TV that has no network connection cannot receive commands from an iPhone app. All the apps on this page send commands through the home network. A physical Sony remote uses infrared light, and no iPhone has an infrared emitter.
For such a TV, buy a replacement remote or a universal infrared remote. Why an iPhone can't use infrared explains the other options.
The short version
A Sony Bravia smart TV can be controlled from an iPhone if the two are on the same Wi-Fi network. Use BRAVIA Connect if your model is on Sony's list. For other Sony TVs with Google TV or Android TV, use the Google TV app, or a universal app such as Tivi if you also have TVs from other brands. In each case, you enter a code from the TV screen on the phone.
If you want the phone to turn the TV on, change the Remote start or Energy modes setting on the TV first.
Common questions
Can I control my Sony TV with my iPhone?
Yes, if it is a Sony smart TV on the same Wi-Fi network as the iPhone. Sony's BRAVIA Connect app controls the models on Sony's list. The Google TV app and universal remote apps control Sony TVs that run Google TV or Android TV. A Sony TV that is not a smart TV needs an infrared remote.
Is there an official Sony TV remote app for iPhone?
Yes. The official app is BRAVIA Connect, from Sony Corporation, and it needs iOS 15.0 or later. It supports only the models on Sony's compatibility list, which as of October 2026 includes the BRAVIA 9 II, 8 II and 7 II, the A95L series and the XR8 series.
Is there a free Sony TV remote app for iPhone?
Yes. The App Store lists BRAVIA Connect as free. The Apple TV Remote in Control Centre is part of the iPhone, and it works with a Sony TV that you add to the Home app. Tivi is free to download.
Can I use a Sony TV remote app without Wi-Fi?
No. Remote apps on an iPhone send commands through the home network, so the phone and the TV must be on the same network. An iPhone has no infrared emitter, so it cannot replace the Sony remote directly.
Sources
- Sony (2025). BRAVIA Connect App. Help Guide for BRAVIA 9, 8, 8 II, 7, 5 and A95L.
- Sony (2025). Adjusting home network settings. Help Guide for BRAVIA 9, 8, 8 II, 7, 5 and A95L.
- Sony (2026). Network and Internet. Help Guide for BRAVIA 3 II.
- Sony (2025). Displaying the iPhone/smartphone or iPad/tablet app screen on the TV. Help Guide for BRAVIA 9, 8, 8 II, 7, 5, A95L, XR8B and XR8C.
- Sony (2026). Displaying the iPhone/smartphone or iPad/tablet app screen on the TV. Help Guide for BRAVIA 9 II and 7 II.
- Sony Corporation (2026). Sony | BRAVIA Connect. App Store listing.
- Google. Cast, connect & control your TV with the Google TV app.
- Google. Learn how to fix problems with the Google TV virtual remote.
- Apple (2026). Set up the Apple TV Remote on your iPhone or iPad.
- Schoon, B., 9to5Google (2021). Sony embraces the new Google TV interface on 2021 ‘Bravia XR’ lineup.