Android TV & Google TV
Google TV remote app not working on iPhone? Causes and fixes
Nefarius Apps9 min read
When the Google TV remote app does not work on an iPhone, the cause is usually one of four things. The iPhone and the TV are on different Wi-Fi networks, or the app has no Local Network access in iOS. If not, the TV needs a restart, or the pairing is lost. Do the checks in this order, because the first two checks are fast and need only the iPhone and the TV menu.
Why does the Google TV remote app stop working on an iPhone?
The remote in the Google TV app is a connection between the iPhone and the TV on your home network. The app first finds the TV on the network. Then it pairs with the TV through a code that the TV shows. After that, each button that you tap goes to the TV through the Wi-Fi network.
Thus there are two different failures. In the first, the app cannot find the TV. The cause is the network or an iPhone permission. In the second, the app finds the TV, but the TV does not answer. The cause is the TV or the pairing. The symptom tells you where to start.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The app does not list the TV | The iPhone and the TV are on different networks | Connect the two devices to the same Wi-Fi network |
| The app does not list the TV, and the network is correct | Local Network access is off for the app | Turn it on in the iPhone Settings |
| The app lists the TV but does not connect | The TV does not answer | Restart the TV, then pair again |
| The remote worked yesterday and stopped | The TV does not answer | Restart the TV |
| All buttons work, but the volume does not | The volume setting on the TV | Set Volume control to Auto (CEC) |
| The remote fails only on some networks | A guest network or client isolation | Use the main home network |
The same checks apply to a TV with Android TV. For a remote app, the two are the same platform, as Android TV vs Google TV explains.
Check that the iPhone and the TV are on the same Wi-Fi network
Google gives this as the first check: "your phone and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network." The same network name on the two devices is the target. A guest network is a different network, although it comes from the same router.
- On the TV, go to the profile icon on the Google TV home screen.
- Select Settings, then Network & Internet.
- Make sure that Wi-Fi is on, and read the name of the network.
- On the iPhone, open Settings, then Wi-Fi.
- If the name is different, connect the iPhone to the network of the TV.
An iPhone that uses cellular data cannot reach the TV, even when the TV is online. If the two names are the same and the app still cannot find the TV, the router can be the cause. The article about a phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi that still do not connect shows each router cause.
Turn on Local Network access for the Google TV app
On an iPhone, an app cannot find devices on your Wi-Fi network without your permission. Apple says that, from iOS 14, an app "must ask for permission the first time that it tries to browse your local network." If you tapped Don't Allow, the app cannot find the TV, and iOS does not show an error.
- Open Settings on the iPhone.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Local Network.
- If Google TV is in the list, turn on the switch.
- Close the Google TV app, then open it again.
Google's help page does not include this step, although its other steps apply to all phones. It is easy to miss on an iPhone, because iOS asks the question only the first time. The guide to why a remote app asks for Local Network access explains what the permission permits and what it does not.
Restart the TV and connect the remote again
If the app lists the TV but the TV does not answer, restart the TV. Google's instruction is to disconnect the power cord of the TV, wait 10 seconds, and connect the cord again. Then set up the remote again, as follows.
- Open the Google TV app on the iPhone.
- Near the bottom right of the screen, tap TVs nearby.
- Select your TV.
- Enter the code that the TV shows.
- Tap Pair.
The label of the button can be different in your version of the app. Google's help pages for Android phones call the same button Connect TV. If the pairing fails, do the steps again and enter the code that the TV shows at that time.
A restart also helps when the remote stops with no clear cause. In a Reddit thread about a Hisense Google TV, the app stopped on an iPhone and on an Android phone at the same time. A new installation of the app did not help. One owner said that this occurred approximately one time each month, and that a full restart of the TV always corrected it. This is a user report, not a statement from Google, but it agrees with Google's instruction.
Also make sure that the app is current. As of October 2026, the App Store listing shows that the Google TV app requires iOS 17.0 or later.
Fix the volume buttons
If the other buttons work and only the volume does not, the connection is good. The cause is a setting on the TV. Google's fix is as follows.
- On the TV, go to the profile icon, then Settings.
- Select Remotes & Accessories, then Set up remote buttons.
- Select Volume control.
- Make sure that the setting is Auto (CEC).
Google's help page gives no other volume fix. If the setting is correct and the volume still fails, restart the TV as the section before this one shows.
Check the router for a guest network or client isolation
Some networks stop the devices on them from communicating with each other. Google's help for its streaming devices calls this access point (AP) isolation, and says that routers also call it Client Isolation or Guest Mode. Google's instruction is to disable it on the router. With this setting on, the iPhone and the TV show the same network name, but the app cannot find the TV.
- A guest network can have isolation on. Connect the iPhone and the TV to the main network.
- Hotel and public networks can have isolation on, and you cannot change it.
- A Wi-Fi extender can have its own isolation setting. Google says to disable it on the extender also.
If the remote works at home but not in a different place, the network there is the likely cause. No setting on the iPhone or in the app can correct that.
Use a different remote on the same iPhone
If the Google TV app continues to fail, there are two other remotes that you can use on the same iPhone.
The first is the Google Home app. Google's instruction for an iPhone is to open Google Home, tap the TV, then tap Open remote. TCL's help page for this remote says that the TV, the app and the phone must use the same Google account. If the remote button is missing, TCL says to update the app, then close it fully and open it again. Also make sure that the TV is online.
The second is a remote app from a different company. Tivi, a universal TV remote app for iPhone from Nefarius Apps, controls Google TV and Android TV devices through the local network, with no account. The first connection shows a six-character code on the TV, and you type it into the app one time. Tivi has the arrow buttons and OK, volume and mute, play and pause, back, home and menu. The guide on how to control an Android TV or Google TV from an iPhone shows the full procedure.
A different app does not correct a network problem. Tivi also needs the same Wi-Fi network and Local Network access, so do the first two checks before you change apps. A second app is most useful when the network is good and one app does not connect.
The short version
The Google TV remote app needs three things: the same Wi-Fi network as the TV, Local Network access on the iPhone, and a TV that answers. If the app does not list the TV, examine the network and the permission. If the app lists the TV but nothing occurs, restart the TV and pair again. If only the volume fails, set Volume control to Auto (CEC).
For other remote apps, the checklist for a TV that does not show up in a remote app gives the same checks in more detail.
Common questions
Is there a Google TV remote app for iPhone?
Yes. The remote is a part of the Google TV app, which is free on the App Store. The App Store description says that the app has a remote built in. It also says that you can use the keyboard of the phone to type passwords. Google's help page says that the app can also control playback, change the volume and start Google Assistant.
Why does the Google TV app not show my TV?
The app shows a TV only when it can find the TV on the Wi-Fi network. Make sure that the iPhone and the TV use the same network. Then make sure that Local Network access is on for the app in Settings, Privacy & Security, Local Network. Also make sure that the TV is on. Then close the app and open it again.
Can the Google TV app turn the TV on?
Google's help page lists "turn the TV on or off" as a function of the app. It does not work on all TVs. TCL's help page for the Google Home remote says that some setups do not support power control through the network. If volume and navigation work but power does not, use the button on the TV to turn it on.
Why did the Google TV remote app stop working suddenly?
Usually the network changed or the TV stopped answering. Make sure that the iPhone did not connect to a different Wi-Fi network or change to cellular data. Then restart the TV: disconnect the power cord, wait 10 seconds, and connect it again. If the TV asks for a code, pair again.
Sources
- Google (2026). Learn how to fix problems with the Google TV virtual remote.
- Google (2026). Cast, connect & control your TV with the Google TV app.
- Google (2026). Use your phone as the remote for your Chromecast or Google TV Streamer.
- Google (2026). Can't establish a Wi-Fi connection to Chromecast or Google TV Streamer.
- Apple (2026). If an app would like to connect to devices on your local network.
- Apple App Store (2026). Google TV: Watch Movies & TV.
- TCL (2026). Control your TCL Google TV with the Google Home app.
- Reddit, r/Hisense (2023). Google TV remote app on iOS and Android suddenly stopped working.