Setup & pairing
How to get to your TV's settings without a remote
Nefarius Apps12 min read
You can get to your TV's settings without a remote in three ways. Use the control button on the TV, a phone app, or a USB keyboard. The button on the TV needs no Wi-Fi, but its menu does not show a settings item on every model. A phone app works only when the TV is on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the phone. A USB keyboard works on the TVs that support one, and Samsung lists the Windows key as the key that displays the TV settings.
Which method fits your situation?
Two questions decide the method. Does the TV have a control button with a menu? Is the TV connected to your home network? The table gives a method for each situation.
| What you have | What to use | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| An LG TV, or a Samsung TV with a control button | The button on the TV | Nothing else |
| A smart TV that is on and connected to your Wi-Fi | A phone app | The phone on the same Wi-Fi network |
| A USB keyboard, wired or with a USB receiver | The keyboard | A TV that supports USB keyboards |
| None of these | A replacement remote | The brand or the model code of the TV |
A phone app cannot find a TV that is not on your network. For such a TV, only the button on the TV and a USB keyboard can open the settings.
Open the settings with the button on the TV
Samsung and LG put a control button on the TV. Samsung says that the button is generally where the red light of the TV appears. A second Samsung support page gives three positions:
- on the back of the TV, in the bottom right corner
- under the front panel, in the middle
- under the front panel, on the side
The button can be hard to see. Use your fingers to find it along the bottom edge and on the back of the TV.
LG TVs
LG calls its control the jog button. LG's help library shows two types. The A type only presses. The B type presses and also moves up, down, left and right.
With the TV on, one press of the jog button opens a menu on the screen. LG lists four items in this menu:
- Power, which turns off the TV
- Close Menu Window, which closes the menu
- Change External Input, which changes the external input
- Settings Menu, which enters the settings menu
To open the settings, do these steps:
- If the TV is off, press the jog button one time to turn the TV on.
- Press the jog button one time. The menu appears on the screen.
- Press the button again to change the item, until Settings Menu is selected.
- Press and hold the button to select Settings Menu.
Open the menu first. LG also gives a press and hold, for more than 1 second, as the action that turns the TV off. LG says that all open apps then close.
On the B type, LG also lists left and right for the volume, and up and down for the channel. LG notes that it made the guide for all models, so the content can be different on your TV.
Samsung TVs
Samsung says that all Samsung TVs have a TV control button. With it, most models let you get to the Smart Hub, the Menu and the Settings. The steps depend on the type of the control.
The most likely position of the control, Samsung says, is the back of the TV in the bottom right corner. The control there is a stick that moves up, down and to each side. When you press the middle of the stick, the menu options appear on the screen. Samsung calls this control the Jog controller. Samsung's page about the Jog controller lists five options: Smart Hub, Return, Source, Power Off and Menu. The Menu option opens the TV menu. The page does not say how to select an option. Try this: move the stick towards Menu, then press the stick.
Other models have a button at the bottom centre or the bottom right of the TV. Samsung's Australian support page, updated in October 2026, gives these steps:
- Press the button one time with the TV on. The Control menu appears at the bottom of the screen.
- Press the button again to move through the menu.
- Press and hold the button to select an item.
That page does not list the items of the Control menu. Look for a Settings item or a Menu item. The page also gives two limits. The function is not available on some TV models. Some features and settings cannot be opened without a remote control.
Other brands
On a TV from another maker, look for a control along the bottom edge, the sides and the back of the TV. Then read the manual for your model to see what the control does. Some owners report a button that controls only the power and the input. If the button on your TV shows no menu, use one of the other methods.
| TV and button | How to open the settings |
|---|---|
| LG, jog button | Press one time for the menu, press to move to Settings Menu, press and hold to select |
| Samsung, control stick | Press the stick for the options, then select Menu |
| Samsung, button at the bottom centre or bottom right | Press for the Control menu, press to move, press and hold to select |
| Other brands | Read the manual; some buttons have no menu |
Open the settings from your phone
A phone app can replace the remote of a smart TV. With the app as the remote, you open the settings as you do with the remote of the TV. Two conditions apply. The TV must be on and connected to your home network. The phone must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Roku states both conditions for its app. LG also tells you to connect the phone and the TV to the same network.
| App | Works with | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| SmartThings | Samsung TVs | A Samsung account, and the TV connected to the app first |
| LG ThinQ | LG TVs | An LG account, and the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network |
| Google TV | Google TV and Android TV | A code from the TV screen, typed into the app |
| The Roku app | Roku TVs and Roku players | The Roku on and connected to Wi-Fi |
| Tivi | Samsung, LG, Android TV and Google TV | No account; the same Wi-Fi network |
On a Samsung TV, open SmartThings, tap your TV, then tap Remote. Samsung says that the remote in the app controls the channel, the volume, Home and Settings. Samsung's Australian page adds that the app needs a Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account. You must also connect the TV to the app first.
On an LG TV, the LG ThinQ app has controls that LG compares to its Magic Remote. LG lists a pointer, a scroll function, arrow buttons and an OK button. LG asks you to log in with an LG account for the initial set-up.
On a Google TV or an Android TV, open the Google TV app and tap TVs nearby. Select your TV, then type the code that the TV shows. Google calls the result a remote-like connection.
When the app is your remote, follow the settings path that the TV maker gives:
- Samsung, 2025 models: go to Settings, then All Settings.
- Samsung, 2023 and 2024 models: press Home, then go to Settings, then All Settings.
- Samsung, 2022 models: press Home, select Menu, then go to Settings, then All Settings.
- LG, webOS 22: go to Settings, then All Settings.
- Google TV: from the home screen, select All settings.
The Samsung paths are from Samsung's page about keyboards. The LG path is from LG's page about keyboards. The Google path is from a Google TV help page.
The apps from Samsung and LG each control one brand, and each asks for an account. Tivi is a universal TV remote app for iPhone from Nefarius Apps. It finds the TVs on your Wi-Fi and controls Samsung, LG, Android TV and Google TV sets without an account. Its remote has an arrow pad, an OK button, and home, back and menu buttons. With these buttons, you go to the home screen and move to the settings. Tivi does not control Roku devices or Apple TV.
For the full set-up, read how to use your iPhone as a TV remote. If the TV does not appear in the app, go through the checklist for a TV that doesn't show up.
Connect the app for the first time without a remote
The first connection between a remote app and a TV needs a confirmation. On two platforms, you give the confirmation on the phone, so you do not need the remote:
- When Tivi connects to an LG TV, the TV shows a PIN on the screen, and you type the PIN into the app. The LG pairing PIN article gives the details.
- An Android TV or a Google TV shows a code, and you type it into the Google TV app or into Tivi. See controlling an Android TV or Google TV from an iPhone.
A Samsung TV is different. When an app such as Tivi connects for the first time, the TV shows a prompt that asks if it can allow the device. You must answer on the TV. Without the remote, try the control button on the TV. Samsung's pages do not say if the button can answer the prompt. Samsung's allow-device prompt explains what the prompt does.
Open the settings with a USB keyboard
A USB keyboard needs no network, so you can also use it on a TV that is offline. Connect a wired keyboard to a USB port of the TV. For a wireless keyboard, connect its USB receiver to the port.
Samsung's support page for India says that most Samsung TVs recognise the keyboard automatically. The page lists the keys and their functions.
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Windows key | Displays the TV settings |
| Directional keys | Move the focus |
| Enter | Selects or runs the focused item |
| Esc | Returns to the previous screen |
| F5 | Displays the Home Screen |
Press the Windows key to show the settings. Then use the directional keys and Enter to move through the menu.
Samsung gives three limits. Its Australian page says that some TV models do not support a USB keyboard or mouse. The page for India says that the keyboard and the mouse work only in the web browser and in apps that support a pointer. It also says that a connected mouse works only in the Internet app. The page for India is from 2022 and has sections for the 2014 to 2018 models, so test the keys on your TV.
On an LG TV, LG says that smart TV models released after 2012 support a USB keyboard and mouse. LG does not list keys for the settings. It says that input can be limited on some screens and that you cannot use some apps.
A Bluetooth keyboard does not help in this situation. Samsung and LG pair a Bluetooth keyboard in the settings menu, and you cannot open that menu yet. A wireless keyboard with a USB receiver does not need this step.
What does not open the TV's settings
Two popular ideas do not work.
The remote of a streaming device controls the streaming device. Roku says that its remote app controls the Roku player, not the TV. Roku adds that HDMI-CEC lets the player control basic TV functions like power and volume. The page does not name the menus of the TV.
An infrared remote app does not work on an iPhone. An iPhone has no infrared emitter, the part that a remote uses to send its signal. The article on why an iPhone can't send infrared explains the alternatives.
If the TV is not on your network
A phone app cannot control a TV that is offline. Roku says that its app cannot detect a device that is not connected, for example after a reset. The other phone apps also reach the TV through the network.
Use the button on the TV or a USB keyboard to open the settings. Then connect the TV to your network in the network settings. After that, a phone app can do the other tasks.
If the button has no menu and the TV does not accept a keyboard, you need a remote. Get a replacement remote for your model, or a universal infrared remote. The guide on what to do when the TV remote is lost shows how to find the model code and where to get a replacement.
The short version
First, find the control button on the TV. On an LG TV, press the jog button one time and select Settings Menu. On most Samsung TVs, Samsung says, the button gives access to the Menu and the Settings.
If the TV is a smart TV on your Wi-Fi, use a phone app as the remote. SmartThings, LG ThinQ, the Google TV app and Tivi all connect through the network. The phone and the TV must be on the same network.
If you have a USB keyboard, connect it to the TV. On a Samsung TV, press the Windows key. If none of these methods works, get a replacement remote.
Common questions
Can I change the settings on a Samsung TV without a remote?
Yes, on most models. Samsung says that most Samsung TVs let you get to the Smart Hub, the Menu and the Settings with the TV control button. The remote in the SmartThings app controls Home and Settings, if the TV is connected to the app. Samsung also lists the Windows key of a USB keyboard as the key that displays the TV settings. Samsung says that some settings cannot be opened with the button on the TV.
How do I open the menu on an LG TV without a remote?
Press the jog button on the TV one time while the TV is on. A menu with four items appears: Power, Close Menu Window, Change External Input and Settings Menu. Press the button again to change the item, then press and hold the button to select Settings Menu.
How do I get to the TV settings without a remote or Wi-Fi?
Use the control button on the TV or a USB keyboard. These two methods need no network. A phone app does not work, because the app reaches the TV through the Wi-Fi network. If the button on your TV has no menu and the TV does not accept a keyboard, get a replacement remote.
Can my iPhone open the settings of my TV?
Yes, if the TV is a smart TV that is on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the iPhone. Use SmartThings for a Samsung TV, LG ThinQ for an LG TV, and the Google TV app for a Google TV or an Android TV. Tivi controls Samsung, LG, Android TV and Google TV sets without an account. An iPhone cannot control a TV that is not on the network, because an iPhone has no infrared emitter.
Sources
- Samsung (2026). How to Control a Samsung TV without a Remote.
- Samsung (2023). How to control a Samsung TV without a Remote.
- Samsung (2020). What is Jog Controller in Samsung TV's?
- Samsung (2025). Connect a Keyboard & Mouse to your Samsung TV.
- Samsung (2022). How to connect a Keyboard or Mouse in Samsung Smart TV?
- LG (2025). How to Use the Jog Button.
- LG (2026). LG TV: How to connect a keyboard, mouse, or gamepad to your LG TV.
- LG (2024). LG TV - How to Set Up the LG ThinQ App on Your LG Smart TV.
- Google. Cast, connect & control your TV with the Google TV app.
- Google. Use parental controls on Google TV.
- Roku (2026). What to do when you have lost your Roku remote.
- Roku (2026). How to use the Roku remote app to control your Roku streaming device without a remote.