If you’re using the Apple TV Remote found in your iPhone’s Control Center, there’s a hidden surprise in store for you in the iOS 16 update – one that lets you use the remote without having to open the Control Center.
You can use the Apple TV Remote to control media playback on an Apple TV or Smart TV with AirPlay 2 connectivity. Apple TV (3rd generation) and newer models can already be used with the Apple TV Remote on your iPhone. AirPlay 2-compatible smart TVs must be added to the Home app in a dedicated room before you can use the Apple TV Remote to control them.
It’s a simple tool for adjusting volume, navigating menus, playing and pausing media, changing channels, performing searches, and managing other important things. But in iOS 15.7 and earlier, you can only open the Apple TV Remote from Control Center. Not even Siri, App Library or Spotlight Search will help you. Closing the remote will return you to the Control Center.
Use Apple TV Remote in App Switcher Now
In iOS 16.0 and later, the Apple TV Remote is more like an app than a simple control in the Control Center. When you use the Apple TV Remote and switch to another app, you can use the app switcher to bring up the remote when you need it, just like you would with any other app.
While app switcher support is a huge benefit when you need to multitask, you still can’t open the Apple TV Remote from Siri, the App Library, or Spotlight search. And the Apple TV Remote will eventually disappear from your iPhone’s app switcher after a period of inactivity.
But the Apple TV Remote has a secret beyond being supported in your iPhone’s app switcher, a secret that many of you probably never thought possible: you can turn it into an app.
Make Apple TV Remote Act Like Other Apps
Okay, it’s already an application, and technically it always has been since it had its own file. app in the list of hidden iOS apps, like Code Scanner and Print Center. The difference is that Apple has finally given the Apple TV Remote a URL scheme.
If you don’t know what a URL scheme is, think of a regular web page URL or a link on a web page to send an email to someone through the default mail app. Starting a web page URL with http:// or https:// indicates a web resource that uses Hypertext Transfer Protocol or Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and mailto:// indicates a hyperlinked email address that can be clicked or touch to start a draft in your email client.
App developers can assign their own URL schemes to their apps and submit those apps to the App Store. Running the scheme alone in a web browser or from any other application will open the application if it is installed on the device. You can add custom parameters to a schema to perform specific actions in the corresponding application.
Apple provides many native app URL schemes such as Calculator (calc://), Camera (camera://), FaceTime (facetime://), Find My (findmy://), Fitness (fitnessapp:/ /), Music (music://), and News (applenews://). And in iOS 16.0 and later, Apple supports tvremote:// for the Apple TV Remote.
Step 1Make it work with Siri and Spotlight Search
With a URL scheme assigned, you can create a simple shortcut in the Shortcuts app that opens a URL scheme that opens the Apple TV Remote. You can then use that shortcut with Siri, add it to your home screen or app library, and find it with Spotlight search. And making a shortcut is simple:
- Launch a new shortcut in the Shortcuts tab.
- Add a “URL”web action.
- Change apple.com to tvremote:// in the URL action field.
- Add a “Open URL”web action.
- Tap (v) next to the shortcut’s name, choose Rename, and give it a new name, such as Open Apple TV Remote, which also doubles as a Siri command.
If you only want to use Siri or Spotlight search to open the Apple TV Remote, you can click Done to save the shortcut at this point. But if you want to give it an app icon for the home screen and app library, change the current shortcut icon.
Step 2: Add it to your home screen and app library
Tap the current icon next to the shortcut name to open the icon picker. You can also press (v) and then “Select Icon”. You can choose any icon and color you like, but the Apple TV icon may be the most suitable. Save it with the inscription “Done”.
Now let’s add it to the Home Screen and App Library for easier and faster access. Tap (v) next to the shortcut name and select Add to Home Screen. Alternatively, you can click (i) on the toolbar and then “Add to Home Screen”.
The default will use the shortcut icon as the bookmark icon displayed for the home screen and app library, which should be fine since we’ve already changed it. But you can also tap the icon to select a different image from camera, files, or photos. Because “Open Apple TV Remote”is quite long for the icon name on the home screen, try it without “Open”. You can also opt out of “Apple”if you want a smoother presentation.
When you click “Add”, you will be taken to a new icon on the home screen. Before using it, go back to the Shortcuts app and tap Done on the shortcut to make sure it’s saved to your library.
Step 3Open Apple TV Remote Faster
Whether you stopped after step 1 above or not, you can ask Siri to “Open Apple TV Remote”and the Apple TV Remote will open. You can also find the remote in Spotlight and open it from there.
And you can even assign a shortcut to the double or triple tap Back gesture when you double or triple tap the Apple icon on the back of your iPhone to open the Apple TV Remote from whatever screen you’re on.
If you completed step 2 above, you can also tap the Apple TV Remote icon on the home screen or in the App Library to open it.
One day, Apple may make the Apple TV Remote a real app, with an official app icon for the home screen, app library, and Spotlight search, just like the magnifying glass did. Until then, the URL scheme works pretty well.