People dislike remote controls for various reasons: They find those little buttons challenging. But in this technological age, many people rely on their smartphones for various tasks. And did you know that your smartphone can also be used as a remote to control your television?
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We All Need a Backup
We all love a good life hack, don’t we? A backup remote may be needed for several reasons:
- The regular TV remote may have broken.
- The remote may need new batteries (and you don’t have any spares).
- The kids may have lost the remote (again).
Losing the remote under the couch cushions is becoming more and more common as remotes become smaller and smaller (hint: Apple TV remote).
What are the Steps?
We’re glad you asked; the following are the steps required to use your smartphone as a remote.
Set it Up
Remote control functionality is available on your smartphone just minutes after setting it up. So if you cannot find your clicker next time you want to binge-watch your favorite show, don’t go on an epic quest; grab your phone instead.
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Devices to Use
The remote control can be used on any mobile device with an application store; there’s no discrimination between Android or iPhone, tablets, and iPod Touch. So an older phone that you were about to discard can be solely used to become a remote control.
Installing the App
There are a few apps you’ll need to get started. Three different apps are available, and they’re all free to download. In addition, there are apps for basic TV remotes, streaming devices (such as Roku and Chromecast), and streaming services (such as Netflix and Hulu).
The app(s) that work best for you depends on the type of streaming device you’re using. Whether it’s a smart TV or a regular one, the apps could vary accordingly.
Apps for TV Remote
Android users can download many remote apps for TV from Google Play or App Store. Mobile apps like Universal Remote TV Smart are highly rated for iPhones and iPads. The app works over Wi-Fi and supports most major TV manufacturers (like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more), and automatically detects your TV, so no setup is required.
Apps for Streaming Devices
Make browsing and navigating much easier with streaming devices you already own by downloading apps. All of these platforms have apps and third-party apps compatible with them. These include Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV Stick.
The Roku app comes with a built-in remote control, which connects to the Roku device and allows you to search using your voice or a mobile keyboard. It has a familiar design to Roku’s app, where you can access the remote from the application. The Amazon Fire TV app is available for Android and iOS.
MyTifi is another well-designed app for TV remotes, though it is only compatible with Samsung TVs. Using it, you can control multiple TVs in your house with simple labels (such as living room TV and bedroom TV), and you can change channels by clicking on the logos. Additionally, it includes simple instructions in the app, so help is always nearby.
You can also use Google Home as an all-in-one hub to control lights, security cameras, thermostats, etc. Again, the app works with Chromecast and Google Nest (Google’s family of smart, Wi-Fi-enabled devices using Windstream customer service).
Most Apple TV people also own an iPhone, including the Remote app. With Chromecast and Roku, these apps let you connect your phone screen to your TV — perfect for listening to Spotify over the speakers or projecting family vacation photos.
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Streaming Services
It’s possible to download apps only for subscription services. However, the native apps (i.e., built-in apps) inside the smart TV are also a reasonable option. If you have an Android or iPhone, you can download a single app that syncs with your TV to explore and monitor your shows.
Final Words
We hope you learned a handy hack if you ever lose your remote or want to watch TV from wherever you want. Then, all you need is to install the app for your device. And if you wish to watch all the content on your watch list without any interruptions, speak to experts at Windstream Customer Service. They will guide you about incredible Windstream internet plans to help you stream anything and everything without worrying about exceeding your data limit. So, Happy Streaming!
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