Samsung TV Remote iOS: How to Control Your Samsung TV From an iPhone

You can use an iPhone as a Samsung TV remote by adding the TV to Samsung SmartThings, then opening the TV’s remote controls inside the app.

For most Samsung-only households, SmartThings should be the first Samsung TV Remote iOS option because it is Samsung’s official app. During initial setup, keep the iPhone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network, sign in to the same Samsung account, and allow SmartThings to discover local-network devices on the iPhone.

The current SmartThings App Store listing requires iOS 17.0 or later and an iPhone XR or later. Requirements can change, so check the live App Store listing if you use an older iPhone.

This guide focuses specifically on iOS setup, permissions, Samsung TV pairing differences, available controls, and the quickest fixes when the phone cannot find the TV.

Best Samsung TV Remote iOS Options

There is no single app that is ideal for every household. For most Samsung-only users, Samsung SmartThings should be the first option to try because it is Samsung’s official application.

Users with several television brands may prefer a universal alternative.

1. Samsung SmartThings

SmartThings is Samsung’s official samsung tv remote app ios solution.

After your television is registered, SmartThings can display a mobile remote with controls including:

• Power
• Volume
• Mute
• Channel up/down
• Home
• Directional navigation
• Guide
• Input selection
• App and content shortcuts on supported TVs

Samsung’s 2024 mobile-remote documentation specifically shows VOL, CH, power, apps, programs and inputs being accessible from the SmartThings mobile remote.

Best for: Samsung households that want the official ecosystem and deeper SmartThings integration.

Current iPhone requirement

The current Japanese App Store listing for SmartThings requires iOS 17.0 or later and identifies Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. as the developer. Requirements can change by country and app version, so users with an older iPhone should verify the current App Store listing before installation.

That is more useful than relying on old compatibility articles that may still quote earlier iOS requirements.

2. Remote TV App

A universal Remote TV app can make more sense if your home contains a Samsung TV plus televisions from other manufacturers.

For example, Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob is available for iPhone and is designed to control multiple supported television brands over Wi-Fi. Its U.S. App Store listing currently shows a 4.7 rating from about 139,000 ratings and lists BEGAMOB GLOBAL LIMITED as the developer.

The Remote TV App website lists Samsung alongside brands such as LG, Sony, TCL, Hisense, Roku TV, Fire TV and Panasonic.

This makes a universal remote particularly useful when you do not want separate apps for every television.

Best for: multi-brand households or users who want a dedicated TV-control interface instead of a broader smart-home application.

💡 Discover Helpful Guides

Apple TV Siri Remote: Complete Guide to Features, Generations, Pairing, and Everyday Use

2. What You Need Before Connecting Samsung TV to iPhone

Before opening SmartThings, prepare the television and iPhone first. A reliable Samsung TV Remote iOS connection depends on network discovery working correctly before you ever open the virtual remote. Most failed setup attempts come from discovery or account issues rather than the virtual remote itself.

You should have:

• A compatible Samsung Smart TV
• An iPhone that can run the current SmartThings app
• SmartThings installed from the App Store
• A Samsung account
• The TV connected to your home network
• The iPhone connected to the same Wi-Fi network during initial registration
• Local Network access enabled for SmartThings on iPhone

As of September 2026, the current SmartThings App Store listing requires iOS 17.0 or later and iPhone XR or later. Older Samsung support pages may still show lower historical requirements, so the current App Store listing is the better reference for whether your iPhone can install today’s app version.

Samsung’s current setup guidance also recommends having the TV and phone on the same Wi-Fi network and signed in to the same Samsung account while adding the TV.

A practical mistake to watch for is guest Wi-Fi. If the TV is on your main home network while the iPhone is connected to an isolated guest network, both devices may have internet access but still fail to discover each other locally.

📖 Explore Articles: Apple remote tv app: Complete Apple TV Remote Guide for iPhone, Siri Remote, Pairing & Fixes

How to Use Your iPhone as a Samsung Smart TV Remote

After pairing, a Samsung smart TV remote iOS interface can replace many everyday buttons on the original controller.

Adjust Volume

Use the volume control to:

• Raise volume
• Lower volume
• Mute audio

This is especially useful when the physical remote is missing while a movie is already playing.

Change Channels

The SmartThings remote provides channel controls on supported Samsung televisions.

You may also be able to open the program Guide.

Samsung’s documentation confirms both VOL and CH functions in its mobile remote interface.

Navigate Samsung TV Menus

The virtual directional area works similarly to the directional pad on a Samsung remote.

You can use it to navigate:

• Settings
• Streaming apps
• Home screen
• Input menus
• Content libraries

This is one of the main reasons a samsung remote control iphone setup works well as an emergency replacement.

Launch Apps and Change Inputs

On supported TVs, SmartThings can expose apps and television inputs from the mobile remote interface.

Samsung says users can swipe within the remote controls to access apps, programs and inputs on supported 2024 models.

Available options can vary by model and software version.

Control a 2025 Samsung TV Faster

Samsung introduced additional Mobile Remote conveniences for recent models.

Its 2025 documentation says iPhone users may be able to access the Mobile Remote through Live Activities on the Lock Screen or Dynamic Island, provided the feature is enabled. Samsung lists iOS 16 or later for that specific 2025 Mobile Remote implementation, although the current SmartThings App Store package itself may require a newer iOS version.

That distinction matters:

TV feature compatibility and current app-installation requirements are not always the same thing.

For an up-to-date setup, check both your TV’s support documentation and the current App Store requirements.

💡 Discover Helpful Guides: Apple TV Remote Replacement: Buying and Setup Guide

3. Allow Local Network Access on iPhone

Local Network permission is one of the most important iOS-specific checks for a Samsung TV Remote iOS setup.

The current SmartThings App Store listing says Local Network access is used to find devices connected over Wi-Fi. If that permission is denied, the app may fail to discover a TV even when both devices appear to be on the same network.

When iOS first asks whether SmartThings can find devices on your local network, choose Allow. Without that permission, a Samsung TV Remote iOS setup can fail even when Wi-Fi itself is working.

If you previously denied the permission, check:

Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network → SmartThings

Make sure SmartThings is enabled.

You may also need Bluetooth or Location permissions for some SmartThings discovery workflows, especially when the app uses nearby-device scanning during setup. Grant only the permissions needed for the features you want to use.

If SmartThings opens normally but never sees a nearby Samsung TV, Local Network permission should be one of the first things you check before reinstalling the app or resetting the television.

📘 Find the Right Guide: Apple TV Remote iPad: How to Set Up and Control Apple TV From Your iPad

4. How to Set Up Samsung TV Remote on iPhone

Once the requirements are ready, adding the TV is straightforward. This is the core Samsung TV Remote iOS setup process.

Step 1: Turn On the Samsung TV

Turn on the television with the physical remote or the TV’s hardware power button.

For first-time registration, keeping the TV awake and visible on the home screen makes approval prompts easier to notice.

Step 2: Connect the iPhone and TV to the Same Wi-Fi

Check the Samsung TV’s network settings and the iPhone’s Wi-Fi connection.

During initial setup, they should be on the same home network.

Step 3: Open SmartThings and Sign In

Open SmartThings on the iPhone and sign in to your Samsung account.

Samsung’s current instructions recommend using the same Samsung account for the TV and phone when registering and controlling the device.

Step 4: Add the TV

Inside SmartThings, use a path similar to:

Devices → + → Add device → TV → Samsung

You can also use Scan when available to search for nearby compatible devices.

Select your television when it appears.

Step 5: Approve the Pairing Request

The next step depends on TV generation.

Newer televisions usually show a confirmation prompt, while some earlier models display a PIN that must be entered on the phone.

Complete the onscreen approval before leaving the setup screen.

Step 6: Open the Virtual Remote

After the TV is registered, open it from SmartThings under your devices.

Select the remote interface to begin controlling the television.

At this point, the Samsung TV Remote iOS setup is complete. Test several functions rather than only Power so you know the phone has full access to the controls you actually need.

💡 Discover Helpful Guides: Apple TV Remote Buttons Explained: Home, Menu, Power, Control Center

5. Samsung TV Pairing Differences by Model Year

Samsung does not use exactly the same approval process on every television generation. That is why a Samsung TV Remote iOS guide should distinguish pairing by model year instead of giving one universal approval step.

Samsung Canada’s current SmartThings instructions separate several common model-year patterns:

This is useful when an online tutorial does not match what appears on your screen.

For example, a 2018 Samsung TV may show a PIN even though a newer guide simply says to tap OK. That does not mean the setup is failing; the pairing workflow changed across generations.

The exact menus can also vary by region, firmware version, and model family. Treat the table as a practical guide rather than a promise that every Samsung TV from the same year uses identical wording.

For older or unusual models, search by the full TV model number in Samsung’s current support documentation rather than assuming every Smart TV supports the same SmartThings functions.

🗺️ Browse How-To Guides: How to Pair Apple TV Remote: Complete Pairing and Reconnection Guide

6. What Can Samsung TV Remote iOS Control?

Once connected, SmartThings can replace many everyday physical-remote actions. A successful Samsung TV Remote iOS connection should be tested with several controls, not only Power.

Samsung’s current phone-remote documentation lists controls such as Volume, Channel, Mute, Home, Back, Guide, navigation, and selection. Depending on the television, you may also see app or input controls.

The exact Samsung remote iOS interface can therefore look different from one television to another.

If the phone controls basic navigation but a particular shortcut is missing, that does not automatically mean pairing failed. The control may simply not be exposed for that model.

For a broader guide to phone control across Samsung setups, see control samsung tv with phone.

7. Which Samsung TVs and iPhones Are Compatible?

Compatibility has two sides: the iPhone must be able to run SmartThings, and the Samsung TV must support the features you want to use. In other words, Samsung TV Remote iOS compatibility depends on both devices.

For iPhone, the current SmartThings App Store listing requires:

• iOS 17.0 or later
• iPhone XR or later

Those requirements may change with future SmartThings releases.

For Samsung TVs, Samsung continues to publish SmartThings setup instructions covering multiple generations, including 2016, 2017–2019, and 2020+ models. However, available functions can vary significantly by model, country, software version, and whether network-based control is supported.

Do not assume that the phrase Samsung smart TV remote iOS means every older Samsung television will expose every current SmartThings feature.

The safest process is:

1. Check whether your exact TV model supports SmartThings.
2. Update the TV software when an update is available.
3. Keep SmartThings current on the iPhone.
4. Test the controls you actually need after registration.

💡 Discover Helpful Guides: Thomson TV Remote App iOS: How to Control Your Thomson TV From iPhone

Frequently Asked Questions About Samsung TV Remote iOS

Can I Control My Samsung TV With an iPhone?

Yes, on compatible Samsung Smart TVs. Add the television to Samsung SmartThings, complete the approval process, then open the TV’s remote controls from the app.

What Is the Official Samsung TV Remote App for iOS?

Samsung’s official option for Samsung TV Remote iOS is SmartThings. It combines TV remote functions with Samsung’s wider smart-home platform and supports controls such as volume, channels, navigation, Home, Back, and other model-dependent features.

Is There a Free Samsung TV Remote App for iOS?

Yes. SmartThings is the official starting point for Samsung TV Remote iOS and is free to download. If you want a broader comparison of free and third-party choices, use the dedicated Samsung free-remote guide rather than choosing based only on App Store search results.

Why Can’t SmartThings Find My Samsung TV?

First confirm that the TV and iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi during setup. Then check Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network and make sure SmartThings is allowed to discover devices on your network.

Can an iPhone Turn On a Samsung TV?

On supported configurations, yes. Power behavior depends on the TV model, network state, settings, and SmartThings support. If remote controls work while the TV is on but wake/power does not, check the TV’s mobile power and network settings.

Does Samsung TV Remote iOS Work Without Wi-Fi?

For normal SmartThings network control, the TV needs a working network connection. Initial registration commonly requires the phone and TV to share the same Wi-Fi. Some discovery features can also use Bluetooth Low Energy on supported TVs, but that does not make SmartThings a general offline IR remote.

Final Recommendation

Samsung TV Remote iOS works best when you treat SmartThings as the primary Samsung-specific option and configure the iPhone correctly before troubleshooting the TV.

The basic setup is:

Same Wi-Fi → SmartThings → Samsung account → Add TV → Approve pairing → Open Remote

On iPhone, do not overlook Local Network permission. SmartThings uses it to discover Wi-Fi-connected devices, and denying that permission can make an otherwise compatible TV appear invisible.

Also remember that pairing behavior varies by Samsung TV generation: newer TVs may ask you to tap OK, 2017–2019 models may display a PIN, and 2016 models may ask you to select Allow.

For Samsung-only households, start with SmartThings. If you need one controller for multiple supported TV brands, a universal Remote TV App can be a practical alternative.