How to Control Your Apple TV with Apple Watch

There are many ways to control your Apple TV, this includes using the included remote and the Remote app on your iPhone (at least for older generations of Apple TV), but here’s how to control your Apple TV using an Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch is mostly seen as a wearable device that provides your notifications right on your wrist. You can also do other things like reply to text messages and even make phone calls from the smartwatch. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to capabilities, as the Apple Watch can do so much more.

Recently, Apple Watch got the ability to run native apps; This means you can run certain Apple Watch apps on your own without having to be connected to your iPhone. RunKeeper is one example that can track your runs while you’re out and about without needing your iPhone. It’s not quite that accurate, but at least it’s an option if you forgot your iPhone.

Perhaps a feature of the Apple Watch that many users do not know is the ability to control your Apple TV with your Apple Watch, using it as a remote to control Apple’s set-top box.

How to Control Your Apple TV with Apple Watch

One thing to keep in mind before getting to the bottom line is that the new Apple TV 4th generation model is not compatible with Apple’s Remote app; this means you can’t use your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch to control the newer one. set-top box, but if you still have an Apple TV 3, you’re clean.

First, start by turning on your Apple TV and going to .

Next, open the Remote app on your Apple Watch, which can be accessed by clicking the Digital Crown and then locating the Remote app in the app layout, which has a blue and white icon with a game symbol in it.

Tap on it after it opens.

A four-digit number will appear on the Apple Watch screen. On your Apple TV, select your Apple Watch from the Remote Controls list, then enter the four-digit number shown on your Apple Watch.

At this point, your Apple Watch will be connected to your Apple TV, so you can control the set-top box directly from your wrist when you have the Remote app on your watch and your Apple TV is turned on.

What can you do

The Remote App on the Apple Watch can do pretty much the same as the physical remote itself. In fact, there’s nothing the Apple Watch Remote app can do differently, other than not having to use the physical remote.

With the Remote app on your Apple Watch, you can swipe to navigate to different apps and settings in menus. It’s essentially a D-pad, but instead of clicking, you swipe in different directions. To select something, simply tap the screen.

The Remote app also has a Menu button and Play/Pause button just like a physical remote; this allows you to go back to previous menus and play and pause content respectively.

Unpair Your Apple TV with Your Apple Watch

If you no longer want to use your Apple Watch with your Apple TV, you can unpair the two devices.

To do this, go to on your Apple TV and select your Apple Watch to remove it. After that, open the Remote app on your Apple Watch and tap when “Lost connection” appears.