How to Charge Your Apple TV Remote

If your Apple TV is not responding, it’s probably because the remote is out of charge. All Apple TV and Siri Remotes have a rechargeable battery, so you just need to connect the remote to a charging source. This tutorial will show you how to do it if you’ve never charged your Apple TV remote.

Find and Use a Charging Cable

Your Apple TV or Siri Remote does not come with a charging cable, but you can easily use one from another device you own. The type of cable you need depends on the remote model:

• If you have a first or second-generation Apple TV remote, you need a Lightning cable. The iPhone 14 and earlier models (including most iPad models) use this cable, so there’s a good chance there’s one lying around.
  
• You need a USB-C cable if you have a third-generation Apple TV remote. These cables are pretty popular—if you use an iPhone 15 or later or an Android phone, you already have a USB-C cable.
  

Tip: Lightning and USB-C cables are easy to tell apart. Check our Lightning vs USB-C comparison guide if you need help.

How to Charge Your Apple TV Remote

After getting your hands on a Lightning or USB-C cable, here’s how you can use it to charge your Apple TV remote:

1. Plug one end of the cable into the charging port of your Apple TV remote—all models have it on the bottom side of the casing.
   

2. Plug the other end of the cable into the USB port on a computer or a phone charging brick. If you use a first-generation Apple TV 4K or earlier, you should also find a USB port on the back of the device.
   
3. Wait until your remote reaches full charge—this usually takes around three hours.
   

How to Check the Battery Level of the Remote

If you want to check the battery level of the remote, you can do that via the Settings app of your Apple TV. Here’s how:

1. Press the TV button on the remote and select Settings.
   

2. Select the category labeled Remotes and Devices.
   

3. Select the Remote option.
   

4. You should see the amount charged next to Battery Level.
   

Use Your iPhone as Your Remote

You can use your Apple TV remote as it’s charging, but a more convenient option is the Remote app on your iPhone. Here’s how to open and use it:

1. Look for the Remote app on your Home Screen or App Library (or search for it via Spotlight Search) and tap it to bring it up.
   
2. Wait until it connects to your Apple TV—if you have multiple devices, tap the Choose a TV option and pick the device you want to connect to.
   
3. The Remote app’s controls are similar to those of the actual remote, so you should be able to get the hang of it quickly.
   

A faster way to bring up the Remote app is to add it to the Control Center of your iPhone. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app of your iPhone and tap Control Center.
   
2. Scroll to the More Controls section and tap the Plus symbol next to Apple TV Remote.
   
3. Swipe down from the top right of the screen to open the Control Center.
   
4. Tap the Remote icon.
   
5. The Remote app should appear.
   

Note: If the Remote app does not work, make sure that your iPhone and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard

The battery on your Apple TV remote lasts ages, so it’s easy to forget about it and get caught off guard. Your Apple TV typically notifies you once the charge dips below 20%, but it’s easy to miss. Checking the battery level manually every couple of months should help you figure out when to charge. Don’t forget that you can also use your iPhone to control your Apple TV while the remote is charging.