I've finally found an Android TV remote that is easy to use - and it's free

1 hour ago 6
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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • Bluetooth Remote is the simplest TV distant app I've used.
  • This app is free, well-designed, and reliable.
  • Never interest astir a mislaid distant oregon dormant batteries again.

I cannot archer you however galore times I've picked up a caller TV distant and thought, "Well, this is poorly designed." 

Or, conscionable the different day, I realized the AAA batteries successful my TV distant were dead… and I had nary spares lying around. Given the authorities of astute TVs, determination are nary carnal buttons that let you to crook the TV on/off, navigate the menu, and bask a spot of mindlessness.

When that happened, I grabbed my phone, hoping I could find a distant app that would work. My hunt led maine to Bluetooth Remote. I was skeptical. I'd tried distant apps for assorted TVs before, but ne'er seemed to find 1 that was capable to either link to my tv oregon enactment with immoderate easiness oregon reliability.

Also: The champion TVs of 2026: Expert tested and recommended

Bluetooth Remote changed each of that. Not lone did Bluetooth Remote instantly (and automatically) find my TV, but it connected with a elemental tap. Once that was taken attraction of, I recovered this escaped distant app to beryllium an implicit gem.

One of my favourite features of the app is that it tin beryllium utilized arsenic a touchpad. When utilized successful this mode, you'll spot a cursor connected your TV surface that you tin manipulate with the touchpad connected the app to prime immoderate it is you privation to enjoy. 

No much utilizing the awkward buttons to dilatory navigate done the installed apps connected the TV. Thanks to Bluetooth Remote, I tin precise rapidly unfastened the app I privation connected my TV and past navigate done immoderate work I'm utilizing with easiness and speed.

That rodent pad/cursor diagnostic unsocial makes this app worthy using.

Also: Best VPNs for astute TVs

Other features see a virtual keyboard, fig pad, dependable control, transmission control, powerfulness disconnected (power evidently connected does not enactment because…Bluetooth), TV paper control, closed caption on/off, location button, play, reverse, and rewind.

Bluetooth Remote has conscionable the close magnitude of features and nary more. 

Seriously, this is the TV distant you want, truthful agelong arsenic you person an Android telephone and an Android TV. Sorry if that precludes you from utilizing Bluetooth Remote. 

Let's get this up and running.

Installing Bluetooth Remote

If you've installed immoderate app from the Google Play Store, past you cognize the drill:

  1. Open the Google Play Store connected your telephone (or tablet)
  2. Search for Bluetooth Remote
  3. Tap Install
BT Remote

You person to springiness the app permissions earlier it'll play nice.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

When you archetypal unfastened the app, you'll request to judge immoderate of the modular permissions, which is conscionable a substance of tapping Authorize erstwhile prompted.

Also: How to usage your iPhone arsenic a TV remote

After you've authorized the app, you'll spot a listing of each of your Bluetooth devices successful your surrounding area. Locate the listing for your television, and pat it. Bluetooth Remote should link without immoderate contented (it surely had nary surprises for me).

BT Remote

Your TV should automatically look present (so agelong arsenic you person Bluetooth enabled connected some the telephone and the television).

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

That's it; you're acceptable to power your TV.

Using Bluetooth Remote

This is arsenic simple. When I usage Bluetooth Remote, I instantly unfastened the touchpad diagnostic due to the fact that it makes navigating the TV UI exponentially easier. To bash that, pat the tiny rodent icon adjacent the apical close of the app window.

BT Remote

This is the default Bluetooth Remote UI.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You should present spot a touchpad astatine the bottommost of the app. Move your digit astir successful that area, and the cursor appears connected your TV. Use that cursor to navigate the UI. You tin adjacent usage two-finger scrolling to determination up and down connected the TV UI.

BT Remote

The Bluetooth Remote touchpad besides accepts taps.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Brilliant!

Also: Lost your Roku remote? Here are 4 ways you tin inactive power your TV

Do enactment that two-finger scrolling tin beryllium a spot sensitive, truthful it mightiness instrumentality immoderate clip to get utilized to it. 

Once you've go acquainted with however the Bluetooth Remote UI works, you'll find interacting with your TV to beryllium truthful overmuch easier than utilizing those poorly-designed remotes with batteries that randomly dice and permission you without the means of controlling your television.

Bluetooth Remote is, without a doubt, the champion distant app I've utilized for a television. It's simple, reliable, and ever acceptable to marque your location amusement beingness a small easier.

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