How to Use Phone as TV Remote: SmartThings and Google TV

Last updated: October 2026

🕒 3 min read

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Wondering how to use phone as TV remote? The answer depends on your TV. This article covers two official routes: Samsung’s SmartThings remote for Samsung TVs and projectors, and Google’s Google TV app for Google TV and Android TV, using an Android phone. Other TV brands and iPhones aren’t covered.

Which Route Fits Your TV?

• Samsung TV or projector: Samsung’s page describes the SmartThings app route.
• Google TV or Android TV, with an Android phone: Google’s page describes the Google TV app route.

Each page covers only its own platform, so one method won’t apply to both.

How to Use Phone as TV Remote With SmartThings

What you need

Samsung says the TV must already be set up in SmartThings, and that a Samsung Account and an internet connection are required. Samsung’s page links to a separate page for adding the TV, which this article doesn’t cover.

Steps

1. On your phone, launch SmartThings and choose Menu.
2. Choose All devices and pick your TV or projector.
3. The app then shows an on-screen remote.

What the remote does

Samsung says the options on the remote vary by device. Per its page:

• Volume and channel buttons behave like those on a standard remote.
• Mute, Home, Back and Guide are available too.
• To get around the Settings menu or apps, use the arrows or the gray box at the bottom. A tap inside the box makes a selection.

Samsung’s introduction describes the app as a way to adjust volume, launch apps and switch inputs. Its list of on-screen controls doesn’t mention an input button by name.

How to Use Phone as TV Remote With the Google TV App

What you can do

Google says the Google TV app can act as a remote for a Google TV or an Android TV. Its list includes playing movies and shows, controlling playback, switching the TV on and off, activating Google Assistant, changing the volume and entering text for searches or logins.

Steps on an Android phone

1. Launch the Google TV app from your Android phone.
2. Tap TVs nearby, which sits near the bottom right.
3. Select the device you’re connecting.
4. Type in the code shown on your TV screen.
5. Tap Pair.

Google adds a tip: you can put the TV remote in your Android phone’s Quick Settings so it’s reachable from any screen.

What These Pages Don’t Say

• Neither page lists TV models or years, and neither shows a date.
• Google’s pairing steps don’t say whether the phone and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network, so this article makes no claim about it.
• Google’s page also has an iPhone and iPad tab. This article doesn’t cover it, so it can’t say how the iPhone steps work.
• Samsung’s page covers the SmartThings route only. It doesn’t explain how to add the TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

✅ Based on Samsung’s US support page on the SmartThings remote and Google’s Google TV app help page.