How to Type on the Apple TV Using Your iPhone or iPad

By Conner Carey Updated 05/07/2020

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People are asking, "Can I use my iPhone to type on the Apple TV?" The answer is yes! Being able to use your iPhone or iPad to enter text instead of the Siri remote is a huge bonus. Using Siri or the Siri remote to input text on the fourth-generation Apple TV can be a real pain. Using your iPhone or iPad to type on the Apple TV is the quickest way to input text. Forget sliding across or spelling out each letter of a sword to Siri; just use the Apple TV Remote keyboard on your iPhone or iPad to make it easy. Here’s how to use your iPhone or iPad to type on the Apple TV.

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How to Type on an Apple TV Using Your iPhone or iPad

By default, the Remote app is included in the Control Center. No need to download it! If, for some reason, the app is missing from your Control Center, you can easily add it again. If you haven't paired your iPhone to your Apple TV, you'll need to do that first.

Now, to use your iPhone to enter text:

Using your Siri remote, navigate to a search or other text input field on the Apple TV.
A notification will pop up on your iPhone. Tap the notification.

Enter your search term and tap Go. Your search results will show up on your Apple TV.

That's it! Now, when you need to search for something, you can use the keyboard on your iPhone or iPad instead of having to swipe with the Siri remote. If you'd like to learn more tips and tricks for operating your Apple TV, you should check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

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Author Details

Conner Carey

Conner Carey's writing can be found at conpoet.com. She is currently writing a book, creating lots of content, and writing poetry via @conpoet on Instagram. She lives in an RV full-time with her mom, Jan and dog, Jodi as they slow-travel around the country.

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