How to Find Your Apple TV Siri Remote Using Your iPhone

[MacRumors]

In iOS 17 and tvOS 17, Apple has added a feature that lets Apple TV users locate a misplaced Siri Remote using their iPhone. Keep reading to learn how it's done.

Prior to the launch of the latest ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, there were rumors that Apple would build ‌Find My‌ functionality into the ‌Siri‌ Remote. That didn't happen, but in its latest major software updates, Apple has introduced a new iPhone option that does essentially the same thing.

In early September, Apple quietly released new firmware for its second and third-generation Siri Remotes. With the new firmware, tvOS 17, and iOS 17, if a ‌Siri‌ Remote becomes lost, the ‌Apple TV‌ remote control available in the Control Center on an ‌iPhone‌ can be used to locate the missing remote.

When enabled, users will see a Find My-like interface on their iPhone that guides them toward the remote, with an onscreen circle that changes in size to guide movement in the right direction.

Note that Find My for the ‌Siri‌ Remote is available on the second and third-generation ‌Siri‌ Remotes, and the feature is limited to the ‌Apple TV‌ 4K models released in 2021 and 2022.

Also, bear in mind that the updated firmware is necessary, and there is no established method for getting the ‌Siri‌ Remote to update. The ‌Apple TV‌ will need to be up to date, on, and connected to the ‌Siri‌ Remote to initiate, but there is no way to force the new firmware to download.

Find Your Siri Remote With Your iPhone

1. Bring up the Control Center from your iPhone by swiping down from the upper right corner of the screen (on an ‌iPhone‌ with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Tap the Apple TV Remote button (if it's not there, you can manually add it to Control Center).
3. Tap the chevron next to the name of the connected Siri Remote.
   
   
   
   Tap the Find button next to the misplaced Siri Remote.
4. Use the onscreen Find My-like interface to locate the remote. The size of the circle increases to guide movement in the correct direction. When your iPhone is right next to the remote, the screen shows a solid white orb.
   Tap the X button to close the location interface.
   
   

In our experience, the proximity accuracy of the feature is equivalent to locating an AirTag with Find My, so it's really helpful for locating your Siri Remote even if it's just hidden between the sofa cushions.

Article Link: How to Find Your Apple TV Siri Remote Using Your iPhone

 

[George Dawes]

Now this IS useful !

Well worth updating just for this tbh

 

[clwz]

Will this work on an iPad running iPadOS 17?

 

[headlessmike]

Glad that this is coming to the second generation version (the one with a Lightning connecter) as well. Read some early claims that it would only come to the USB-C equipped third generation remote. I was considering buying the newer version for this feature alone given how often my child misplaces our remote.

 

[madis]

The Internet is going to explode. In my experience from various sources, this was the #1 requested feature.

 

[k1121j]

I wonder what this will do to the great battery life of the remote. I don’t loose my remote that much that I’d like to give up any battery life.

 

[lesnouu]

and the feature is limited to the ‌Apple TV‌ 4K models released in 2021 and 2022.

this is incorrect. i have Apple TV HD from 2021 with the 2nd gen Remote and have this feature

 

[MacMastermind]

This is such a useful addition! I can't count the number of times my Siri Remote has gone missing in my living room. Being able to use my iPhone to track it down is a game-changer. Plus, the Find My-like interface looks really intuitive. Kudos to Apple for addressing this common issue for ‌Apple TV‌ users. 🙌

Has anyone here tried this feature yet? How accurate did you find it in locating your lost Siri Remote?

 

[Muero]

I was considering buying the newer version for this feature alone given how often my child misplaces our remote.

instead of replacing the remote, have you considered replacing the child?

 

[SalisburySam]

Also, bear in mind that the updated firmware is necessary, and there is no established method for getting the ‌Siri‌ Remote to update. The ‌Apple TV‌ will need to be up to date, on, and connected to the ‌Siri‌ Remote to initiate, but there is no way to force the new firmware to download.

The feature is certainly long-awaited and will be wonderful when available. But to make it work requires updating the remote’s firmware with no way to do so? Seems like a major miss here. So, how will this work, really? Just a ploy to sell a new remote with updated firmware? Hard to believe Apple hasn’t thought this through.

 

[headlessmike]

instead of replacing the remote, have you considered replacing the child?

We tried. Our second child is showing the same tendencies, unfortunately. 🤷‍♂️

 

[headlessmike]

The feature is certainly long-awaited and will be wonderful when available. But to make it work requires updating the remote’s firmware but no way to do so? Seems like a major miss here. So, how will this work, really? Just a ploy to sell a new remote with updated firmware? Hard to believe Apple hasn’t thought this through.

There's no way to do it manually. It will update the remote's firmware automatically at some point once you have tvOS 17 running.

 

[bebarhood]

Forget iOS 17, iPadOS17, WatchOS 10.

tvOS 17 is the truly the best major release this year!

 

[jonnysods]

Pretty cool - we've been fairly good about keeping track of our ATV remote, but this is great to have in my back pocket as I really didn't want to stick an AirTag on it.

 

[brilliantthings]

Just tried it. It's so inaccurate it's practically useless. I asked someone to hide my remote and I couldn't find it using this feature.

 

[melapple]

Thanks for confirming this @lesnouu
. Just as I assumed. This is tied to tvOS 17 and either the 2nd or 3rd gen Siri Remotes. Consequently the Apple TV model being HD or 4K makes no difference here if you are using it with the newer (glassless) remotes

 

[Naildown]

Have tested this on our older lightning remote.. works great.

So what is this black magic? How the hell does this work?

 

[WannaGoMac]

Have tested this on our older lightning remote.. works great.

So what is this black magic? How the hell does this work?

Probably triangulates the Wifi or IR signal

 

[FHoff]

Cool feature, however I’ve never misplaced or lost a remote. I just don’t get it.

 

[StudioMacs]

Cool feature, however I’ve never misplaced or lost a remote. I just don’t get it.

I make a habit of putting things in the same place so they are there when I need them, like my keys and wallet in my night table, my socks in the sock drawer, and my TV remotes on the coffee table. My wife is the same way. Fortunately we don‘t have kids to mess up this flawless system.

 

[headlessmike]

Have tested this on our older lightning remote.. works great.

So what is this black magic? How the hell does this work?

I'm guessing that it uses some Bluetooth beacon feature.

 

[Zimmy68]

I have the first model Siri remote and iPhone 14 Pro Max on latest ios17 beta.
No "Find" showing for me.

 

[dustin_]

Have tested this on our older lightning remote.. works great.

So what is this black magic? How the hell does this work?

it’s tracking the bluetooth signal emitted from the remote.

in my experience it’ll get you to the general area your remote’s located in, but isn’t anywhere as accurate as something like an airtag w a uwb chip.

 

[trip1ex]

Glad that this is coming to the second generation version (the one with a Lightning connecter) as well. Read some early claims that it would only come to the USB-C equipped third generation remote. I was considering buying the newer version for this feature alone given how often my child misplaces our remote.

Buy a cheap and larger 3rd party remote for your kid.

 

[trip1ex]

Here's another solution for all: