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How to Pair an Apple Remote With an Apple TV (or Even a Mac)

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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When you set up a new Apple TV and power up the set-top box, the Apple Remote that comes in the box should pair automatically as soon as you press one of the buttons. If the Apple Remote stops working, it's probably out of juice and needs charging for 30 minutes via a USB to Lightning cable connected to a USB outlet.

apple-tv-siri-remote-charging.jpg

But if that doesn't fix the problem, your best bet is to re-pair the device with your Apple TV. This article shows you how. The following instructions will also come in useful if you need to pair a new replacement Apple Remote in the event that the one that came with your Apple TV stops working completely or is damaged beyond repair.

In addition, at the end of this article we've included a quick tip for pairing your Mac with an Apple TV Remote, for controlling things like iTunes, VLC, and Keynote.

How to Pair an Apple Remote with Apple TV
  1. Make sure your Apple TV is powered on.
  2. Point the Apple Remote three inches away from the set-top box, then press and hold the remote's Menu and Volume Up buttons for five seconds.
    apple-tv-remote-pair-800x450.jpg

    If you see a notification on your television screen asking you to bring the Apple Remote closer, place the Remote on top of the Apple TV.
  3. If you don't see Remote connected notification on the television screen, unplug your Apple TV from the wall power outlet, wait at least six seconds, then plug it back in.
  4. If necessary, repeat steps 1 to 3.
How to Control Your Mac With an Apple Remote.

Apple used to include a small white or silver infrared remote control with some Macs, which allowed Mac users to control things like Keynote presentations and iTunes media from afar.
apple-tv-remotes-first-second-gen-250x383.jpg

When newer Macs no longer included an IR receiver (indicated by a black line of the front edge of the body) Apple stopped including these remotes, but Apple TV owners can optionally use their Apple TV Remote to control their Mac, thanks to a free third-party Bluetooth macOS utility called SiriMote by Eternal Storms Software.

SiriMote isn't available in the App Store, but you can download it directly from the Eternal Storms website [Direct Link]. After downloading SiriMote, drag it from your Downloads folder to your Applications folder, then launch the app and follow the onscreen instructions to pair your Apple Remote with your Mac.

Article Link: How to Pair an Apple Remote With an Apple TV (or Even a Mac)
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/pair-apple-tv-remote-to-apple-tv-or-mac/
iapplelove said:
I just use my phone.
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Imo, that is worse than the Siri Remote. At least the Siri Remote has some physical buttons.
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martyjmclean said:
I would buy an Apple TV in a heartbeat, if the remote was actually decent.
Click to expand...

oneMadRssn said:
AppleTV works with pretty much any remote.
Click to expand...
This is true, the Apple TV can use just about any IR remote using the Remote Learning feature that a lot of people do not know about.

The Remote Learning feature has been around for over a decade, but many people, including long time ATV users did not know it was there.

It is in the settings, and the Remote Learning feature is really easy to use, and takes less than 30 seconds to do.

Also, I have not found a IR remote that would not work with it. I was even able to use my space heater IR remote and my Roomba remote to control an ATV.
 
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vertical smile said:
This is true, the Apple TV can use just about any IR remote using the Remote Learning feature that a lot of people do not know about.

The Remote Learning feature has been around for over a decade, but many people, including long time ATV users did not know it was there.

It is in the settings, and the Remote Learning feature is really easy to use, and takes less than 30 seconds to do.

Also, I have not found a IR remote that would not work with it. I was even able to use my space heater IR remote and my Roomba remote to control an ATV.
Click to expand...

It can be even easier than that through HDMI-CEC (assuming all equipment is compatible). I am pretty sure that's how the Vizio remote is working as I never had have the AppleTV learn anything. Same way the volume buttons on my Vizio remote and AppleTV remote control the Denon receiver volume. Never had to "learn" or program anything, it just worked from day 1.
 
iapplelove said:
No.

I came to that conclusion based on your posts. You hate everything.
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You must of missed this one, it was right under the one you quoted:

vertical smile said:
This is true, the Apple TV can use just about any IR remote using the Remote Learning feature that a lot of people do not know about.

The Remote Learning feature has been around for over a decade, but many people, including long time ATV users did not know it was there.

It is in the settings, and the Remote Learning feature is really easy to use, and takes less than 30 seconds to do.

Also, I have not found a IR remote that would not work with it. I was even able to use my space heater IR remote and my Roomba remote to control an ATV.
Click to expand...
It doesn't look like I stated I hated the Remote Learning feature, actually it would seem I quite like it. Looks like you are wrong about me.

oneMadRssn said:
Never had to "learn" or program anything, it just worked from day 1.
Click to expand...
This is a great solution if everything is compatible. I have a series 6 TCL that it doesn't work.

One good thing about the Remote Learning feature is that you can use any IR remote, including old universal remotes that have all the playback buttons that most modern remotes do not have, like Skip, Step, FF, RW.... It makes it very useful when watching videos.

One thing that it obviously does not do for older remotes, but might for modern universal remotes with a Mic is do Siri. Does anyone know if this works?
 
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Well, the black line was only on certain laptops (unibody aluminium MacBooks and Pros, and on the first Air body style). Non-unibody MacBooks has a pill shaped one and non-unibody MacBook Pros as well as Mac minis had round ones. iMacs had them hidden in the Apple logos. The silver remotes were never included with any Mac (though they were designed to match the new iMacs released at the same time (the first 21 and 27 inch models in 2009). The white remotes were indeed included with some Macs (starting with late 2005 iMac G5 with iSight camera). The remote was also designed to match it, and could magnetically stick to the side. The remote was subsequently also included with all Macs that had IR ports until they were no longer included with early 2008 models (or possibly even some late 2007 models).
 
AnonMac50 said:
Well, the black line was only on certain laptops (unibody aluminium MacBooks and Pros, and on the first Air body style). Non-unibody MacBooks has a pill shaped one and non-unibody MacBook Pros as well as Mac minis had round ones. iMacs had them hidden in the Apple logos. The silver remotes were never included with any Mac (though they were designed to match the new iMacs released at the same time (the first 21 and 27 inch models in 2009). The white remotes were indeed included with some Macs (starting with late 2005 iMac G5 with iSight camera). The remote was also designed to match it, and could magnetically stick to the side. The remote was subsequently also included with all Macs that had IR ports until they were no longer included with early 2008 models (or possibly even some late 2007 models).
Click to expand...
Thanks, I was wondering what Macs had IR. It looks like more than I thought.
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sri007 said:
[doublepost=1545211978][/doublepost]how can you say, he hates everything.
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I am not sure how @iapplelove came to this conclusion, I guess they took a peek at my posting history.

Although, I am sure that for every post of mine stating my dislike for something, there is one or more post about something that I enjoy.

Maybe it was just a knee jerk reaction to someone disliking something that they like.
 
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vertical smile said:
Thanks, I was wondering what Macs had IR. It looks like more than I thought.
Click to expand...

No worries, glad to be of help!

To clarify the list:

  • iMac models from 2005 (with iSight) to 2011
  • MacBook Pro models from 2006-2012 (non-Retina)
  • Mac mini models from 2006-2014
  • MacBook models from 2006-2009 (except the 2009 unibody white model)
  • MacBook Air models from 2008-2009
 
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