I have the 2019 model of the Apple TV 4K with the black remote. But recently gave it for my grandmother to use. She is having a difficult time using that trackpad to control the ATV and ends up pressing on the wrong things all the time. Is there a better remote out there that has a traditional all button layout with no annoying track pad on it? I don't need that or siri. Just a simple old school remote that is straight forward and easy for elders to use and understand and doesn't cost a fortune.
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Need a better alternative for a remote for the Apple TV 4K
- Thread starter 212rikanmofo
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My mom has essential tremors. I bought the new aluminum Siri remote for use with the 2017 4K ATV. I turned off the trackpad option in settings to she has to click on what she wants and use it like an traditional remote. Works out well for her.
The Apple TV 3 Remote also works, I use them on my two AppleTV HD's but there are some old threads here that indicate they also work on the original Apple TV 4k. Still available for purchase:
How is that possible? I was under the impression that the ATV 4k lacks the IR port?
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I believe that impression is incorrect.
Ports and Interfaces
HDMI 2.0a3
802.11ac Wi‑Fi with MIMO; simultaneous dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
Gigabit Ethernet
Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
IR receiver
Built‑in power supply
Apple TV 4K (1st generation) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
The current Apple TV 4k (second generation) also has an IR receiver
Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
One of several posts indicating the old remote works:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...v-remote.2304623/?post=30104873#post-30104873
Any IR remote will work with an ATV.
No kidding, I even got it to work with my iRobot Roomba IR remote, and the remote to a portable heater.
Since the first gen ATV that came out in 2007, there is a feature called the "Remote Learning" feature. It is crazy easy to use and set up, and can be done in about 20 seconds.
There is also optional playback buttons that your ATV can learn as well, such as FF, RW, Stop, Skip FW, Skip Back, etc. If you have an old DVD player or universal remote that is going unused, many of these have the extra playback buttons which is nice for movies and videos.
Check out the last section "Teach an IR Remote to Control an Apple TV":
Not only does every ATV generation have an IR port, they can also use just about any IR remote that exists. Apple remotes, TV remotes, AV Receiver remotes, DVD player remotes, universal remotes, etc.
No kidding, I even got it to work with my iRobot Roomba IR remote, and the remote to a portable heater.
Since the first gen ATV that came out in 2007, there is a feature called the "Remote Learning" feature. It is crazy easy to use and set up, and can be done in about 20 seconds.
There is also optional playback buttons that your ATV can learn as well, such as FF, RW, Stop, Skip FW, Skip Back, etc. If you have an old DVD player or universal remote that is going unused, many of these have the extra playback buttons which is nice for movies and videos.
Check out the last section "Teach an IR Remote to Control an Apple TV":
Use other remotes to control Apple TV
Any infrared or network-based remote can be used to control Apple TV.
support.apple.com
That is awesome! So basically any remote I have laying around, the ATV can "learn" to use it? I have a few old remotes from DVD players and such and would love to be able to replace the horrible vanilla remote. It's such a pain to use, especially for elders.
if her TV has HDMI-CEC, the TV remote will also control the aTV, by sending the commands over the HDMI cable. no learning of IR codes necessary.
As above: If you have a recent TV, your TV remote arrow keys and enter may work. Try it.
Also try the remote control from iPhone control centre. it is so much nicer than that trash remote. I mis select things all the time with that piece of garbage, and I'm not dealing with any form of impairment. Its the worse human interface I've ever used, followed closely by the apple puck mouse or perhaps early 2000s PC trackpads.
Also try the remote control from iPhone control centre. it is so much nicer than that trash remote. I mis select things all the time with that piece of garbage, and I'm not dealing with any form of impairment. Its the worse human interface I've ever used, followed closely by the apple puck mouse or perhaps early 2000s PC trackpads.
Speaking as a 60 something with arthritis, I would be leery of trying to get your grandmother to use the slippery little mess that was called a remote for the ATV 3rd gen. Older folks often have trouble holding and using tiny, slippery objects like that older remote. I would get her the 2021 remote and maybe a neoprene case for it as well, and as already mentioned by someone else, turn off the trackpad option.
I think the 3rd generation Apple Remote is great. I am 72 years old. But we all have our own preferences.
Apple TV Remote | Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV - IR Replacement Remote - Function101
The Apple TV Remote for a replacement remote for your Apple TV. Designed with traditional buttons, navigating Apple TV is easy and programmed to work out of the box. Compatible with most TV sets, soundbars, and receivers to control power, volume, and mute functions.
Apple TV Remote | Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV - IR Replacement Remote - Function101
The Apple TV Remote for a replacement remote for your Apple TV. Designed with traditional buttons, navigating Apple TV is easy and programmed to work out of the box. Compatible with most TV sets, soundbars, and receivers to control power, volume, and mute functions.function101.com
Thanks for that link! That looks like the perfect remote for the ATV! Do you have one yourself?
Yes, just about any IR remote will work with any generation of the Apple TV with very little effort.
When I got my parents to cut to the cable cord a few years back, I gave them an ATV4K. I was worried that they would not be able to get used to the Siri Remote.
My father is in his 70's and my mother is in her late 60's, so between their aging fingers, and reluctance to learn new things, I figured that they would need an alternative to the Siri Remote. I used the remote learning feature to add a random old IR remote they had laying around.
To my surprise, they ended up using the Siri Remote instead.
I asked my father about it, and he said that there was a learning curve with it when I first set it up for them (I remember them complaining about it), but after a while, they got used to it, and preferred it over the IR remote.
They also had a Roku remote on another TV that was more like a traditional remote, along with some FireSticks. My mother purchased Apple TVs for every TV in the house due to them not liking the remotes of the other smart devices.
I am not saying that this could be your situation as well, and I am not saying that the original Siri Remote doesn't have issues, but you might be able to get used to them.
The reality is that the original Siri Remote has features that you will not find in any other remote out there. This is something that a lot of people forget.
Have used the Function remote for over a year and it is great. It has a separate power switch that I used to power on a Sony TV and a Yamaha receiver. It controls both of those units volume too. It was a bit of a chore to initially set up but it has worked just fine since.
The One For All Streamer remote would be a good alternative than the Siri remote when talking about the elderly. It has actual tactile buttons and it lights up. And most of the buttons map directly to a Apple TV button so you don't have a bunch of wasted buttons.