Have you lost or broken your original TV remote control Samsung? Don’t rush to buy a new one - modern smartphones can Android easily replace a physical device. The virtual remote control not only saves money, but also adds convenience: voice control, gestures, quick access to your favorite channels. In this article we will look at installing a remote control on your phone for free, including the official application and alternative solutions for older models. all working methods install the remote control Samsung TV to your phone for free, including the official application and alternative solutions for older models.

It is important to understand that not all TVs support control from a smartphone the same. For example, models Samsung support control from a smartphone equally. For example, models QLED 2022+ offer advanced features in a proprietary application, while TVs J (2015–2017) may require workarounds. We tested each method on different devices - from flagship Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to budget Redmito ensure the functionality of the instructions.

1 series. Official Samsung SmartThings app: step-by-step installation

Samsung SmartThings —the main tool for managing equipment Samsung, including TVs. The application is free, supports Russian and is updated regularly. Here's how to set it up:

  1. Download the application iz Google Play. Pay attention to the rating (4.5+) and the number of downloads (500M+) - this is a guarantee of originality.
  2. Launch SmartThings and log in through your account Samsung (if you don’t have one, register in 2 minutes).
  3. Click Add device → select a category TV.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen. The TV and phone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

After successful connection, a virtual remote control with buttons Turn on, Volume, Channels and Smart Hubwill appear on the smartphone screen. In new versions of the application, gestures (for example, swipe up to increase the volume) and voice search (works through Bixby or Google Assistant).

TV and phone on the same Wi-Fi network|Samsung account is authorized on both devices|Remote control mode is enabled on the TV (in the menu Settings → General → External devices)|Application SmartThings has been updated to the latest version-->

⚠️ Attention: On TVs Samsung 2016 and older, you may need manually enable the "Remote Control" function in the settings without this. will detect the device.

If the TV is not located, try:

  • 🔄 Reboot both the phone and the TV.
  • 📶 Connect to the 2.4 GHz network (some models do not work with 5 GHz).
  • 🔍 Update firmware TV via Settings → Support → Update Software.

2. Alternative applications for older Samsung TV models

If SmartThings your TV does not support (for example E, F series or early J), use third-party applications. We tested 5 popular options - the best of them are in the table below:

Application Model support Features Rating in the Play Market
TV Remote Control for Samsung 2012–2018 (E–K series) Simple interface, no registration, works via Wi-Fi and IR 4.3 (100K+ reviews)
Samsung TV Remote (from Tweaking4All) 2015–2020 (J–R series) Support IR blaster, button customization 4.1 (50K+ reviews)
Unified TV Remote Any Samsung with DLNA support Universal remote control for several TVs, there is widget 4.0 (10K+ reviews)

To install:

  1. Download the selected application from Google Play.
  2. Open it and select Add TV.
  3. Enter IP address TV (you can find it in Settings → Network → Network status).
  4. Confirm connection on the TV screen (you may need to enter a PIN code).

Official SmartThings|TV Remote Control for Samsung|Unified TV Remote|Other|Not using-->

⚠️ Attention: Applications from third-party developers may request access to locations or contacts. This is not necessary for the remote control to work - feel free to refuse such permissions.

3. Control via IR blaster (for phones with an infrared port)

If your smartphone is equipped with IR blaster (for example, Xiaomi Redmi Note 10, Samsung Galaxy S6 or Huawei P30 Pro), you can control the TV without Wi-Fi. To do this:

  1. Download an application with IR support, for example:
    • Mi Remote Controller (for Xiaomi)
    • AnyMote Universal Remote (universal)
  • Select a brand in the application Samsung and TV model (or "Universal" if your model is not available).
  • Point the phone's IR port at the TV (distance up to 8 meters) and check the operation of the buttons.

    • Advantages of IR control:

    • ⚡ Works without Internet and Wi-Fi.
    • 🔋 Saves battery power (compared to a permanent Wi-Fi connection).
    • 🎛 Supports macros (for example, one button to turn on the TV + switch to HDMI1).
    How to check if your phone has an IR blaster?

    Open the top notification shade - if there is a “Remote” or “IR” icon, then there is no port. You can also enter the phone model in the search engine with the request “IR blaster.” [model]. s

    Important: IR remote controls do not support voice control and some smart functions (for example, launching Netflix directly from your phone).

    4. Voice control your TV via Google Assistant or Bixby

    Modern TVs Samsung (starting from 2019 Q series) support voice commands via Google Assistant or BixbyFor this:

    Method 1: Via Google Assistant

    1. Make sure that the TV and phone are connected to the same account Google.
    2. Say with your voice: "Okay Google, turn on Samsung TV" or "Okay Google, switch to Netflix on the TV".
    3. If the command does not work, check the settings in SmartThings (section Voice assistants).

    Method 2: Via Bixby (only for phones Samsung)

    • 📱 Open Bixby (hold the power button or say "Hi, Bixby").
    • 🎤 Say: "Turn on the TV in the living room" (room name must match what is indicated in SmartThings).
    💡

    For voice commands to work stably, add the TV to "Favorite devices" in the Google Assistant settings. To do this, open the application Google Home, find your TV and click on the star.

    ⚠️ Attention: Voice control may not work if the TV is connected to the network via Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi. In this case, use alternative methods from this article.

    5. delays

    If the virtual console does not respond or turns offcheck the following points:

    Problem Possible cause Solution
    TV is not in SmartThings Remote control mode is disabled Enable it in Settings → General → External devices
    Delay when pressing buttons Weak Wi-Fi signal Connect your phone to a 2.4 GHz network or use an IR remote control
    The application crashes on startup Outdated version of Android Update the OS or use APK version applications (download only from APKMirror)

    If all else fails:

    • 🔧 Reset network settings on the TV (Settings → General → Reset).
    • 📱 Clear the cache SmartThings application in the phone settings.
    • 🔄 Reinstall the application and log in again.
    💡

    90% of connection problems are solved by rebooting router and TV. Start with this before trying complex methods.

    6. Hidden functions of the Samsung virtual remote control

    Few people know, but official SmartThings and third-party applications offer functions that are not on the physical remote:

    • 🎮 Game mode: transforms the smartphone into gamepad for games on TV (available in SmartThings → Advanced).
    • 📁 Quick access to files: broadcast photos/videos from your phone to the TV screen without additional applications.
    • 🔍 Search by content: search for movies and shows by voice or text with automatic downloading to TV.
    • 📊 Usage statistics: see how much time you spend watching (in SmartThings → Analytics).

    To activate the game mode:

    1. Open SmartThings and select your TV.
    2. Go to the section Advanced → Game remote.
    3. Follow the on-screen instructions to calibrate the buttons.

    These features are available on TVs Samsung s Tizen OS 5.0 and later (released after 2020). On older models, some options may be missing.

    7. Security: how to protect your TV from unauthorized access

    The virtual remote control is convenient, but it opens up potential vulnerabilities. Follow these tips to protect your TV:

    • 🔒 Enable PIN code to connect new devices in SmartThings → Security settings.
    • 🌐 Disable remote controlwhen you are not using it (in TV settings).
    • 📡 Use a separate Wi-Fi network for smart devices (guest mode on the router).
    • 🔄 Regularly update the firmware TV and SmartThings application.

    If you sell or give the TV to another person:

    1. Perform reset to factory settings (Settings → Support → Self-diagnosis → Reset).
    2. Remove the TV from the list of devices in SmartThings.
    3. Unlink the account Samsung in the TV settings.
    ⚠️ Attention: On TVs with built-in cameras or microphones (for example, Samsung The Frame) disable these features in your privacy settings if you do not use them.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Samsung virtual remote

    Can I control a Samsung TV through a phone without Wi-Fi?

    Yes, if your phone has IR blaster (infrared port). Use applications like Mi Remote or AnyMote. Also, some models support control via Bluetooth (for example, Samsung QLED 2021+).

    Why doesn’t SmartThings see my Samsung TV?

    The reasons may be the following:

    • The TV and phone are connected to different Wi-Fi networks.
    • Disabled on the TV remote control (turned on in Settings → General → External devices).
    • Outdated TV firmware or application.
    • TV model is too old (before 2015).

    Solution: check all the points above and reboot both devices.

    How to transfer the virtual remote control to another phone?

    If you have changed your smartphone, it is enough:

    1. Install SmartThings on the new one phone.
    2. Login using the same account Samsung.
    3. The TV will automatically appear in the list of devices.

    If the TV is not displayed, press Add device and select it manually.

    Is it possible to use one phone to control several Samsung TVs?

    Yes, SmartThings supports control of multiple devices. To add a second TV:

    1. Open the application and click Add device.
    2. Select TV and follow the instructions.
    3. Give each TV a unique name (for example, "Bedroom" and "Living Room").

    To quickly switch between TVs, use tab Devices in the bottom menu.

    Which Samsung TVs do not support control from a smartphone?

    The virtual remote control may not work on:

    • Models older than 2012 (series B, C, D).
    • TVs without Smart functions (for example, some models E series without Tizen).
    • Devices with damaged Wi-Fi module.

    For such TVs, the only option left is IR remote control (if the phone supports it) or purchasing an original remote control.