Open your TV's Settings, go to Apps, then See all apps, turn on Show system apps, and look for Android TV Remote Service. If it's listed and enabled, phone remote apps can connect to the TV over your home Wi-Fi.
Find it in the TV's system apps
- On the TV, open Settings.
- Go to Apps, then See all apps.
- Choose Show system apps.
- Scroll to Android TV Remote Service and open it.
Menu names vary by brand and model, so the steps may look a little different. The service is built into Android TV and Google TV and doesn't show up on the home screen. Android TV Remote Service listing
Make sure it's enabled
On the service's page, check that it isn't disabled. If someone turned it off, phone remotes can't pair. If you can't find it at all, your device may not run Android TV or Google TV: see how to tell if your TV is Android TV or Google TV.
If it's there but pairing still fails
Start with the network. The phone and TV must be on the same home Wi-Fi, not a guest network, and the TV must be on. The can't-find-your-TV guide walks through the checks in order.
What The Remote needs
The Remote needs Android TV Remote Service v2 on the TV. It works with Google TV devices that support the Android TV Remote Service, including Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV Streamer. Google Streaming Help Your phone needs Android 8.0 or later (no iPhone version). Here's what Android TV Remote Service is.