Quick answer
- Put your phone and your Samsung TV on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open a Samsung TV remote app, pick your TV from the list and select Allow on the TV.
- Use the navigation pad, touchpad, mouse mode and your phone keyboard to control everything.
To use your phone as a Samsung TV remote, connect the phone and the TV to the same Wi-Fi network, open a Samsung TV remote app, pick your TV and select Allow on the TV screen. The whole setup takes about two minutes and needs no extra hardware.
After that, your phone does everything the plastic remote does, plus a few things it cannot: swipe on a touchpad, move a pointer in the TV browser and type with your own keyboard. This guide uses Samsung TV Remote, a free Android app by Smart App Craft, and shows how to get the most out of each control.
What you need
- A Samsung Smart TV connected to your home network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable to the same router).
- An Android phone with Android 9 or newer, connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- A remote app such as the free Samsung TV remote app Samsung TV Remote. No account and no sign-up needed.
How to connect your phone to your Samsung TV
- Join the same Wi-Fi. Check that the phone is not on a guest network or mobile data. The TV must be switched on.
- Pick your TV. Open the app. It searches your network and lists the Samsung TVs it finds. Tap yours.
- Select Allow on the TV. The TV shows a connection request for your phone. Select Allow. From now on, the phone is your remote. On 2014 and 2015 TVs, the TV shows a PIN instead: type it in the app.
Tip: the Samsung TV allow connection prompt is controlled by the TV. If it appears every time or you denied the phone by mistake, open External Device Manager > Device Connection Manager on the TV and allow the phone in the device list. The exact path depends on your model.
No remote to select Allow?
The Allow prompt is the one step that needs the TV itself. If the remote is lost, press the control button on the TV (under the logo or on the back, bottom right) to move to Allow, then press and hold it to select. You only do this once per phone. Where the button is: controlling a Samsung TV without a remote.
If your TV does not show up in the list, follow our guide for when a Samsung TV is not showing up on your phone.
Your phone as a Samsung TV remote: the controls
Navigation pad and remote buttons
The main screen looks like a modern remote: power and input at the top, shortcuts for Netflix, YouTube and All Apps, a large navigation pad with OK in the center, and volume, channels, Home, Back, mute and play/pause at the bottom. The MORE panel holds extra keys.
Touchpad mode
Switch to the Samsung TV touchpad remote with one tap. Swipe in any direction to move the selection on the TV, just like the arrow keys, and tap to select. It is much faster for long rows of tiles in Netflix or YouTube.
Mouse mode for the TV browser
Mouse mode puts a pointer on the TV screen that follows your finger. Use it in the TV web browser and in other TV apps that show a pointer. Apps without a pointer ignore it, so use the touchpad there.
Phone keyboard
Type searches, usernames, passwords and web addresses on your phone instead of picking letters one by one. It works in TV apps that use the Samsung on-screen keyboard. Some streaming apps have their own keyboard, and there you use the touchpad or arrows. More in our guide to the Samsung TV keyboard from your phone.
The keyboard, mouse mode and one-tap apps need a 2016 or newer Samsung TV. On older Smart TVs, the remote buttons and touchpad work as usual. Details by model year are in our compatibility guide.
One-tap apps
Netflix and YouTube have their own buttons, and All Apps lists every app installed on your TV, so you can launch any of them without scrolling through the home screen.
Which control mode should you use?
| What you want to do | Best control |
|---|---|
| Change volume or channel | Remote buttons |
| Scroll through rows of shows | Touchpad |
| Navigate settings menus | Navigation pad |
| Click a small link in the TV browser | Mouse mode |
| Search for a title or enter a password | Phone keyboard |
| Open an app | Netflix, YouTube or All Apps shortcut |
Extras: mirroring, casting and power on
The same app can show your phone on the big screen. Screen mirroring to a Samsung TV works with sound on Android 10 and newer and needs no Chromecast or HDMI cable. The picture runs about 1–3 seconds behind the phone, which is fine for photos, slides and videos. You can also cast photos and videos from your gallery.
It can also wake the TV over Wi-Fi once you enable Power On with Mobile in the TV's network settings. See how to turn on your Samsung TV with your phone.
Privacy and safety
A phone remote should not need your personal data. Samsung TV Remote has no account, no ads and no trackers, and all commands stay on your home network. The privacy policy explains every Android permission the app uses.
Conclusion
Using your phone as a Samsung TV remote takes three steps: same Wi-Fi, pick the TV, select Allow. Keep the navigation pad for everyday control, switch to the touchpad for long rows, use mouse mode in the browser and let your phone keyboard handle every search. Your phone is always in your pocket, so the remote is never lost again.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work with old Samsung TVs?
Yes, with Samsung Smart TVs from 2010 onward that are connected to your home network. 2016 and newer TVs get every feature. 2010 to 2015 Smart TVs get the remote buttons and power off, but not the phone keyboard, mouse pointer, app shortcuts or power on over Wi-Fi. Non-smart TVs without a network connection cannot be controlled by a Wi-Fi app.
Do I need the SmartThings app?
No. SmartThings is Samsung's smart-home app and needs a Samsung account. Samsung TV Remote talks to the TV directly over your home Wi-Fi, so you need no SmartThings and no account. You can still keep SmartThings installed if you use it for other devices.
Can two phones control the same TV?
Yes. Each phone connects on its own and the TV asks you to allow each new device once. After that, everyone in the house can use their own phone as the remote.
Why does my TV keep asking to allow the connection?
The prompt comes from the TV's own security settings. On many models you can change how often it appears in External Device Manager > Device Connection Manager. The exact path depends on your model. Once the phone is on the allowed list, the prompt usually stops.