How-to
Step-by-step guides to control your TV without the remote.
How to Turn On a TV Without a Remote (Every Major Brand)
Press the physical power button (usually under the center of the bottom edge or on the back), or use a phone app over Wi-Fi. A phone can only wake the TV if its network standby option is on, such as Samsung “Power On with Mobile”, LG “Mobile TV On” or Roku “Fast TV Start”.
Lost Your TV Remote? 7 Ways to Control Your TV Right Now
Use your phone as the remote: connect it to the same Wi-Fi as the TV and pair a remote app (the brand’s official app or a universal one). For a TV without Wi-Fi, use the physical buttons, HDMI-CEC from a console or streaming stick, or a phone with an infrared blaster.
How to Change the Input on Your TV Without a Remote
Press the TV’s physical button or joystick to open its mini menu and choose Input or Source. If the TV is on Wi-Fi, a phone remote app has an Input button. With HDMI-CEC on, simply turning on your console or streaming device switches the TV to that HDMI port automatically.
How to Connect a TV to Wi-Fi Without a Remote
Plug the TV into the router with an Ethernet cable, then use a phone remote app to change its Wi-Fi settings. No cable? Create a hotspot with the exact name and password of the network the TV already knows; the TV joins it, and a second phone on that hotspot can control it. A USB keyboard or mouse also works on most Google TV, LG and Samsung models.