Which Philco TVs work
- Philco — Roku TV
- Philco — Google TV / Android TV
Not sure which system yours runs? Press Home on the remote: a purple Roku home screen means Roku TV; a row of “For you” recommendations means Google TV.
Step by step
- Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as the TV. (Not the guest network.)
- Turn the TV on and install RemotApp on your phone.
- Open RemotApp. It finds the TVs on your network by itself; tap your Philco TV.
- Tap Volume + to test. That’s it: your phone is now the remote.
If your Philco TV runs Roku TV
Roku doesn’t need pairing: RemotApp connects right away.
If it doesn’t connect
- Since Roku OS 14.1, phone control must be allowed: Settings › System › Advanced system settings › Control by mobile apps › Enabled. This is the #1 reason a Roku doesn’t respond.
- If the Roku still doesn’t respond, restart it (Settings › System › Power › System restart) and try again.
- Make sure the phone isn’t using a VPN and that the router doesn’t isolate devices (“AP isolation” / “client isolation”). On iPhone, check Settings › RemotApp › Local Network.
How to turn on a Philco TV without the remote
Turn on “Fast TV start” in Settings › System › Power. In standby, the Roku TV then stays reachable and RemotApp can turn it on. (Roku sticks are always on.)
If your Philco TV runs Google TV / Android TV
A 6-character code appears on the TV (numbers and letters A–F). Type it into RemotApp. You only do this once.
If it doesn’t connect
- If no code shows up, open RemotApp again and choose the TV again: the code only appears while the app is waiting for it.
- Codes expire after a minute or so. If it says the code is wrong, request a new one.
- The TV must have the “Android TV Remote Service” enabled. It is on by default; if you disabled it, re-enable it in Settings › Apps.
- Make sure the phone isn’t using a VPN and that the router doesn’t isolate devices (“AP isolation” / “client isolation”). On iPhone, check Settings › RemotApp › Local Network.
How to turn on a Philco TV without the remote
Most Google TV models accept the power command in standby as long as the network stays on in standby (look for “Network standby” or “Wake on network” under Settings › System › Power & energy).
Menu names vary a little by model and software version.
Frequently asked questions
Does my phone need infrared to control a Philco TV?
No. Smart TVs can be controlled over Wi-Fi, which every phone has. Infrared is only needed for old, non-smart TVs.
How to turn on a Philco TV without the remote
Turn on “Fast TV start” in Settings › System › Power. In standby, the Roku TV then stays reachable and RemotApp can turn it on. (Roku sticks are always on.)
Is it free to control a Philco TV with my phone?
Yes. Power, volume, arrows and channels are free in RemotApp. The keyboard, app launcher and Control Center are part of RemotApp Pro.