How to control your Apple TV from your Android lock screen

Turn on background controls

1. Connect True Remote to your Apple TV (the connection guide shows how) and upgrade to Premium.
2. Open True Remote’s Settings and, under Remote, tap Background controls.
3. Tap Enable notifications. When Android asks, tap Allow.
4. Leave the app. A notification with your Apple TV’s name and back 10 seconds, play/pause and forward 10 seconds buttons appears on your lock screen and in the notification shade.

To stop it, swipe down on the notification to expand it and tap the square icon. This also disconnects the TV. You can also turn background controls off at any time: in True Remote’s Settings, under Remote, tap Background controls and switch it off. Android 12 and earlier phones don’t ask for the notification permission; the notification just appears.

Allow notifications for True Remote

If you tapped Don’t allow, or the controls don’t show on your lock screen, the steps depend on your phone. Pick yours below.

Google Pixel

1. Open Settings, then Apps, and tap True Remote for Apple TV.
2. Tap Notifications and switch on All True Remote notifications.
3. To show the controls on the lock screen, open Settings, Notifications, Notifications on lock screen, and choose an option that shows notifications.

Samsung Galaxy

1. Open Settings, then Apps, and tap True Remote for Apple TV.
2. Tap Notifications and switch on Allow notifications.
3. To show the controls on the lock screen, open Settings, Lock screen, Notifications and switch it on.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO

1. Open Settings, then Apps, then Manage apps, and tap True Remote for Apple TV.
2. Tap Notifications and switch on Show notifications.
3. On the same page, switch on Lock screen so the controls show when the phone is locked.

OnePlus, Motorola, Oppo, Realme, Vivo and other phones

Phone makers rename these menus, but this route works on almost every Android phone:

1. Touch and hold the True Remote icon on your home screen or in your app list, then tap App info (sometimes shown as an i icon).
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Switch notifications on, and make sure they are allowed on the lock screen.

Can’t find it? Use the search at the top of Settings and type “True Remote”.

Keeping the controls available

Some phones, especially Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme and Vivo, have battery settings that limit background apps. To keep the controls available, open Settings, Apps, True Remote for Apple TV, Battery, and choose Unrestricted (or No restrictions).

On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones, also switch on Autostart for True Remote under Settings, Apps, Manage apps.

More guides

• How to connect Apple TV to an Android phone
• Control Apple TV without the Siri Remote
• Move and delete Apple TV apps from your phone
• Type on Apple TV with your Android phone
• True Remote for Apple TV: features, plans and FAQ
• Interactive demo