Need a hand?

My Apple TV doesn't show up when I try to pair

The app finds Apple TVs over your local network. macOS asks before any app can do this.

• Confirm your Mac and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network (or wired into the same LAN).
• Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network and make sure Apple TV Remote is enabled.
• Quit and reopen the app after toggling the permission.
• If your network has client isolation (common on guest Wi-Fi), switch to your main network.

Pairing fails after I enter the PIN

The PIN is time-sensitive and expires fast.

• Type the PIN as soon as it appears on your TV. If it disappears, restart pairing for a fresh code.
• If you've paired this Apple TV before from this Mac, unpair it first (Settings → General → ⋯ menu → Unpair) and try again.
• On the Apple TV, you can also forget the existing pairing under Settings → Remotes and Devices → Remote App and Devices.

Buttons or gestures stop working mid-session

This usually means the connection to the Apple TV dropped.

• Try the Rescan button in Settings → General.
• Make sure the Apple TV is awake — tap its power button on the remote panel.
• If the issue persists, unpair and pair again.

Volume buttons don't change the TV's volume

Volume is sent to the Apple TV, which then forwards it via HDMI-CEC to your TV or receiver.

• On your Apple TV, go to Settings → Remotes and Devices → Volume Control and choose your TV or AV receiver.
• Make sure HDMI-CEC is enabled on the TV (it's often called something like Anynet+, BRAVIA Sync, or Simplink, depending on the brand).

The two-finger tap or long-press does the wrong thing

Both gestures are configurable.

• Open Settings → Input.
• Pick what a two-finger tap should do (Select, Back, TV, Play/Pause, or Off).
• Pick what a two-finger long-press should do — same options.
• You can also limit where on the remote the swipe area is active.

The remote panel disappears when I click somewhere else

That's the default — clicking outside dismisses it. If you want it to stay, click the pin icon at the bottom of the panel.

The menu-bar icon is missing

Quit and relaunch the app from Launchpad or Applications. If the icon still doesn't appear, check System Settings → Control Center for menu-bar icon overflow on a small display.

I want to start over from scratch

Unpair everything from Settings → General → Unpair All. Pairing credentials live on your Mac only, so unpairing fully removes them.