I just bought a TCL Roku TV and want to control it from my iPhone instead of using the physical remote all the time. There are a bunch of remote apps in the App Store and I’m not sure which one is reliable, safe, and fully compatible with TCL Roku TVs. Can anyone recommend the best iPhone remote app and share any setup tips or issues I should watch out for?
For TCL Roku on iPhone, there are a few decent options, but they’re not equal. By the way, there’s a helpful Reddit thread that breaks down the best universal TV remote apps, comparing their pros and cons to physical remotes. It’s worth checking out — you’ll probably find something useful!
TVRem Universal TV Remote app
If you want one remote app that works with multiple TVs, this is the most flexible choice.
TVRem connects over Wi-Fi, supports TCL Roku and other smart TV brands, and doesn’t require IR hardware.
– Works with TCL Roku and many other TVs on the same app
– Clean, simple interface with a big directional pad
– Quick access to Home, Back, Options, volume, and navigation
– Very convenient if you have TVs in different rooms or brands
Instead of vague wording like TCL Roku remote app, the real value is this:
Control your TCL Roku TV from your iPhone with TVRem — manage apps, channels, volume, and navigation without the original remote.
This makes TVRem especially useful as:
– a backup remote
– a main remote if you switch between brands
– a long-term solution instead of installing multiple apps
Official Roku app
This is the safest “Roku-only” option.
– Free, no aggressive ads
– Pairs instantly if the phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi
– Includes keyboard search, private listening with headphones, app launcher
– Power and volume controls work on supported TVs
Downside: sometimes it fails to detect the TV if your router has client/AP isolation enabled.
Fix: disable isolation or make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi band.
Random third-party Roku remote apps
Mostly not worth your time.
Common problems:
– Full-screen ads every few taps
– Confusing subscription paywalls
– Unnecessary permissions
– Connection drops
If you see lots of 1-star reviews mentioning ads or tracking — skip it.
What actually makes sense
– Primary / universal remote: TVRem Universal TV Remote app
– Roku-only backup: Official Roku app
TVRem wins if you care about flexibility and future-proofing, especially if you don’t want a separate app for every TV brand.
Quick setup checklist
– iPhone and TV on the same Wi-Fi
– Disable “AP Isolation / Client Isolation” on the router if the TV isn’t found
– Keep Roku’s “Fast TV start” / “Wake on network” enabled
Final take
If you want the simplest Roku-only experience, the official Roku app works.
But if you want one universal remote that handles TCL Roku and other smart TVs, TVRem is the better long-term option — fewer apps, less hassle, more control.
Honestly, for a TCL Roku TV + iPhone setup, you really only need to think about two apps, and I slightly disagree with @codecrafter on putting them on the same level.
- Official Roku app
If you want “reliable and safe,” this is still the baseline. No sketchy permissions, no surprise full-screen video ads, and it integrates nicely with Roku search, private listening, etc.
Downsides in my experience:
- Can randomly fail to detect the TV after router changes
- UI feels a bit clunky and slow sometimes
- If you have multiple TVs/brands, it’s not great as a “one app for everything”
- TVRem Universal TV Remote app
Where I differ a bit from @codecrafter: I actually prefer this for day‑to‑day on a mixed‑brand setup. If you think you might add a non‑Roku TV later, starting with one app is less of a headache. For TCL Roku it behaves almost exactly how you expect a normal remote to behave: fast connection over Wi‑Fi, big buttons, quick access to power, volume, Home, Back, and app navigation.
If you’re browsing App Store reviews and getting lost in the remote‑app jungle, this is the one third‑party app that doesn’t feel like adware. Stable, no weird permission grabs, and it’s not drowning you in “start a free trial” popups every 10 seconds.
For more details, you can check out a dedicated TCL & smart TV remote controller for iPhone that covers TCL Roku and a bunch of other TV models. That page gives a decent breakdown without the usual sales fluff.
- What I’d actually do in your shoes
- Install Roku official app first, just to have the “official” backup.
- Install TVRem Universal TV Remote app and use it as your main TCL Roku TV remote app on iPhone.
- Ignore 90% of the other Roku remote apps. If the first screenshots show massive banner ads or the reviews say “too many ads” or “can’t use without subscription,” just skip.
As long as your TCL Roku and iPhone are on the same Wi‑Fi and your router is not isolating devices, both apps will work fine. If one fails to find the TV, the other usually still works, which has saved my butt more than once when I’d lost the physical remote… again.
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