I lost my Samsung TV remote and need a free iPhone app that actually works to control my TV. I tried a couple of remote apps from the App Store, but they either wanted a subscription or would not connect. Looking for help finding the best free Samsung TV remote app for iPhone that is easy to set up and reliable.
I went through a pile of iPhone apps trying to find a Samsung TV remote that didn’t turn into a trial trap after 30 seconds. A lot of them look free in the App Store, then you hit ads, limits, or a subscription screen the second you try to use the keyboard.
What mattered to me was simple. I wanted fast pairing, working power and volume buttons, a keyboard for typing into search boxes, and something that didn’t flake out every other launch.
After testing a bunch, these are the ones I’d keep on the list.
1. TVRem – Universal TV Remote
TVRem was the first one I stopped uninstalling.
It paired fast on my network, the main controls were where I expected them, and I didn’t run into the usual wall where the useful stuff gets blocked off unless you pay. For day to day use, this one felt the least annoying.
One thing I liked right away, it isn’t locked into Samsung only. If your place has a mix of devices, like an LG in one room and a Roku or Fire TV somewhere else, you’re not stuck juggling five apps.
What’s included
- Volume and channel controls
- Touchpad navigation
- Built-in keyboard
- Voice search
- App shortcuts
- Automatic device detection
Who it fits
If you want one free app that works without much fiddling, this is the one I’d try first.
2. Samsung Smart TV Remote Plus
This one sticks close to the Samsung remote layout, which helped. I didn’t need to hunt around to find basic buttons, and it felt familiar right away.
It covers the standard stuff and does a decent job if you want something built around Samsung sets only.
What’s included
- Full button layout
- Keyboard input
- Touchpad
- Smart Hub shortcuts
What I liked
Samsung-focused layout
Easy to figure out
Pairs quickly
What got in the way
Some features looked restricted unless you pay
3. Remote for Samsung Control TV
This one felt stripped down, in a good way at first. It handles the core controls and doesn’t bury you in extras.
If all you need is power, volume, arrows, and a keyboard once in a while, it does the job. I wouldn’t call it fancy. I would call it usable.
What’s included
- Power and volume buttons
- Navigation controls
- Keyboard
- Basic touchpad support
What I liked
Fast setup
Clean interface
What got in the way
Ads showed up, and I saw premium prompts too
4. Universal Remote TV Smart
I’d put this in the “good if your house is a device mess” category. It supports Samsung sets along with other brands, so there’s some convenience there if your living room setup came together piece by piece.
The design looked newer than some others I tested, and the basics were all there.
What’s included
- Standard remote controls
- Keyboard typing
- App shortcuts
- Multi-brand compatibility
What I liked
Works across different brands
Nice modern layout
What got in the way
Full use seemed tied to a subscription
5. Smart TV Remote for Samsung
This is another Samsung-only option. Nothing weird here. It has the expected controls and was easy enough to set up.
I’d use it if you want a dedicated Samsung app and don’t care much about controlling anything else.
What’s included
- Power and volume controls
- Touchpad
- Keyboard
- Streaming shortcuts
What I liked
Focused on Samsung TVs only
Setup was simple
What got in the way
The free version felt limited
Which one I’d pick
If you want a remote app on iPhone and don’t want to trip over paywalls, TVRem came out ahead for me.
Why I kept going back to TVRem
- It stayed free for the stuff most people need
- It works with Samsung and other TV brands
- The keyboard and voice search are there
- Connection was quick and stable in my testing
- The app didn’t feel bloated
A lot of remote apps are fine for a quick test when your real remote disappears into the couch. TVRem felt more usable long term.
If your Samsung remote is missing, dead, or busted, TVRem is the easiest replacement I found for iPhone.
Skip most of the App Store junk and try Samsung’s own app first, SmartThings. It’s free on iPhone, no sub wall, and it works with a lot of Samsung TVs from the last several years. If your TV and iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi, pairing is usually fast. You get power, volume, navigation, and input controls. Keyboard support depends on the TV model, so it’s not perfect, but it beats paying $6.99 a week for some fake “universal” remote app.
Small catch. If the TV was never connected to your Wi-Fi before you lost the remote, phone apps are a pain. The TV needs to be on the network first. In tht case, borrow any Samsung remote for 2 minutes, or use a USB keyboard if your model supports it.
I saw @mikeappsreviewer list third-party apps. Fair list, but I’d still try SmartThings before those. Less ad spam, less susbcription nonsense.
If pairing fails:
- Put both devices on the same Wi-Fi band.
- Restart the TV.
- Open Settings, General, Network on the TV if you still have any way in.
- Accept the popup on the TV screen.
- Turn off VPN on your iPhone.
If your TV is older and not a smart model, no iPhone app will help. iPhones don’t have IR blasters.
I’d split this into 2 cases, because that’s usually why these apps “don’t connect.”
If your Samsung TV is already on your home Wi-Fi, the easiest free path is still Samsung’s own ecosystem first, like @himmelsjager said. I do disagree a little with @mikeappsreviewer on going straight to third-party apps, mostly because a lot of them are “free” in the same way bottled water at a concert is “affordable.”
But if you want an actual backup that costs $0, also check whether your TV supports AirPlay/HomeKit style controls or basic casting shortcuts from apps you already use. Not a full remote, sure, but sometimes enough to open YouTube or Netflix and get unstuck.
Big thing people miss: some Samsung sets have mobile control disabled in TV settings. If that toggle is off, every app looks broken. Same with AP isolation on some routers.
So my short answer:
- Try SmartThings first.
- If it fails, check TV network/mobile control settings.
- If the TV was never online, no app is gonna magically fix that.
- Then test one third-party app, not five. Too many are scammy tbh.
Also, if you have a game console connected, use HDMI-CEC. I ran my TV through a PS5 for a week like this lol.
I’m slightly less sold on jumping to third-party apps first than @mikeappsreviewer, mostly because most “free” TV remote apps on iPhone turn into ad cannons fast. On this one, @himmelsjager and @caminantenocturno are closer to what usually works in real life.
My take:
Best free first try: SmartThings
If your Samsung TV is already on Wi-Fi, this is usually the least annoying option on iPhone.
What I’d add that hasn’t been stressed enough:
- Some Samsung TVs only wake for app control if they were turned off recently, not after a full power cut.
- If your router has a guest network, do not use that. TV and iPhone often can’t see each other there.
- If your TV is connected by Ethernet and your phone is on Wi-Fi, it should still work, but some routers handle discovery badly.
If SmartThings still fails, I’d test one third-party app only, not a whole carousel of them. The product title here is blank, so I can’t really recommend it by name, but in general:
Pros of third-party remote apps
- Sometimes simpler layout than SmartThings
- Can support multiple TV brands
- May include touchpad and keyboard shortcuts
Cons
- Fake “free” listings
- Subscription popups
- Ads before basic controls
- Spotty pairing on Samsung TVs
Also worth checking: if you have an Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, console, or cable box connected, you may be able to control enough through HDMI-CEC to survive until you replace the remote.
Honestly, if the TV was never on your network before the remote vanished, I’d stop fighting apps and just buy or borrow a cheap physical Samsung remote. That’s the one place I disagree with the “keep trying apps” approach.