June 12, 2026, 4:13 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Has the remote for the Apple TV slipped between the couch cushions again? No problem, because the iPhone can easily be used as a replacement. However, this has only been possible through the detour in the Control Center. iOS 27 is bringing back the remote app.
Remote Back on the Home Screen
The virtual Apple TV remote was originally available as a standalone app in the App Store. Later, Apple integrated the function directly into the Control Center of the iPhone and iPad. In 2020, the company removed the app from the store following the major iOS 12 redesign. Since then, accessing the remote from the Home Screen has only been possible—rather inelegantly—through a complicated shortcut.
With iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, this detour becomes unnecessary again, as reported by “9To5Mac.” The updates bring the virtual Apple TV remote back with its own app icon on the Home Screen.
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How to Set It Up
As before, users can find the remote through Spotlight search. However, the new feature allows the app to be dragged directly onto the Home Screen via the icon. Alternatively, it is also stored in the App Library. Unlike the previous “TV Remote” app, no download from the App Store is necessary.
This simplifies operation, especially for users who regularly use their iPhone or iPad as a remote for Apple TV. They can place the function prominently and always easily accessible, saving the detour through the Control Center.
Update Coming in the Fall
iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are currently in developer beta. The “new” Apple TV remote can already be found there. Public beta versions will follow in July, for which all owners of compatible iPhones can register. The official release of the new systems is scheduled for the fall.
The update does not change how the remote functions. However, many users have missed the practical app since its discontinuation six years ago and can now look forward to its return.