I never thought much about my Apple TV remote until it stopped working one evening. I was all set for a movie night, popcorn in hand, but the remote wouldn’t respond. At first, I thought it was a glitch. Then I realized the battery was dead.
I had no idea how to check the charge or even how long it would take to power up. That’s when I decided to figure it out. Now, I always keep it charged, and I’ll show you how to do the same. It’s simple, and you won’t have to deal with surprises.
Read more: Ultimate Guide on Apple
Table of Contents
How I Figured Out Which Apple TV Remote I Had
I didn’t think much about my Apple TV remote until I needed to charge it. Turns out, not all remotes are the same. Here’s how I figured out which one I had.
- First Generation (2015): This one has a glass touch surface and a Lightning charging port at the bottom.
- Second Generation (2021): It looks different with an aluminum body, a circular clickpad, and still uses a Lightning port.
- Third Generation (2022): Looks like the second but uses a USB-C port instead.
If you’re still unsure, check Apple’s support page for more details.
Charging My Apple TV Remote Without Guesswork
Charging my remote was easier than I thought, but only after I knew what to use. Here’s the right way to do it based on your model.
First and Second Generations:
- Find the Lightning port at the bottom.
- Plug in a Lightning-to-USB cable to the remote.
- Connect the other end to a USB power adapter or a computer’s USB port.
Third Generation:
- Look for the USB-C port at the base.
- Use a USB-C cable to connect to a power source.
A full charge takes about three hours. Once charged, it lasts for weeks.
How I Check If My Apple TV Remote Is Actually Charging
Apple didn’t add a charging light, so I had to figure out another way. Here’s what works for me.
- Go to Settings on your Apple TV.
- Select Remotes and Devices.
- Click on Remote to see the battery level.
Some users say they get a pop-up on their TV when the remote starts charging. I haven’t seen it myself, but checking the battery level in settings always works.
My Apple TV Remote Won’t Charge – Here’s What I Did
One day, my remote just wouldn’t charge. I tried plugging it in, but nothing happened. If you’re dealing with the same issue, here’s what worked for me.
- Check the power source. I switched to another outlet to see if the charger was the problem.
- Test a different cable. Some cables wear out over time, so I used an Apple-certified one.
- Clean the charging port. I gently removed dust using a soft brush.
- Reset the remote. Holding the TV and Volume Down buttons until the Apple TV light blinked helped refresh the connection.
If none of this works, a battery replacement might be needed.
How I Keep Track of My Apple TV Remote Battery
I never want my remote to die in the middle of a show again. So, I check the battery level regularly. Here’s how you can do the same.
- Open Settings on your Apple TV.
- Go to Remotes and Devices.
- Select Remote to see the current battery percentage.
It only takes a few seconds, and now I never get caught off guard with a dead remote.
My Quick Fix When I Can’t Find My Remote
Sometimes, I misplace my Apple TV remote. Instead of turning my room upside down, I use my phone as a backup.
For iPhone Users:
- Open Control Center.
- Tap the Apple TV Remote icon.
For Android Users:
- Download an Apple TV remote app from the Google Play Store.
It’s an easy fix, and now I don’t panic when I can’t find my remote.