Why Does My Apple TV Remote Keep Disconnecting? (Read This First) 2024

There is doubt that your TV can still function without a remote. But, it becomes a challenge to own a TV and cannot yet control what you are viewing.

And one of the reasons this happens is when the remote keeps disconnecting from the Apple TV. Thus leaves the question, why does my Apple remote keep disconnecting?

As much as this becomes a problem, it does not mean you should ignore it or treat it lightly.

If the Apple TV remote keeps disconnecting, it is most likely a result of several factors. It could be that the remote is out of the TV’s range, the TV may be asleep, the remote needs a reset, or the problem may be associated with Bluetooth connectivity. Interference from equipment nearby may also cause it to disconnect and reconnect constantly.

This article will show why your Apple keeps disconnecting and how to fix it. You will also learn to reset the remote and identify its lifespan.

By the end, you will be able to fix your Apple Tv remote in a jiffy.

Contents

Why Does Apple Remote App Keep Losing Connections?

The Apple TV remote allows you to control your TV from an IOS device (iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch) as long as you set up the Apple TV remote app.

But this remote app will lose connection if;

You have the wrong software
You connected it to a different WiFi network
You have a problem with the Bluetooth connection
You are using many devices of 2.4 GHz together in a room.
You place a computer close to an ATV or devices that use 3.0 USB peripherals.
You need to guide the ATV’s power cable from the device at the back of the or when the ATV is sitting on power cables or extension cords.
You have led lighting in the room.

How Do I Stop My Apple TV Remote From Recurrently Disconnecting?

If you find yourself in such a dilemma, do not conclude that there is nothing you can do. On the contrary, you can easily do many things to reestablish a stronger connection.

Below are a few fixes you can engage in to establish a stronger connection;

#1. Get a Software Update

There are always improvements with new updates, but problems of incompatibility with the older hardware and software versions that come with it.

Ensure that you have an updated version of all your programs and devices. It is a way to avoid all problems related to Apple TV remote apps not functioning correctly.

Also, ensure that you include your Apple TV and iTunes; they should also all be up to date, just as you are doing with your OS.

#2. Connect to the Same WiFi Network

Here, the network you connect your IOS device and your TV to must be the same, not two separate networks.

For your TV: Go to settings, then general, then network, then WiFi; at this point, you will choose the network you intend to use.
For your iPhone: here, you tap on settings, then WiFi, and finally, you will then tap on the network that your Apple TV has a connection to.
For your Mac: you will locate the WiFi icon at the upper right-hand corner of your Mac, select it and choose the same network as your Apple TV.

#3. Restart the iPhone’s WiFi or the Router

Your remote app may sometimes disconnect even after you have gotten the software update and connected all devices to the same network.

Disable your iPhone’s WiFi in the control center for a few seconds and reconnect. If everything stays the same, restart the router, which could be experiencing communication problems.

A router will experience communication problems when it has many devices simultaneously connected. Restarting the router may be the remedy it needs.

#4. Re-add the Apple TV Remote

To re-add the Apple TV remote, make sure you do the following;

Open the settings of your iPhone and tap on the control center.
Next, on the control list, you will see the Apple TV remote; remove it
Then go “More Controls” section and add it back

#5. Restart Devices

If until now there are still issues with your Apple TV remote not connecting, go ahead on rebooting your devices.

Start with your TV, which you can do in one of the following three ways:

The first involves pressing and holding the back and TV button on your physical Siri remote until you see quick blinks on your Apple TV status light.
Go to your Apple TV’s settings, tap “System,” and then “Restart.”
Please remove the Apple TV from the power source and plug it in again after about 5 seconds.

Then try to reestablish the connection between your iPhone and the Apple TV.

It will be wise to reboot (using force restart) the IOS device if the Apple remote app still finds it challenging to connect.

#6. Including Apple TV to HomeKit

You can quickly resolve the issues of your remote losing connection when you include the media player in HomeKit.

You can do this by;

Going to “Accounts” after opening the settings of your Apple TV
Ensure that the Apple ID you sign in with is the same as the one on the IOS device on which you have the Remote Control.
Apple TV will set itself as the home hub the moment you log into iCloud

How Do I Force My Apple TV to Reset the Remote?

There are several methods for resetting an Apple TV remote. But among those methods, one is considered the easiest, and it works the most for almost all models.

To force your Apple TV to reset the remote, you need to follow these two steps;

You must unplug the remote for not less than five seconds
Then plug the Apple TV back in and wait for the home screen’s appearance. After it appears, try using the remote to see if the reset worked.

But as I said above, there are other ways to reset your remote, below are two other ways to reset your Apple TV remote.

#1. Resetting Apple TV/Siri Remote Manually

The type of remote you have will determine the manual reset.

For example, for the Siri remote (also called Apple remote in some places), you need to:

Press and hold the “Menu” and “Volume Up” buttons of the remote, keep at it, and then you will see a notification on the screen saying it’s pairing.
Then bring the Siri remote close to the TV and remain there until the notification disappears.
Once you no longer see the pop-up “Pairing Remote,” try to use the remote again.

#2. Resetting Old Apple Remote Manually

Suppose the Apple remote you have is the older one with a ring of buttons at the top; you need to do the following;

First, hold down the “Menu” and the “Left” buttons; doing so will unlink the Apple remote from the Apple TV.
Keep holding for about five seconds until an image of a remote appears on the screen with two ovals appearing on top of it.
After the image appears, hold the Menu and Right buttons, but this time, you should see the two ovals overlapping and having the appearance of chain links.
It means you have successfully established a connection between your remote and TV.
Test your remote to see the progress you have made so far. If you still experience issues, contact Apple Support or get a new remote.

Below is a table that shows the differences between the old and new Apple TV remotes:

Old Apple TV Remote	New Apple TV Remote
The design is small, slim, and all black	Slightly larger and comes with a one-piece aluminum design
Works with apps and contents	You need to scroll using your fingers
It has an accelerometer and gyroscope for gaming	Lacks accelerometer and gyroscope

How Long Do Apple TV Remotes Last?

Apple TV remote, if fully charged, will last for months. The standard time an Apple remote will last is two months, but for me, who uses it less often, it takes me up to three months.

Hence, note that if you frequently use the Apple remote, it may only take you to the end of the second month. Therefore, you should make plans on how to charge and use it.