I misplaced my Element TV remote and need a working iPhone app to control the TV. I tried a couple of remote apps from the App Store, but they either would not connect or did not support my Element model. Looking for recommendations for the best Element TV remote app for iPhone and steps to get it paired.
I went down this rabbit hole on iPhone because 'Element TV remote app' sounds simple until you hit the mess underneath. Element sells TVs with different systems inside. Some are Roku TV. Some are Fire TV. Some run Android TV or Google TV. So a bunch of apps in the App Store look right, then fail the second you try to pair them.
If you want the short version, the best pick I found was TVRem – Universal TV Remote app.
Why I landed there, it handles the platforms Element keeps shipping now. Roku TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV. I did not need to stop and identify the exact OS first. I installed it, tried it, and it connected on setups where other so-called Element remotes went nowhere.
Day to day, it covers the stuff you miss fast when the physical remote vanishes. Volume. Direction controls. Text entry for logins and search boxes. Voice input. Fast jumps into streaming apps. What stood out to me was simpler than any feature list, the basic controls were not shoved behind a paywall. A lot of remote apps pull that trick. This one didn’t, or at least I didn’t run into it.
There’s also TV Remote – Universal Remote.
I tried this one too. It works with a lot of Element sets and the core controls are there. The layout feels more old-school universal remote, plain buttons, standard movement pad, keyboard support, no drama. It gets the job done. I felt the limits faster, though. Newer apps tend to feel less cramped and a bit smoother.
If your Element set is a Roku model, I’d skip the guessing and test the official Roku app first.
On Roku-based Element TVs, the connection tends to hold steady. Keyboard entry is good. Voice search is good. I had fewer pairing hiccups there than with generic remote apps.
Same story on the Fire TV side. If your Element TV is a Fire TV Edition set, try Amazon’s own app.
That one fit Fire TV models better in my use. Navigation felt smooth. Typing in search fields was easy enough. Alexa voice support is there too, which matters if you already use it and don’t want to retrain your habits.
My plain answer, if you do not know which Element system you have and you want one app with the best shot of working out of the gate, I’d start with TVRem. It covers Roku TV, Fire TV, Android TV, and Google TV in one place. That matters more if your house has a mix of TVs, or if you’re helping parents and don’t want to play detective every time a remote goes missing. It also felt closer to a full remote replacement because the normal features were usable without the usual app-store nonsense.
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I’d take a different route than @mikeappsreviewer on one point. I would not start with a generic Element remote app first.
Element TVs are often one of 4 things, Roku TV, Fire TV, Android TV, or Google TV. The matching official app usually works better than the brand-name “Element remote” apps in the App Store.
Fast way to check:
Settings, About, or the startup logo.
If you see Roku, use The Roku App.
If you see Fire TV, use Amazon Fire TV.
If you see Google TV or Android TV, use Google TV on iPhone.
Why this works better:
Official apps pair faster.
Fewer fake listings.
Keyboard input works more consistenly.
Less random “subscribe to use volume” junk.
Important part people miss:
Your iPhone and TV need the same Wi-Fi.
Some TVs also need “Control by mobile apps” turned on in settings.
If the TV was ever removed from Wi-Fi, no phone app will connect till you get it back online. That part trips ppl up a lot.
If your TV is older Element, non-smart, or a basic smart set with no Roku/Fire/Google layer, app control usually won’t work on iPhone at all. iPhones lack IR blasters, so no line-of-sight remote option.
So, my order would be:
- Identify the TV OS.
- Try the official app for that OS.
- Only then test a universal app if needed.
That saved me a ton of time vs downloading 6 junk apps in a row lol.
I half-disagree with @mikeappsreviewer and @sternenwanderer only on the “figure out the OS first” part. If the remote is already gone, sometimes the fastest move is checking the sticker on the back of the TV for a model number and searching that exact model plus “Roku” or “Fire TV” on your phone. Way quicker than poking through menus you can’t open.
One other thing people don’t mention enough: some Element sets won’t wake from fully off with an iPhone app. The app works after the TV is already on. So if your TV is off and not just asleep, a phone remote can look “broken” when it’s not. That catches ppl all the time.
If you still want a non-official fallback, I’d try a universal remote app only after confirming the TV is on the same Wi-Fi and already booted. Otherwise you end up blaming the app for a network issue. Been there, wasted 20 mins, felt dumb lol.
Also, if your Element came with a cheap IR-only remote originally, iPhone apps are basically a no-go. No IR blaster on iPhone, no magic. At that point, honestly just buy a replacement remote off Amazon or Walmart for like ten bucks. That’s probly the least annoying fix.
One extra angle nobody’s hit hard enough: check whether your Element is using Bluetooth for the original remote. Some Fire TV Edition sets pair the stock remote over Bluetooth, but phone apps still need the TV on the network first. So if the TV got factory reset, changed routers, or Wi-Fi credentials changed, even the “right” iPhone app will act dead.
I slightly disagree with jumping straight to a universal app. They’re fine as a fallback, but they can hide the real issue, usually network discovery.
If you want a single fallback to test after the basics, TVRem – Universal TV Remote is reasonable.
Pros
- one app for Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV
- easier if you are not sure what Element variant you have
- cleaner than a lot of fake “Element remote” apps
Cons
- still won’t fix an offline TV
- may not wake some models from full shutdown
I think @sternenwanderer and @cazadordeestrellas are right about matching the TV platform, and @mikeappsreviewer is right that a universal app can save time, but only after you rule out the boring stuff: TV powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and not an old IR-only Element. If it’s one of those older non-smart sets, skip the App Store and buy a replacement remote. That’s the actual fix.