Android TV Pairing Code: Pair Your Phone Remote

Lost your Android TV remote, or just want a keyboard for typing? An android tv remote app turns your phone into a full controller over Wi-Fi — and pairing it takes a single 6-character code shown on the TV. No IR blaster, no cables, no setup menu spelunking.

This guide walks through exactly how that pairing code works, which devices it covers (Google TV, Nvidia Shield, plus Sony, TCL and Philips Android TVs), and how to type on the big screen with your phone keyboard. We've paired hundreds of these connections testing Remofy, so the steps below are the ones that actually hold up.

How does an Android TV remote app pair with my TV?

It pairs by showing a 6-character code on the TV that you type into the app once, creating a secure link over your home Wi-Fi.

Here's the short version. Both devices need to sit on the same Wi-Fi network. The app scans the network, finds your TV, and asks the TV to display a pairing code. You read that code off the screen, type it into the app, and you're connected.

That code isn't busywork. It's part of the Android TV Remote v2 protocol — the same official, encrypted channel Google's own Google TV app uses (XDA's walkthrough covers the consumer flow). The code proves your phone is in the room with the TV, not some random device on the network. You only enter it the first time. After that, the app reconnects on its own.

Quick steps:

1. Put your phone and Android TV on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Open the remote app and let it scan, then tap your TV in the list.
3. A 6-character code appears on the TV screen. It can include the letters A-F.
4. Type that code into the app.
5. Done — D-pad, keyboard, and play/pause all work right away.

With Remofy, that's the entire process. No account, no codes to look up online, no QR scan. Just the code on your screen.

Where does the pairing code appear?

The code appears on the TV screen itself, not on your phone, right after you tap your TV in the app.

So keep your eyes on the TV when you tap connect. The TV has to be fully on and showing a picture. Your phone only shows the empty boxes where you type the code.

Why can the code include letters A-F?

Android TV and Google TV codes are written in hexadecimal, a number format that uses the digits 0-9 plus the letters A-F.

So a code like 4B7E2A is completely normal. Type the letters just as they appear on the TV. This trips people up because most pairing codes are numbers only.

Other brands use different codes because they run their own systems: LG webOS shows 8 digits, Vizio, Fire TV and newer Philips Saphi or Titan OS TVs show 4 digits, and Samsung and Roku show no code at all. The TV decides, not the app.

What if no code shows up on the TV?

If no code appears, the app hasn't reached the TV's remote service yet. Work through these in order:

1. Check the Wi-Fi. Phone and TV must be on the same network. That's the most common cause, and the section below covers it in detail.
2. Update Android TV Remote Service. On the TV, open the Play Store, search for "Android TV Remote Service", and update or enable it.
3. TCL TVs: turn on Screenless service in the TV's Settings.
4. Restart the TV, then connect again from the app.

One quick test: if Google's own Google TV app on your phone can't connect either, the TV itself is blocking remote control, not the app.

What if the code won't match?

If the app says the code is wrong, it usually expired or a character was misread.

• Type the code exactly as it appears on the TV, letters included.
• Codes expire quickly. If you waited too long, tap Try again and type the new code.
• The code can change when you cancel and retry. Always read the current one off the screen.

Which devices count as "Android TV" for pairing?

Any device running certified Android TV or Google TV qualifies, including Google TV streamers, Nvidia Shield, and most Sony, TCL and Philips smart TVs.

The label on the box doesn't matter as much as the operating system inside. If your TV or streaming box runs Google's TV software, the same 6-character pairing flow applies. Per Google's own setup docs, the remote pairing works across certified Android TV devices.

Device	Runs Android TV / Google TV?	Pairs with code?
Chromecast with Google TV	Yes	Yes (6 characters)
Nvidia Shield TV / Shield TV Pro	Yes	Yes (6 characters)
Sony BRAVIA Android/Google TVs	Yes	Yes (6 characters)
TCL Android TV models	Yes	Yes (6 characters)
Philips Android TV models	Yes	Yes (6 characters)
Walmart Onn Google TV box	Yes	Yes (6 characters)

Nvidia confirms the Android TV remote app works with Shield over the network, no extra hardware needed.

One catch worth knowing: some Sony, TCL and Philips sets come in two flavors. A TCL might run Android TV in one model and Roku in another, and a Philips might run Android TV or Titan OS. Same brand, different software, different pairing. If you're not sure which one you have, our Sony BRAVIA remote, TCL TV remote, and Philips TV remote pages break down exactly what to expect for each.

How do I type on my Android TV with my phone?

Once paired, open a search box on the TV, then tap the keyboard button on Remofy's Remote screen and type.

This is the feature people miss most after losing the physical remote. Pecking out a Wi-Fi password or a movie title with a D-pad, one letter at a time, on that grid of on-screen letters? Painful. We've all done the slow shuffle across a virtual keyboard, hunting for the spacebar.

The phone keyboard skips all of that. When a search box or login field is selected on the TV, your phone's keyboard sends real text — fast, with autocorrect and your usual layout. Gadget Hacks covers the general idea; in practice it's the single biggest time-saver once your phone is paired.

When the keyboard helps most:

• Signing into Netflix, Disney+, or YouTube
• Entering a long Wi-Fi password during setup
• Searching for a show by name instead of scrolling A-to-Z
• Typing a Google account email

In Remofy, tap the keyboard button on the Remote screen. It opens the Type on TV panel. Open a search box on the TV first, then type, and the text goes to the TV. Typing also works on LG, Roku and Philips TVs. It's free, like every button in the app — no paywall on the keyboard, no "premium" upsell to type.

Why won't my TV show up in the app?

Nine times out of ten, the phone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks — fix that first.

Discovery only works when both devices share one network. The usual culprit: your phone is on the 5GHz band and the TV is on 2.4GHz, or one of them quietly jumped to a guest network. They feel like "the same Wi-Fi," but to the router they're strangers.

Run through this in order:

1. Same network check. Open Wi-Fi settings on your phone and on the TV. The network names must match exactly. Many routers split 2.4GHz and 5GHz into separate names — pick the same one on both.
2. Reboot both. Power-cycle the TV and the router. As pairing guides note, a restart clears most discovery glitches.
3. Drop guest Wi-Fi. Guest networks usually block device-to-device traffic. Move both to your main network.
4. Check router isolation. Some routers have "AP isolation" or "client isolation" switched on, which hides devices from each other. Turn it off.

Because this all runs over Wi-Fi/LAN, there's no IR blaster involved — which is also why a remote app like this can't control an old infrared-only TV, and doesn't do casting or screen mirroring. It's a remote, full stop. For a true smart TV, that's exactly what you want.

Does this work without the original remote?

Yes — that's the whole point. Once your phone is paired, you don't need the physical remote at all.

This is the rescue scenario we hear about most. The remote slid into the couch, the dog got to it, or it's just gone. As long as the TV is already on and connected to Wi-Fi, your phone takes over completely: power, volume, D-pad, apps, and typing.

There's one honest edge case. If the TV is fully powered off and not reachable on the network, the app can't wake it — there's nothing to pair with. Remofy's Power button can turn many Android TVs and Google TVs on over Wi-Fi, but only after Remofy has connected to that TV once while it was on, and only if the TV keeps its network awake in standby. On Sony BRAVIA that setting is Remote start (Settings → Network); other brands call it Network standby, Wake on LAN or Switch on with Wi-Fi. Some TVs and the Chromecast switch their network off and can't be turned on from a phone.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Android TV remote app free?

Remofy is free — no subscription, no weekly fee, and nothing locked behind a paywall. The D-pad, keyboard, number pad and app shortcuts all work without paying. It's supported by ads, which never interrupt your button presses. You can grab it on the Google Play Store.

Do I need to enter the pairing code every time?

No. You enter the 6-character code once. After that first pairing, the app reconnects automatically whenever your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi.

Does it work with Nvidia Shield and Google TV?

Yes. The Android TV Remote v2 protocol covers Google TV, the Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield, and most Sony, TCL and Philips Android TV models. See our Android TV remote page for the full list.

Why does my TV ask for a code but it never connects?

The code likely timed out, a letter was mistyped, or the app and TV slipped onto different networks. Restart the pairing to get a fresh code, type it exactly (letters A-F included), and confirm both devices are on the exact same Wi-Fi name.

Can it control an old non-smart TV?

No. This works over Wi-Fi using the TV's own protocol, not infrared. An old IR-only TV without network features can't be paired this way.

Get your phone controlling the TV today

Pairing an Android TV is genuinely a 30-second job: same Wi-Fi, tap your TV, type the 6-character code, and you're in. From there the phone keyboard alone makes it worth keeping installed — no more letter-by-letter D-pad typing.

If you want a remote that handles Google TV, Shield, Sony, TCL and Philips without charging you a cent, download Remofy on Google Play and pair it in the next minute. Then check our Android TV remote guide for the device-specific details.

Related guides

• How to use your phone as a TV remote
• TV remote app not connecting? 7 fixes that work
• How to use a Firestick without the remote