I lost my Hisense TV remote and need a reliable iPhone app that actually works well with setup, volume, and input controls. I tried a couple of remote apps already, but they were glitchy or would not connect, so I need help finding the best Hisense TV remote app for iPhone.
Free Hisense TV Remote Apps for iPhone, Based on What Your TV Runs
I ran into this the annoying way. I assumed one remote app would work on every Hisense set. Nope. Hisense ships TVs with different systems, and your app choice lives or dies on that detail.
You need to check what your TV is running first. Common ones are VIDAA, Roku TV, Google TV, Android TV, and Fire TV. If you skip that step, you end up pairing and unpairing stuff for 20 minutes for no reason.
After trying the options people keep mentioning, these three made the most sense.
1. TVRem – Universal TV Remote
This was the easiest one in my testing for most Hisense TVs that do not use VIDAA. It works with Roku TV, Google TV, Android TV, and Fire TV models, which covers a lot of Hisense sets sold in the U.S.
Big thing here, it is free in the normal sense. No ad spam. No subscription wall five taps later. I installed it and used the features I expected to be there.
If your Hisense TV is on one of those non-VIDAA platforms, this is the one I would try first.
What it includes
- Volume and channel control
- Touchpad navigation
- Built-in keyboard
- Voice search
- Quick launch buttons for YouTube, Netflix, and other apps
- Automatic device detection
Why this one got my attention
A lot of remote apps look free until you hit the second screen. This one did not pull that. It also works beyond Hisense, which helped in my place since I had another TV in a different room. It supports Samsung, LG, Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV too.
2. VIDAA
If your Hisense TV runs VIDAA, stop there and use the official app. I mean it. I tried the generic route first and got mixed results. The official one was the cleaner fit.
This is built for Hisense TVs on the VIDAA system, which you see a lot outside the U.S. Pairing felt more direct. Phone keyboard input worked like it should. Launching apps from the phone was there too.
What it includes
- Official support from VIDAA
- Remote control and navigation
- Keyboard input
- Content recommendations
Best fit
- Hisense owners using VIDAA OS
3. Remote for Hisense TV
This one is more of a focused third-party option. It is made for Hisense TVs, not every brand under the sun, and some people prefer that narrower approach.
Based on its App Store listing, it supports VIDAA, Android TV, and Roku-based Hisense models. It also includes keyboard input and app shortcuts, which is the stuff most people want first anyway.
What it includes
- Power and volume controls
- Full keyboard
- Streaming app shortcuts
- Apple Watch support
Best fit
- People who want a Hisense-only alternative
Which one should you install
If your Hisense TV runs Roku TV, Google TV, Android TV, or Fire TV, I would start with TVRem – Universal TV Remote. It covers the most ground and did not waste my time with paywalls.
If your TV runs VIDAA, use VIDAA. That path is simpler.
My take
For most iPhone users, TVRem is the best free Hisense TV remote app because it supports several Hisense platforms and stays free without the usual nonsense.
If your set uses VIDAA, the official VIDAA app is the safer pick.
If you want one remote app for Hisense plus other TV brands in your house, TVRem feels like the better all-around choice.
1 Like
I’d split it by TV OS first, but I don’t fully agree with @mikeappsreviewer on one point. Universal apps are nice, but for setup screens and input switching, the official platform app tends to fail less.
My short list:
-
Roku app, if your Hisense is a Roku TV.
Best for volume, inputs, keyboard, private listening. Pairing is usuallly fast on the same Wi-Fi. -
Google TV app, if your Hisense runs Google TV or Android TV.
Stable. Good for setup. Keyboard works well. Input control depends on model, so check that first. -
Amazon Fire TV app, if your Hisense is Fire TV.
Solid for navigation and sign-in screens. Less annoying than most third-party apps. -
VIDAA app, if your TV uses VIDAA.
This is the one place I would avoid random remote apps. Connection is less glitchy from my testing.
If you want one fallback app, then a third-party option like the one @mikeappsreviewer listed makes sense. But if you need reliabe setup and input controls, matching the app to your TV OS wins more often.
Fast check: look at the TV home screen. Roku, Google TV, Android TV, Fire TV, or VIDAA should be visible. That tells you what to install. If none connect, your phone and TV are probly on different Wi-Fi bands or the TV’s network control setting is off.
I’d actually split this a little differently than @mikeappsreviewer and @shizuka.
If your main pain point is setup screens, volume, and input switching, the “best” app is usually the one that matches the TV platform, not the one with the most features on paper. A lot of universal apps are fine once the TV is already configured, but they can get weird during first-time setup or when the TV is half-connected to Wi-Fi.
My real-world ranking for reliability on iPhone:
- Apple TV-style control through Control Center? Not relevant here. People suggest random iPhone tricks and they do absolutly nothing for Hisense unless you’re using the right TV OS app.
- Official Roku / Google TV / Fire TV / VIDAA app, depending on what your Hisense runs.
- A universal fallback app only if the official one won’t connect.
Where I slightly disagree with @mikeappsreviewer: “free” is nice, but if you need input control specifically, third-party apps are the first place stuff breaks. Where I disagree a bit with @shizuka: the official apps are usually best, but not always great at reconnecting after the TV sleeps. That part can still be annoying.
What I’d do:
- If the TV says Roku TV, use the Roku app
- If it says Google TV or Android TV, use Google TV
- If it says Fire TV, use Amazon Fire TV
- If it says VIDAA, use the VIDAA app
If none connect, check these before wasting another 30 min:
- iPhone and TV on the exact same Wi-Fi
- Turn off VPN on the phone
- Make sure “network remote control” is enabled in TV settings
- Some routers split 2.4 and 5 GHz weirdly, which can mess pairing up
If you want one backup app after that, then yeah, a universal one makes sense. But for the stuff you listed, I would not start there. Too many of them are janky tbh.