If your phone has an infrared (IR) blaster, you’re in luck! You can use it to send IR signals to your Smart TV, just like a regular remote. But don’t worry if your phone doesn’t have an IR blaster, you can always purchase an IR blaster that connects to your phone.
| Apps you can use | A Brief Description of the App |
| AnyMote Universal Remote + WiFi Smart Home Control | This popular app is available for download on Google Play and App Store. It enables you to control your non-smart TV with your android smartphone. Thankfully some android devices come with built-in infrared blasters. This app will help you in controlling all these devices that have IR blasters. |
| Twinone Universal TV Remote | With over 30k downloads, Twinone has a simple design that’s ideal for avoiding the ridiculous complexity of today’s universal remotes. It’s on Google Play, but not on the App Store. |
| Lean Remote – Universal Remote Control | This app is available on Google Play, and there’s an equivalent version on the App Store. It can also be used to manage your smart as well as non-smart television. |
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Apps You Can Use To Link Your Phone to Non-Smart TVs
The following apps are some of the most well-known and widely used universal remote control apps on the App Store and Google Play.
However, there are many options to suit your visual style, ease of use, or popularity.
The apps are available for both iPhone and Android, but iPhone users will need the following hardware:
AnyMote Universal Remote + WiFi Smart Home Control
Are you tired of juggling multiple remotes for your TV, cable box, and other entertainment devices? Look no further than the AnyMote Universal Remote + WiFi Smart Home Control app!
Not only can it replace all of your old remotes, but it also allows you to control smart home devices like your lights, thermostat, and even your coffee maker (yes, you read that right).
The app connects to your non-smart TV via Wi-Fi or IR blaster and features an easy-to-use interface that even includes voice control options. And if you’re feeling creative, you can even create custom macros to control multiple devices with a single tap.
Twinone Universal TV Remote
This app allows you to use your smartphone as a remote control for your non-smart TV. All you have to do is download the app, point your phone towards your TV, and voila! You now have a fully functional remote at your fingertips.
The app supports a wide range of TVs and even allows you to customize your remote layout to your liking. Plus, you don’t have to worry about buying additional hardware or connecting to WiFi. It’s easy, convenient, and best of all, free!
Lean Remote – Universal Remote Control
If you’re looking for a simple and easy-to-use app to control your non-smart TV, Lean Remote is a great option. This app has a minimalist design and is very user-friendly, making it perfect for those who are not tech-savvy.
Lean Remote allows you to control your TV using your smartphone’s built-in IR blaster, which means you don’t need to purchase any additional hardware. The app supports a wide range of TV brands, so it’s highly likely that it will work with your non-smart TV.
In addition to basic remote-control functions such as changing channels and adjusting volume, Lean Remote also has some handy features such as the ability to set reminders for your favorite shows and create custom buttons for frequently used commands.
Smartphones that come with built-in IR Blasters
While most mobile phone manufacturers have discontinued the use of IR blasters on their phones, a few remain.
You can find out if your phone has an IR blaster by doing a quick Google search or by reading through the user manual and examining the phone’s features.
The majority of Xiaomi’s lineup includes IR blasters, and some older flagship phones from Huawei and Vivo do as well.
If you have an IR blaster on your phone, you can simply download a universal remote app from the Playstore and connect it to your IR-enabled devices.
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Some Other Devices Can Also Be Controlled By Universal Remote Apps
As long as the device you’re attempting to control has an IR receiver and your phone has an IR blaster or is synced with a universal IR blaster, the sky’s the limit.
You should be able to control everyday devices like your television, air conditioner, and Blu-ray player.
However, you’ll be able to operate devices such as motorized blinds, remote-controlled fans, lights, and even automatic switches.
With a little Google research or contacting an Automation company, you should be able to control every IR device in your house from your IR-enabled phone or Universal remote.
Universal Remotes for Non-Smart TVs
A simple Amazon search for ‘Universal Remote’ should turn up a plethora of options. Choose remotes that come with their own programming software and a setup guide, however.
In some cases, remotes may necessitate the use of specialized software that’s not widely available to the general public. This means you’ll have to hire an outside validator to come to your home and set up your remote, which can be expensive.
Within 15 minutes of being unpacked, a remote with a simple setup guide should be up and running. Before mapping the buttons on the remote, follow the instructions in the manual to sync the remote with the TV.
When this is finished, you can use your universal remote to control your TV.
On Smart TVs, Use Non-Smart TV Remotes
Your Smart TV remote may not work with your Non-Smart TV because most Smart TVs now use RF (Radio Frequency) rather than IR.
Even if your Smart TV remote is IR capable, unless it has a built-in reprogrammable feature, these remotes are usually locked to the TV that came with it.
In short, you can’t use your Smart TV remote to control your non-Smart TV.
Is There Anything Else These Devices and Apps Can Do?
The benefit of a universal remote control app, adapter, or hub is that it is universal, which means you can use it to control devices other than your television. Anything that uses infrared communication will be linked to your smartphone app.
As some IR hubs are compatible with IFTTT, many of the things that you manually operate around your house can be automated.
Moreover, because most devices today are compatible with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit, downloading an IR app, buying an adapter, or including an IR hub will improve the performance of your universal remote.
FAQs
How can I use my phone to control a regular TV rather than a smart TV?
Answer: You can install a universal remote app on your phone and then use the phone’s built-in IR blaster to communicate with the television if it has one.
Is my phone equipped with an infrared blaster?
Answer: You can find out if your phone has an IR blaster by consulting the user manual or specs sheet for your device. You can also confirm this by conducting a quick Google search with your phone’s model.
Is the iPhone 12 equipped with an infrared blaster?
Answer: Unfortunately, none of the current iPhone or iPad models support an infrared blaster.
I have a standard television; can I use my iPhone as a remote control for it?
Answer: You can purchase a dongle that connects to your device’s lightning port and functions as an infrared remote control. As a result, you can use the IR dongle as a transmitter and download a universal IR remote app to your device.
Is there an app to make your phone a remote?
There are apps such as AnyMote Smart IR Remote or Logitech Harmony Hub compatible with iOS and Android to turn your phone into a remote.
While smartphones have no basic functionality that allows them to control televisions remotely, there are several paid and free apps that would allow you to use your phone as a remote.
How do I know if my phone has an IR blaster?
You can check the topmost part of your phone to see if there is a small LED light that would indicate that it has an IR blaster.
IR blasters are needed in order for you to use your phone as a remote control for non-smart TV. If your phone does not have one, you can buy the necessary hardware like a dongle or adapter online to get your phone outfitted.
Conclusion
- In this day and age of technology, there are numerous ways to connect to a television that is not a smart TV.
- People can get more use out of their devices because, despite the development of modern technological standards, the majority of today’s technology is still backward compatible.
- Another reason is that infrared and radio frequency (RF) technology is still widely used around the world, making it much easier to create standards for these various modes of connectivity.
- As a result, if you ever misplace your TV remote, it is best to remain calm and implement one of the solutions described above in order to continue watching television.