Now, imagine pulling out your phone, tapping a few buttons, and taking complete control of the smart TV (Video Demo). Silence. Channel change. Volume control. It feels like a hacker move straight out of a movie.

This exact feeling is why devices like the Flipper Zero, with its “TV Remote” feature, have gone viral and blown people’s minds. But here’s the secret the internet didn’t tell you: You probably already have this power in your pocket, and you didn’t even know it.

What You’ll Need for This Tutorial

The requirements are surprisingly simple. You likely already have everything you need.

  • A Smartphone with an IR Blaster: This is the only “special” hardware you need. An IR (Infrared) Blaster is a small, often overlooked component on a phone that emits the same invisible light signals as a traditional remote control. A quick Google search for “[your phone model] IR blaster” will tell you if your phone has the IR blaster.
  • An IR Remote App: This is the software that turns your phone’s IR blaster into a universal remote. We’ll cover this in detail next.

Step 1: Find and Install an IR Remote App

Open your phone’s app store and search for “IR remote” or “universal remote.” You’ll see a lots of options. Many are excellent, but some are filled with ads. Our Recommendation is always to go Open-Source if you value privacy, and a clean experience. On the Video Demo I used this app:

https://f-droid.org/de/packages/us.spotco.ir_remote/

Other good options from Play Store are “irplus” and “Lean Remote”.

Step 2: Set Up Your New Digital Remote

Any IR Remote app will typically ask for permission to control the IR blaster (if your phone has one). Grant the permission. Those steps are applicable to all apps because they are quite similar. In fact, you can explore them yourself without reading the steps, becuase it is self-explanatory.

  1. The app will ask you to select a device. Choose “TV.”
  2. It will then ask you to select a brand. Scroll and find the brand of the Smart TV you want to control (e.g., Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, etc.).
  3. Finally, the app will present you with a test remote. It will ask you to point your phone’s IR blaster at the TV and press a button (like “Power” or “Volume Up”).
  4. Test the buttons! Did the TV turn off? Did the volume change? If yes, congratulations! You’re done. If not, you might put the wrong TV model.