A universal TV remote app generally cannot control a non-smart TV on its own — but there is an important exception. If your smartphone has a built-in infrared (IR) blaster, a remote app can send signals directly to an older TV just like a physical remote would. Without an IR blaster, you will need a workaround or a different solution altogether. Below, we walk through exactly how it all works and what your options are.
What does a universal TV remote app actually need to work?
A universal TV remote app needs one of two things to function: either a Wi-Fi connection shared between your phone and the TV, or a built-in IR blaster on your phone. Wi-Fi-based apps communicate with smart TVs over your home network. IR-based apps send infrared signals directly to the TV, no network required. Without at least one of these, the app has no way to reach your television.
Most modern remote apps are built primarily around Wi-Fi. They discover your TV on the network, connect to it, and let you control it from your phone. This works beautifully with smart TVs, but a non-smart TV has no Wi-Fi chip and cannot receive those network signals. That is where the IR route becomes relevant, and why the type of TV you own changes everything about which solution will actually work for you.
What makes a TV ‘non-smart’ and why does it matter for apps?
A non-smart TV is any television that lacks an internet connection and an operating system. It has no Wi-Fi, no app store, and no built-in streaming capabilities. It simply displays whatever signal you feed into it through an HDMI or AV port. This matters for remote apps because Wi-Fi-based communication is completely off the table — there is nothing on the TV side to receive the signal.
The practical consequence is straightforward. If a remote app relies on your home network to talk to the TV, it will never find a non-smart TV during setup. The TV is invisible to the app. This does not mean all hope is lost, but it does mean you need to match your solution to your specific phone and TV combination before downloading anything.
Can a phone with an IR blaster control a non-smart TV?
Yes. A phone with an IR blaster can control a non-smart TV using a universal remote app. The IR blaster emits the same infrared signals as a physical remote control, and the TV’s IR receiver picks them up just as it would from the original remote. This works regardless of whether the TV is smart or not, because IR is a direct, hardware-level communication method.
Many Android phones from brands like Xiaomi, Huawei, and certain Samsung and TCL models include an IR blaster. iPhones do not have one. If your Android phone has this feature, you can point it at your TV, open a compatible remote app, select your TV brand, and start controlling it immediately. No Wi-Fi, no network setup, no pairing process. The app simply needs to know your TV’s brand and model so it can load the correct IR codes.
The limitation here is range and line-of-sight. IR signals travel in a straight line, so you need to point your phone toward the TV’s IR sensor, just as you would with a physical remote. Walls and obstacles will block the signal.
What are the alternatives if your phone has no IR blaster?
If your phone has no IR blaster, you cannot control a non-smart TV wirelessly through an app alone. Your practical alternatives involve adding hardware to bridge the gap between your phone and the older television.
- A streaming device with its own remote: Devices like a Roku stick, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Chromecast plug into your TV’s HDMI port and bring smart functionality with them. You can then use a remote app to control the streaming device, not the TV itself.
- A universal IR remote hub: Dedicated hardware like a Logitech Harmony hub connects to your Wi-Fi and translates app commands into IR signals. Your phone talks to the hub over Wi-Fi, and the hub talks to your TV over IR.
- A physical universal remote: Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one. A traditional universal remote costs very little and works with virtually any TV out of the box.
The streaming device route is especially popular because it solves two problems at once: it gives you smart TV features and makes your older television compatible with Wi-Fi-based remote apps.
Should you get a remote app or a streaming device for an older TV?
If your phone has an IR blaster, a remote app is the faster and cheaper solution. If it does not, a streaming device is almost always worth it. A streaming stick not only solves the remote control problem but also transforms your older TV into a fully capable streaming screen, giving you access to Netflix, YouTube, and everything else you already pay for.
The decision really comes down to what you want from your setup. If you just want to replace a lost remote and keep using your TV as-is, check whether your phone has an IR blaster and grab a compatible app. If you want to do more with your older TV — stream content, cast from your phone, use voice commands — then spending a small amount on a streaming device pays off quickly. It is a one-time upgrade that removes the limitations of a non-smart TV entirely.
How AirBeamTV Helps with TV Remote Control
We built the AirBeamTV Universal TV Remote App to make controlling your TV as simple as possible — no setup codes, no extra hardware, no frustration. Here is what it gives you:
- Works with all major TV brands: Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Roku, and more are all supported out of the box.
- Controls streaming devices too: Manage your Roku or Amazon Fire TV Stick from the same app, so you are not juggling multiple remotes.
- Full remote functionality: Volume, channel switching, source selection, mute, and a touchpad and keyboard for easy text input.
- Haptic feedback: Every button press gives you a small vibration so you always know the command went through.
- No setup codes needed: Just connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network, select your TV model, and you are in control.
If you have a smart TV or a streaming device connected to an older screen, our app turns your iPhone, iPad, or Android device into a powerful universal remote in seconds. Download the AirBeamTV Universal TV Remote App today and stop searching for the remote you lost three months ago.
