I just realized my LG TV remote is either lost or broken, and using the TV buttons is a pain. I’d like to control my LG TV and possibly other devices like my soundbar from my phone. There are so many LG universal remote apps in the app stores and I’m not sure which ones are reliable, safe, and actually work well. Can anyone recommend the best LG universal remote app and share why you prefer it?
Best LG TV Remote Apps For iPhone, From Someone Who Got Sick Of Losing Remotes
I stopped buying replacement LG remotes after the third one. One died from a drink spill, one vanished into the couch void, and one snapped when it fell off the bed. After that, I moved everything to my phone. By the way, there’s a great thread on Reddit that compares the best universal TV remote apps, breaking down their pros and cons compared to physical remotes. Definitely give it a look — you’ll probably find something useful!
If you are on iPhone and you want something that works with an LG TV without a lot of nonsense, here is what I tried and where I ended up.
I’ll keep it straight: what works, what is annoying, and what I’d install again.
1. TVRem is the best LG universal remote app
I installed this first as a test, then ended up leaving it on my home screen.
What I noticed:
• It talks to the TV over Wi‑Fi, no IR dongles, no weird accessories.
• It picked up my LG right away once the TV and iPhone were on the same network. No manual IP typing.
• It also saw a Samsung in the bedroom and a cheap hotel TV I tried later, which was a nice bonus.
Stuff that helped day to day
• Full keyboard inside the app.
I used this in YouTube and Netflix. Entering search terms with the normal LG remote is pain. On TVRem I type on the iPhone keyboard and it sends it to the TV. Way faster.
• Layout is clean.
No fake “cool” skins or fake plastic design. Volume, channel, source, D‑pad, OK button, back, home. That is it. I did not have to guess where anything was.
• Setup took under a minute.
Open app, pick TV, done. No pairing codes on the screen, no hunting for model numbers.
Where it stands out
If you only own LG, it still works well, but the useful part is that it is not locked to LG. When I brought my iPhone to a friend’s house and their TV was a different brand, TVRem handled that too. Same app, same interface.
If you want something that replaces the physical LG remote and also works with other TVs without extra effort, this is the one that made the most sense to me.
They also have a page with more info here, if you want the official description:
2. Remote Control for LG TV – Fine If You Only Own LG
I used this right after TVRem, on the same LG Smart TV.
What it did well
• It talks to LG Smart TVs without extra setup headaches, again over Wi‑Fi.
• The layout looks like a classic remote, with the usual buttons, arrows, and OK in the middle.
• There is a keyboard function, so you can enter text on the TV from your phone instead of clicking around on the on‑screen keys.
Where it feels limited
• It only works with LG. I tried it with a non‑LG in another room, no luck, as expected from the name.
• No extra features beyond the basic remote set. No switching over to other brands. No special tweaks.
Who it suits
If you are in a small apartment, have one LG TV, never plan to buy another brand, and you want something plain that does not try to do much, this is alright. It did not break, it did not spam me, it just felt narrow.
I ended up removing it because I wanted one app for every screen in the house, not one app per brand.
3. Remote for LG Smart TV Control – Decent Backup
This one I treated as an emergency backup on the same LG Smart TV.
Setup and usage
• Setup over Wi‑Fi was fast. Open app, let it scan, tap the TV.
• It covered volume, channels, navigation, power, and basic playback control.
• Worked on the LG models I tried, including an older one in a guest room.
Where it fell short for me
• Interface feels bare. Not broken, just minimal in a way that gets old when you use it every day.
• It is LG only, so if you change TV brands or move between rooms with different TVs, you juggle apps.
• It did not feel like something I would rely on for years. More like, “my remote died and I need something now.”
Who might like it
If your physical remote stopped working at 10 pm and you want something running in two minutes, this serves as a decent “get me through the night” option. For long term daily use, I did not stick with it.
Conclusion
After testing multiple LG remote apps, TVRem stands out as the best free LG TV remote app. Unlike other brand-specific apps, it works with LG and many other TV brands, making it a true universal solution. TVRem connects over Wi-Fi without extra hardware, offers a built-in keyboard for fast text input, and provides a clean, intuitive layout that replicates a physical remote.
Other apps like Remote for LG Smart TV Control can handle basic navigation, volume, and channel controls, but they are limited to LG only and often lack features like text input or support for multiple brands. For long-term daily use, they become cumbersome if you own more than one TV or switch between brands.
In short, TVRem not only replaces your physical LG remote but also works across devices, simplifies setup, eliminates battery worries, and adapts to any TV in your home, making it the most practical and future-proof choice.
9 Likes
Lost mine last month, went through the same mess. Here is the short version of what worked for LG TVs and a soundbar, without repeating what @mikeappsreviewer already covered.
- Start with the official LG TV Plus / LG ThinQ app
• Pros:
- Talks to most recent LG smart TVs over Wi Fi.
- Gives you power, volume, inputs, settings, and a usable touchpad.
- Plays nice with LG soundbars that support Simplink (HDMI CEC). Once your TV controls the soundbar volume, the app controls it too.
• Cons: - Only LG. If you switch brands, you start over.
- UI feels slower than some third party apps.
- For “one app for everything” I would not only look at TVRem
I agree with @mikeappsreviewer that universal is better long term, but I had slightly different priorities.
Two options that worked well on my side:
A) Universal Remote TV Smart
• Works over Wi Fi for smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony and a few others.
• Handles multiple TVs and lets you switch between rooms fast.
• Lets you store custom button layouts, which helps if you want input switch and volume for a soundbar front and center.
• Downside: more ads in the free version than I like.
B) AnyMote (IR + Wi Fi, depends on device)
• If your phone has an IR blaster or you use their external blaster, this controls older LG TVs and many soundbars, AVRs, boxes.
• Huge device code database, so if your soundbar is not LG, you still have a chance.
• Strong if you want one screen with macros like “Watch TV” that powers TV, sets HDMI, sets soundbar input.
• Downside: setup takes longer and feels nerdy. Not plug and play.
-
For your soundbar specifically
Quick checks that helped me:
• If the soundbar is on HDMI ARC with Simplink enabled on the LG TV, any good LG TV remote app controls the volume indirectly. No separate app needed.
• If the soundbar uses optical, you usually need a separate remote app or an IR based solution. That is where AnyMote or a similar IR app helps more than pure Wi Fi remotes like TVRem. -
What I would do in your shoes
• Step 1: Install LG ThinQ or LG TV Plus and see if it picks up both TV and soundbar via ARC.
• Step 2: If it only hits the TV, pick one universal app:
- Want simple, all Wi Fi, multiple brands: Universal Remote TV Smart or TVRem.
- Want to include older gear and non network soundbar: AnyMote with IR.
I disagree a bit with leaning only on one universal app forever. I keep LG ThinQ installed alongside a universal app. The LG one gives more TV specific options like quick settings and picture modes, while the universal handles other rooms and devices. That split has been less annoying than I expected.
You’re definitely not the only one living in “LG TV, missing remote, soundbar maybe?” land.
Since @mikeappsreviewer and @chasseurdetoiles already covered TVRem, ThinQ, Universal Remote TV Smart, AnyMote, etc., I’ll skip rehashing those and go for a slightly different angle: how to avoid getting stuck in LG‑only land while still having something that actually works every day.
A few things I’d look at that they didn’t dig into much:
- Prioritize one app that can do HDMI control properly
A lot of “universal” apps just spam your TV with basic commands. What matters with a TV + soundbar combo is whether the app makes it easy to:
- Change inputs fast (HDMI1, HDMI ARC, whatever your soundbar is hooked to)
- Control volume even when it is technically the soundbar doing the amplifying
If your LG and soundbar are ARC + Simplink, any app that lets you easily hit input + volume will feel good. The difference is layout and clicks, not magic features. So I’d actually judge apps by:
- How many taps from “phone locked” to “volume down now”
- Whether input and volume are on the main screen and easy to hit in the dark
A lot of LG‑specific apps bury input and settings behind extra menus. That is why I’m not as sold on keeping LG ThinQ around as a daily driver like @chasseurdetoiles does. It’s fine for deep settings, kinda meh as your every‑day zapper.
- Look for one app that lets you pin your most used buttons
Some universal remotes let you put HDMI/Source + Volume + Power in one simple grid and hide all the junk like teletext and number pad. That matters more than brand support in actual use.
If an app does:
- Custom layout
- Per‑device profiles
then it is a better “universal” remote in practice than something that just lists 10 brands on the app store description.
- Don’t overvalue brand matching
Small disagreement with both of them here: you really don’t need an “LG‑branded” app for 90% of your usage.
- Power, volume, inputs, nav, OK, back: any decent network remote or IR remote will do that.
- The only time the official LG stuff matters is when you like to constantly tweak picture mode, game optimizer, AI crap, etc.
If you’re mostly:
- Opening apps
- Changing inputs
- Adjusting volume on a soundbar
I’d actually pick the cleanest universal app you can find and maybe keep ThinQ just for the rare settings dive.
- What I’d do in your shoes, step by step (without repeating their exact recipes)
- Install a universal Wi‑Fi remote app that supports multiple TVs and lets you customize the main screen. Use it as your primary.
- Add your LG TV first, then test basic stuff: power on/off, input, volume.
- Turn on Simplink on the TV and ARC on the soundbar so the TV volume drives the bar. Check if volume changes follow. If yes, you’re done for soundbar control.
- Only if the soundbar is on optical or is non‑ARC and stubborn, then bring in an IR‑capable app or a little IR blaster to handle it separately.
- One small thing people forget
Whichever app you choose, go into your LG TV settings and make sure:
- Quick Start / Fast boot is on, if available
This can make Wi‑Fi remotes connect faster after the TV has been off for a bit. Without that, some TVs are slow to wake up over the network and you’ll think the app sucks when it’s actually the TV being half asleep.
So tl;dr:
- Use one clean universal Wi‑Fi remote as your main tool, not three LG‑only clones.
- Let ARC/Simplink handle the soundbar whenever possible.
- Keep the LG app only as a “settings wrench,” not as your primary remote.
That way when you eventually swap the LG for some random other brand, you don’t have to re‑learn everything or juggle apps again.
If your LG remote has joined the sock dimension, you’ve basically got three paths: LG‑only, universal Wi‑Fi, or “Frankenstein” (multiple apps + maybe IR). Since others already walked through setup details, I’ll stick to what actually matters long term and where I slightly disagree.
1. LG‑only vs universal
- LG‑only apps (like the ones @mikeappsreviewer tested as #2 and #3) are fine if:
- You have a single LG TV
- You basically never move or upgrade
- The day you add a second brand TV or a different soundbar, they turn into clutter.
Here I agree with @nachtdromer: brand‑matching is overrated for everyday use.
I’d still keep LG ThinQ installed, but only as:
- A “settings wrench” for picture mode, Wi‑Fi, updates
- Not your daily channel/volume zapper
2. Where I slightly disagree with others
@chasseurdetoiles leans a bit more on the official ecosystem than I would. ThinQ works, but for quick “volume down now” it is slower, more taps, more UI junk. For day‑to‑day control, a cleaner universal remote usually wins.
3. TVRem as your main LG universal remote app
Based on what everyone shared, the one that makes sense as your daily driver is TVRem universal TV remote app:
Pros for TVRem
- Works over Wi‑Fi
- No IR blaster, no dongles, nothing taped to your phone
- Auto discovery
- Finds your LG as long as both are on the same network
- Handles multiple brands
- Good if your bedroom or future TV is not LG
- Full phone keyboard
- Massive upgrade for YouTube / Netflix typing
- Clean layout
- Power, volume, channel, D‑pad, input right where you expect
Cons for TVRem
- Needs the TV awake on the network
- If your LG is very old or has deep sleep, initial connect can be slower
- No deep LG‑specific tweaks
- You will still open ThinQ or TV menu for advanced picture / game optimizer
- Depends on Wi‑Fi stability
- If your router is flaky, the remote feels flaky too
In practice, if your soundbar is connected via HDMI ARC and Simplink is on, TV volume buttons in TVRem will usually control the soundbar too. You do not need a separate soundbar app in that case.
4. Where the other suggestions fit
- What @mikeappsreviewer described for the LG‑specific remotes matches my experience: good “emergency night” tools, not great as a forever solution.
- @nachtdromer is spot on about prioritizing:
- Fast access from lock screen to volume
- Easy access to HDMI input
TVRem’s simple layout helps here more than ThinQ or most LG‑only clones.
5. Simple strategy that avoids future pain
- Use TVRem as your primary for LG and any other TVs in the house.
- Keep LG ThinQ installed, only for rare settings changes.
- Let HDMI ARC + Simplink handle the soundbar through the TV volume.
- Skip stacking multiple LG‑only remote apps unless your current one actually breaks.
That setup means when you eventually replace the LG or add a second brand, you are already covered without re‑learning or juggling three different remotes on your phone.