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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Bluetooth Remote is the simplest TV remote app I’ve used.
- This app is free, well-designed, and reliable.
- Never worry about a lost remote or dead batteries again.
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve picked up a new TV remote and thought, “Well, this is poorly designed.”
Or, just the other day, I realized the AAA batteries in my TV remote were dead… and I had no spares lying around. Given the state of smart TVs, there are no physical buttons that allow you to turn the TV on/off, navigate the menu, and enjoy a bit of mindlessness.
When that happened, I grabbed my phone, hoping I could find a remote app that would work. My search led me to Bluetooth Remote. I was skeptical. I’d tried remote apps for various TVs before, but never seemed to locate one that was able to either connect to my television or work with any ease or reliability.
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Bluetooth Remote changed all of that. Not only did Bluetooth Remote immediately (and automatically) locate my TV, but it connected with a simple tap. Once that was taken care of, I found this free remote app to be an absolute gem.
One of my favorite features of the app is that it can be used as a touchpad. When used in this mode, you’ll see a cursor on your TV screen that you can manipulate with the touchpad on the app to select whatever it is you want to enjoy.
No more using the awkward buttons to slowly navigate through the installed apps on the TV. Thanks to Bluetooth Remote, I can very quickly open the app I want on my TV and then navigate through whatever service I’m using with ease and speed.
That mouse pad/cursor feature alone makes this app worth using.
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Other features include a virtual keyboard, number pad, sound control, channel control, power off (power obviously on does not work because…Bluetooth), TV menu control, closed caption on/off, home button, play, reverse, and rewind.
Bluetooth Remote has just the right amount of features and no more.
Seriously, this is the TV remote you want, so long as you have an Android phone and an Android TV. Sorry if that precludes you from using Bluetooth Remote.
Let’s get this up and running.
Installing Bluetooth Remote
If you’ve installed any app from the Google Play Store, then you know the drill:
- Open the Google Play Store on your phone (or tablet)
- Search for Bluetooth Remote
- Tap Install
You have to give the app permissions before it’ll play nice.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
When you first open the app, you’ll need to accept some of the standard permissions, which is just a matter of tapping Authorize when prompted.
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After you’ve authorized the app, you’ll see a listing of all of your Bluetooth devices in your surrounding area. Locate the listing for your television, and tap it. Bluetooth Remote should connect without any issue (it certainly had no surprises for me).
Your TV should automatically appear here (so long as you have Bluetooth enabled on both the phone and the television).
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
That’s it; you’re ready to control your TV.
Using Bluetooth Remote
This is equally simple. When I use Bluetooth Remote, I immediately open the touchpad feature because it makes navigating the TV UI exponentially easier. To do that, tap the small mouse icon near the top right of the app window.
This is the default Bluetooth Remote UI.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You should now see a touchpad at the bottom of the app. Move your finger around in that area, and the cursor appears on your TV. Use that cursor to navigate the UI. You can even use two-finger scrolling to move up and down on the TV UI.
The Bluetooth Remote touchpad also accepts taps.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Brilliant!
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Do note that two-finger scrolling can be a bit sensitive, so it might take some time to get used to it.
Once you’ve become familiar with how the Bluetooth Remote UI works, you’ll find interacting with your TV to be so much easier than using those poorly-designed remotes with batteries that randomly die and leave you without the means of controlling your television.
Bluetooth Remote is, without a doubt, the best remote app I’ve used for a television. It’s simple, reliable, and always ready to make your home entertainment life a little easier.
