Support
Most answers are below and in the app under Settings > Help. Still stuck? Email support@tvkip.com with your TV's brand and model number. A real person answers, usually within a day.
Service status: all TV brands working normally. If a TV software update breaks something, we'll post it here.
Set up
Find your TV, allow the connection once, and pair each brand.
- Getting started
TVkip controls Samsung, LG, Roku, Google TV / Android TV, Sony BRAVIA, Vizio, Hisense VIDAA, Fire TV and Apple TV over your Wi-Fi.
- Trying the app with the demo TV
The demo TV behaves like a real TV inside the app, so you can try every button without one, or show the app to someone.
- My TV doesn't show up
If your TV isn't in the list after a few seconds, check these in order.
- Why the app needs Local Network access
Your TV listens for commands on your home network.
- Connecting a Roku
Roku players and Roku TVs don't need a pairing code.
- Connecting a Google TV or Android TV
Google TV and Android TV sets and boxes (Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer, NVIDIA SHIELD, Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips, Xiaomi…
- Connecting a Samsung TV
The first time you connect, your Samsung TV asks "Allow TVkip to connect?".
- Connecting an LG TV
LG TVs show a connection request the first time.
- Connecting a Sony BRAVIA TV
Sony BRAVIA TVs let phones in through IP control.
- Connecting a Vizio TV
Vizio SmartCast TVs pair with a PIN, once.
- Connecting a Hisense VIDAA TV
Hisense TVs with VIDAA (and VIDAA models from Toshiba, Loewe and Sharp in some countries) connect the way Hisense's own VIDAA / RemoteNOW…
- Connecting a Fire TV
Fire TV lets phones control it only after ADB debugging is on.
- Connecting an Apple TV
Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K pair with a PIN, once.
Everyday use
Typing, casting, mirroring, scenes, widgets, Siri and Apple Watch.
- Keyboard doesn't type in Netflix or YouTube
On many LG and Samsung TVs, the Netflix and YouTube apps ignore text sent from phones.
- Turning your TV on from the app
A TV that's off isn't listening, so turning it on over Wi-Fi needs a setting on the TV.
- Casting photos, videos and music
Send photos, videos and music from your iPhone to the TV.
- What plays on your TV
TVkip sends photos, videos and music to the TV's own media player, and every TV plays different formats.
- AirPlay TVs
Many TVs have AirPlay 2 built in.
- Mirroring your iPhone screen
With Pro, your iPhone screen appears on the TV, over your Wi-Fi.
- Black screen when mirroring Netflix and others
Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and most paid streaming apps use copy protection (DRM).
- Kids Mode
Kids Mode (Pro) sets rules for a child's TV time.
- Scenes: lights, TV and app in one tap
Scenes (Pro) do several things in one tap: dim your HomeKit lights, turn the TV on, pick the input and volume and open an app.
- Game controller and motion remote
Two Pro extras for games and menus.
- Widgets, Control Center, Live Activity and the Action button
Control your TV without opening the app.
- Apple Watch remote
Your Apple Watch is a remote for the TV you're using on your iPhone, free: D-pad, OK, back, home, play/pause and power, with Digital Crown…
- Siri and Shortcuts
Free for the TV you're using.
Error messages
What each message in the app means, and how to fix it.
- All error messages, explained
These are the messages TVkip shows when something goes wrong, word for word, with what each one means and how to fix it.
- "Not available on this TV"
Your TV doesn't offer this feature to remote apps, so we've hidden or disabled it.
- "Can't reach your TV"
The app knows your TV but can't reach it right now.
- "Your TV isn't answering"
The TV received the request but took too long to answer.
- "Pairing was declined"
The TV said no to the connection, either because Deny/Decline was pressed or the prompt timed out.
- "That code didn't match"
The code you typed doesn't match the one on the TV.
- "Pair your TV again"
The TV no longer recognizes the app.
- "Your TV blocked the remote"
The TV is reachable but has phone control turned off.
- "Not connected"
The remote isn't connected to a TV at the moment.
- "Something went wrong"
Your TV answered in a way we didn't expect.
- "Temporarily unavailable"
We've temporarily switched off this feature for your type of TV, because a recent TV software update made it misbehave.
Pro, billing and privacy
What's free, what Pro adds, billing, refunds, iCloud sync and privacy.
- Pro, billing, cancelling and refunds
Free: the full remote for up to two TVs (keyboard, touchpad, app launcher, Easy Mode and your iPhone's volume buttons), every Control…
- iCloud sync
With Pro, iCloud sync keeps your setup the same on every iPhone and iPad signed in to your Apple Account.
- Your privacy
TVkip needs no account and shows no ads.
Contact
Email support@tvkip.com with your TV brand and model and app version. You can review a technical report in Settings > Help > Diagnostics > Send Report before sending it. Avoid passwords and unnecessary personal details.
These guides currently describe the Apple app. For the Android or Wear OS internal test, email support with your phone/watch model, Android/Wear OS version and TV model. Do not include pairing keys, PINs or purchase tokens.
Refunds for purchases are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.