Apple remote app not working after Catalina update

Remote now fully works again if you update Catalina to 10.15.2 (beta). Control of iTunes/Music also works again using HomePod and Watch Remote.

To get the update:

You have 3 options: (a) enroll in the Beta program, (b) wait for your beta macOS software to be made available, (c) Wait until the official public release of 10.15.2.

It’s fixed!!!

Update your Mac to 10.15.2 (Catalina), also update your iPhone to OS 13.3. Delete the ITunes Remote app, then reinstall on your phone. Launch the app, then click set up manually option. You’ll see the remote icon on the left hand side of Music (Where you choose playlists) enter your code and you’re good to go!

Solution:

It works now after 10.15.2 update, but you have to link your phone to music app. Here are the instructions: 

Set up the iTunes Remote app for Music on Mac

1. Disconnect your iOS device from your computer, if it's connected.
2. On your device, tap Remote on the Home screen.
3. Tap Settings, then tap Add a Music Library. A 4-digit code appears.
4. In the Music app on your Mac, click the iPhone button near the top left of the iTunes window.
5. Type the 4-digit code.
6. It will tell you that the iPhone now works as a remote.
7. Fixed!!!!!

Remco8850 Posted this on another thread, and it worked for me. Adding this as this thread was the first search result:

I just installed the latest update for Catalina... at first the remote app still didn’t work, but I succeeded in getting full functionality: you need to connect the remote app manually and not with home sharing.

to do this: open remote app => tap settings in upper right corner => add iTunes library => in the music app in your Mac: look for the remote app symbol (arrow with your iPhone name) and enter the 4 digits and you are ready to use the remote app...

Hi! Had same problem, found solution!

Go to Sharing in Preferences on Mac and turn Media Sharing ON.

After that you can connect your iTunes Remote to your Music.

Try « Retroactive ». It’s a piece of opensource that allows you to install and use old versions of iTunes, iPhoto and Aperture on Catalina.

For me Retroactive iTunes did it. I can now use iTunes Remote and airplay works perfectly as well. Let’s hope it will last for a while.

https://github.com/cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive/releases

I just tried Retroactive and works great. https://github.com/cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive/releases. What is does is it installs iTunes in Catalina and you can decide what version of iTunes and everything works including remote. Now the only question is how long will it work and will Apple fix Music. I'm seeing a lot of people and rightly so complaining about music and its half a*s implementation. I have some 1500 cd's in AIFF non compressed on a dedicated drive inside my mini and have no interest in low res mp3/4 files.

FIXED! Yesterday Apple release a new version of the Remote App as well as Catalina version 10.15.2

Need to update both your IOS device as well as Mac OS.

New app also has Dark Mode

I encountered the issue you describe, and have found a temporary solution. Instead of accessing my music library directly in the Remote App, like I did prior to installing Catalina, I use the AppleTV. The path is AppleTV>More>Computers>(my Mac's name), and then I can create playlists, play, pause, etc.. This method feels unrefined compared to the old way of accomplishing the same tasks, but it is better than going to another room to do so on the Mac itself.

I found a similar issue, as (new) Apple Music has replaced iTunes, the Remote App can no longer see the (iTunes) home sharing settings, to give access, as iTunes is no longer present on the Mac!...

This leaves the Remote App empty...

The way to correct this is to go to SYSTEM PREFERENCES, then SHARING, then tick MEDIA SHARING...

This allows the Remote App to once again see the shared library.

However, irritatingly, it does not seem to sync with the actual Music App, just the library, as it will not show the “now playing” track, or enable the selection of track or playlist to play (on the Mac), from the Remote App.

Hopefully this will be addressed in future Beta issues?...

Hi Guiness-ott.

I have download iTunes from the Retroactive site, All up and running now iTunes back to normal Remote connected

and working also.

As a bit of info, my router is connected to a Netgear 8 port Gigabit switch which in turn feeds 2x Airport Extremes

when I was downloading from Retroactive site it kept dropping the connection, I have also had this problem when

downloading updates from apple for OS. I found that if connected the router direct to Mac all was fine .

All works fine when switch is connected for internet access and streaming via Airplay.

Thanks Guiness-ott.

You need to wait for the next update on Catalina, which is expected before the end of the year. In the meantime, you can use Home Sharing (make sure it's turned on everywhere) and control your speaker systems via the Music App on your iPhone or iPad. You can also control it via the Music App on your Mac, but for now you have choose between the Mac or your iOS device--you can't choose the Mac and then try to change tracks or your playlist using your iOS device.

Enable media sharing in security preferences. Not in app anymore but regular firewall security are of macOS

gggooooddd news! With the latest Beta Of Catelina (10.15.2) Remote works, it's back :-)

FYI

In my case, the reconnection worked but I had to pair my phone via Bluetooth to the Mac for the 4-digit code dialog box to appear in the Music app.

Once I did that, all was good!