Purchased Apple TV 3rd gen without remote (wiped)

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Purchased Apple TV 3rd gen without remote (wiped)

Hi, I recently purchased a 3rd generation apple TV box on facebook marketplace, but it didn't have a remote with it. Long story short, I ended up connecting it to my computer and wiping/updating the device, in hopes that having it fully updated would help it find my iPhone 12 to use as the remote. However, whenever I open up the remote app in the control center, it just spins as it looks for a device to connect to. How can I set up the TV without a remote?

Thank you for all your help!

Edit: For what it's worth, the TV is as up to date as possible, and my iPhone is on iOS 12. I also have an up-to-date macbook pro if that would be useful in this situation

Posted on Nov 2, 2023 9:15 PM

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Urquhart1244

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Nov 2, 2023 10:00 PM in response to theonefenton

The Apple TV (3rd generation) [A1427 or A1469] needs a functional remote to set up the Apple TV Remote widget in Control Center on iPhone (or iPad).

For the Apple TV (3rd generation), your options are:

buy a replacement Apple Remote (aluminum) [A1294];
temporarily borrow an Apple Remote (aluminum) [A1294] to help set up the software remote;
restore the Apple TV and connect a wireless keyboard to help set up the software remote;
restore the Apple TV and connect the CiderTV Mac app to help set up the software remote.

If you lost the remote for your Apple TV - Apple Support

The current remotes aren’t compatible with the legacy Apple TV (3rd generation). Apple doesn’t sell the original Apple Remote (aluminum) [A1294] anymore, but you may find one from other resellers. Apple Remote (aluminum) had to be linked to the box as described here (2nd half of the page): If your Apple TV remote isn’t working - Apple Support - Wayback Machine (20220429) [Both steps can be done with the new remote.]

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Purchased Apple TV 3rd gen without remote (wiped)

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