Pop-up: Pair Your Remote. Bring it closer to Apple TV

Recently I picked up a second Gen3 Siri remote so both my wife and I could have one, not realizing that you cannot pair 2 different Siri remotes (shortsighted design in my opinion).

You can let Apple know what you don’t like, and suggest how you think it would be better, through a feedback form: Feedback - Apple TV - Apple.

For two users to navigate the box with separate remotes, you might try using other remotes: e.g. the software remote on iPhone or iPad, or a universal remote. You can have more than one remote, but just one Siri Remote at any given time.

… So I re-paired the original and put the spare in a drawer.

The problem is that now I get the pop-up message listed in this question title. I have tried rebooting the AppleTV, re-pairing the remote many additional times, navigating and exploring functions in the Settings\Remotes menu to no avail. I can move the remote to right on top of the AppleTV and the message will temporarily disappear but it always comes back very quickly and persists.

A pairing attempt may bring that notification, and it is indeed the ultimate closeness to lay the remote on top of the Apple TV box when asked until the pairing completes, although it usually already pairs for me at greater distance. This is about bluetooth pairing. Are there sources of interference that might hinder a bluetooth connection?

The only thing I have not attempted is a full reset, which I suppose MAY work, but I believe I saw this same issue mentioned in this forum saying a reset would not work either.

Try these steps. Other actions are not expected to impact this. Your Apple TV box does not need a full reset for the described symptoms.

If your Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote isn't working - Apple Support

• Charge the remote battery, if low on charge level as reported in Settings,
• Restart just the remote itself, using a button combination,
• Pair the remote again, using a different button combination.
• If the issue persists, then contact Apple Support.

I'm hoping someone from Apple support may be reviewing these messages and give me some insights.

This is a user-to-user forum. Apple Support staff does not participate here. If you want to contact Apple Support staff instead, go here: Contact Apple for support and service (phone numbers) or start your support request online (chat/​email/​callback).