My new remote touch surface don't work and I can't get started

Do you have an old AppleTV or Mac remote (silver or white) - it may allow you to set it up.

Do other functions work? Can you charge it via the cable supplied in the back of AppleTV to see if it pairs it again?

Could of course be a faulty touchpad on the remote.

If you have a recent iPhone/iPad you may be able to set up using that. See:

Set up your Apple TV (4th generation) - Apple Support

If you can get your network set up then you could probably temporarily use Remote app on iphone/ipad.

The AppleTV 4 remote is black on the front, silver on the back from memory.

Odd that it waked the device but does not control other functions.

Odd that it waked the device but does not control other functions.

I've seen a dozen or two reports of the remote not working out of the box but being able to wake the Apple TV up. My guess is there is something messed up in the factory install of the system software in the Apple TV itself, as if a user can get to restore it without the remote it seems everything is OK from then on. My usual response in such cases is:

1. Have you tried charging the remote.
2. Have you tried pressing the menu and up button for a few seconds while holding it an inch or two away from the Apple TV, if successful you should see an onscreen message saying the remote has been paired.
3. If you have an older remote from an earlier model Apple TV or MacBook, you may be able to use it to restore the Apple TV which in many cases has been enough to re-enable the Siri remote. You will need to complete set up to undertake a restore.
4. If you have a USB-C cable you can try restoring it by connecting it to iTunes on a computer.
5. If you have tried all these steps, don't have an earlier remote or a USB-C cable or using them is too inconvenient, return it to the store from which you purchased it for a replacement.