Guide

No Google TV remote?
Control it with your phone.

Whether the remote is lost, broken or out of batteries, Zap lets you control your Google TV entirely from your iPhone over Wi-Fi.

Download on theApp StoreFree · no account
Zap

How it works

Control Google TV with just your phone

Works with no remote at all

As long as your Google TV is on and connected to Wi-Fi, Zap can find and control it — no original remote required.

Every button, on screen

D-pad, OK, back, home, volume, power and playback — plus a keyboard for fast search.

Set up in seconds

Open Zap on the same Wi-Fi, tap your TV, and you're in control.

Ready?

Turn your phone into the remote.

Free on the App Store. Point, tap, done.

Download on theApp Store

Setting up Zap when you have no remote at all

If your Google TV is already connected to Wi‑Fi — say the remote was lost, or you bought the TV second‑hand — Zap can take over completely. Open Zap on the same network, pick the TV from the list, and enter the pairing code it shows on screen; from there you get a full remote with a D‑pad, keyboard, voice search and app launcher, no physical remote required. The one thing a phone can’t do is the very first out‑of‑the‑box setup, where a brand‑new TV asks you to choose Wi‑Fi before it’s on any network. Once it’s online, though, everything runs from your phone — and turning on Network standby in Settings ▸ Power lets Zap wake and power the TV too.

Control Google TV from your phone

Pair over Wi‑Fi
Open Zap on your iPhone on the same Wi‑Fi as your Google TV (or Chromecast with Google TV). It appears automatically — tap to connect.
Navigate and search
The D‑pad drives the Google TV interface, and the keyboard and voice search type straight into Google TV's search box — find shows without the remote.
Launch apps & assistant
Jump into YouTube, Netflix and more in one tap, and trigger the Assistant — all from your phone.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Can I control Google TV without the remote?
Yes. Install Zap on your iPhone, join the same Wi-Fi as your Google TV, and control it fully from your phone.
What if my Google TV remote is lost or broken?
Zap replaces it entirely — you never need the physical remote to navigate, open apps or change volume.
Does this work on Chromecast with Google TV?
Yes, and on Sony, TCL, Hisense and other Google TV / Android TV devices.
Does this work with Chromecast with Google TV?
Yes. Zap controls Chromecast with Google TV and any TV running Google TV over your Wi‑Fi — no physical remote needed.
How do I set up Google TV without a remote?
The very first out‑of‑box setup needs the original remote or the Google Home app. After that, Zap is a full day‑to‑day replacement over Wi‑Fi.
Can I turn on Google TV from my phone?
If Network Standby / Wake‑on‑LAN is enabled in the TV's settings, Zap can wake it over Wi‑Fi; otherwise use the TV's power button once.
Can I control a Google TV that has no remote at all?
Yes, as long as it’s already on your Wi‑Fi. Zap pairs over the network with an on‑screen code and gives you a full remote — no physical remote needed at any point.
Will Zap work on a Google TV I bought used?
Yes. If the previous owner left it connected to Wi‑Fi, or once you’ve got it online, Zap pairs with it over the network and fully replaces the missing remote.