NoStrings

Lost or broken TV remote? Control your Samsung or LG TV from your iPhone

Your iPhone can be the remote. NoStrings works over your home Wi-Fi: power, volume, channels, a big swipe pad, apps and typing. The basic remote is free. There is one catch: the first time, the TV asks you to allow the new phone on the TV screen. Here's how to get past that without the remote.

LG TV (webOS): no remote needed

  1. Install NoStrings, open it and tap your LG TV.
  2. On the pairing screen tap “No remote? Show a code on the TV instead”.
  3. Type the code shown on the TV into your iPhone. Done.

You can also use the small joystick under the LG logo on the bottom edge of the TV: push it sideways to “Yes” and press it in.

Samsung TV (Tizen)

Samsung asks you to press “Allow” on the TV once. There's no code option, and on most models the TV's own button only opens its power/volume/source menu. It can't press “Allow”. Any of these work:

  1. A USB mouse or keyboard. Plug it into the TV's USB port, then click “Allow” (or press Enter) when the request appears. This is the easiest way.
  2. Any other remote: one from another Samsung TV, a cheap universal IR remote, or a game console / TV box remote through HDMI-CEC (Anynet+).

2025 Samsung models: press the button on the TV, move to “Mobile Remote” and hold it. A QR code opens Samsung’s SmartThings remote on your phone; use it to choose “Allow”.

Take your time: while NoStrings is open, the request reappears on the TV for about 3 minutes. After that one confirmation, the app connects on its own every time, and you won't need the remote again.

If the TV never shows a request, open on the TV: Settings → General → External Device Manager → Device Connection Manager → Access Notification → “First time only”, and turn on IP Remote under Network → Expert Settings.

Turning the TV on without a remote

NoStrings turns the TV on over Wi-Fi once you enable “Power On with Mobile” (Samsung) or “Mobile TV On / Turn on via Wi-Fi” (LG) in the TV's settings. Many TVs have it on by default.

What else you get

Get NoStrings on the App Store

Questions? support@nostringsremote.com