Did Apple Discontinue Apple TV Remote App?

Cupertino tech giant Apple quietly removed the Apple TV Remote app from the iOS App Store and has made it unavailable for download, reports reveal.

The Apple TV Remote app previously granted iOS devices access and control to the Apple TV device like a real remote control. This meant users would still be able to use their Apple TV at home even if they misplaced the actual remote control.

The app's removal from the iOS App Store, first spotted by 9To5Mac, should not come as a surprise to iPhone and iPad users. Apple added the Remote feature to the iOS 12 Control Center.

This means those who use iPhones and iPads running on the said operating system version, or newer, will only need to access the Control Center on their device in order to change channels or adjust volume levels on their Apple TV.

Silent removal

Apple's decision to discontinue the Apple TV Remote from the App Store can be seen in the way it removed all references to the app in the App Store and support document for the feature.

The app can no longer be found in the iOS App Store. The iTunes Remote app, on the other hand, is still available for download. The latter allows users to control playback for the Apple TV app, Apple Music and iTunes using a Windows PC.

Apple also doesn't mention the app in the support document meant to help users set up the Apple TV Remote on their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. It simply provides instructions on how to add the Apple TV Remote feature to the Control Center for iOS devices.

The support document also provided troubleshooting instructions in the event that they are unable to setup the Apple TV Remote in Control Center. As a last resort, it also provided instructions on how customers can use their Apple TV without a remote.

Interestingly, one of 9To5Mac's readers discovered that Apple's employees do not know why the company removed the app from the App Store. According to the reader, he contacted Apple Support to ask about the app. The support agent could not explain what happened to it.