Keeping the Apple TV remote somewhere at home and searching for it is challenging. Instead, you can turn your Mac into a remote controller for your Apple TV and easily control it by sitting on a couch. This article explains how to control Apple TV from a Mac using the Home, CiderTV, and Ezzi Keyboard apps.
How to Control Apple TV from Mac Using Home App
The Home app is the most convenient way to control Apple TVs using a Mac. Remember that this method only allows you to control the media playback controls. With the Home app, you can’t navigate to settings or make alterations on your Apple TV.
Preliminary Requirements
- Connect your Apple TV to the same WiFi as your Mac.
- Ensure your Apple TV and Mac are logged in using the same iCloud account.
1. Open the home screen on your Mac and navigate to the Home app. If you are a new user, you must accept some permissions in the Home App by following the on-screen prompts.
2. Accept the iCloud Keychain permission and tap on Turn on the iCloud Keychain.
3. Tick the Keychain box and click Continue.
4. You will be asked to enter an Apple ID password. Enter the valid password and click Next.
5. Type your Mac Admin Passcode in the given space and click OK.
6. Return to the Home app and click Turn on iCloud Keychain.
7. Now, you will be asked to enter the passcode of your iPhone/iPad. Once you enter the Home app on your Mac, it will start to load the accessories connected to the same iCloud. Tap on Continue.
8. As we have already logged in with the same Apple ID on Mac and TV, you can see a message on the home app saying Add Yourself to Apple TV.
9. Click on Add Me to Apple TV.
![Control your Apple TV from Mac - Select Add Me to Apple TV](https://www.appletvlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Control-your-Apple-TV-from-Mac-Select-Add-Me-to-Apple-TV.png)
10. Now, you can see your Apple TV on the sidebar of the Home app.
11. Select your Apple TV and control it by playing or pausing the videos on your Apple TV.
![Control your Apple TV from Mac - Play or Pause](https://www.appletvlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Control-your-Apple-TV-from-Mac-Play-or-Pause.png)
How to Control Apple TV from Mac Using Third-Party Apps
If you want to control your Apple TV on a Mac and carry out all the remote commands, a third-party remote app is the right choice. CiderTV and Ezzi Keyboard are the two most popular remote apps for Mac that you can use to control Apple TV.
CiderTV
![CiderTV](https://www.appletvlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CiderTV.png)
CiderTV is a free remote control app available for Mac devices. You can get the CiderTV app on the Mac App Store for Mac devices running with macOS 10.10 or later. With the CiderTV app, you can control and toggle between apps with the help of directional buttons. To use CiderTV as a remote controller on Apple TV, you must pair your Mac and Apple TV using Bluetooth.
Ezzi Keyboard
![Ezzi Keyboard](https://www.appletvlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ezzi-Keyboard.jpg)
Ezzi Keyboard is the advanced version of the CiderTV app. You can get it on your Mac from the Mac App Store. This app supports Mac devices running on macOS 10.9 or later. It is a paid app, so you have to pay $0.99 to purchase it. Like CiderTV, connect your Mac and Apple television via Bluetooth. After pairing, launch the Ezzi Keyboard app on your Mac and start controlling your Apple TV.
Using any of these third-party apps, you can control your Apple TV from a MacBook Pro without a remote. If you don’t wish to use these remote apps, you can simply use the Apple TV remote app on your iPhone to control your streaming device without a remote.