To control a TV or other appliance with an Android phone, the phone needs a built-in infrared (IR) emitter or a compatible external IR transmitter. A remote-control app provides device profiles and buttons; it cannot add an IR emitter to a phone that lacks one. First check your exact phone model, then add and test the appliance in a compatible app.
1. Check whether your Android phone can transmit infrared
Look up the exact phone model in the manufacturer’s specifications or support documentation and confirm that it has an IR blaster or IR emitter. Do not assume a phone supports infrared just because it runs Android or can install a remote app.
Xiaomi describes Mi Remote as an app that works with a phone’s IR blaster. Its examples of controllable equipment include TVs, set-top boxes, DVD players, smart boxes, air conditioners, projectors and cameras. See Xiaomi’s Mi Remote support guide.
2. Add an appliance in a compatible remote app
The following steps use Mi Remote as an example. The exact screens and available device profiles can differ by phone, app version and region.
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- Open Mi Remote on a phone with a built-in IR emitter.
- Tap Add remote.
- Choose the device type, such as TV, fan or set-top box. Select the brand or service provider when prompted.
- Follow the on-screen test and tap Power when asked. Check whether the appliance responds.
- If it does, test the functions you actually need—such as volume, input, temperature or channel—before relying on the remote.
A brand in the app’s list does not guarantee that every model from that brand will work. Xiaomi notes that some devices are unsupported. If the first profile fails, return to the choices and test other profiles offered for that brand; there is no guarantee that a working profile exists.
3. If the phone has no built-in IR emitter
An external IR transmitter may work with some phones and apps, but compatibility depends on the specific phone, connector, accessory and Android version. Some apps list support for particular USB IR dongles or audio-to-IR adapters; that does not mean an arbitrary USB-C accessory will work. Check that the app explicitly supports the exact transmitter and phone before buying or setting one up.
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For example, the Google Play listing for IR Blaster Remote describes built-in emitters on supported phones, supported USB dongles and audio-to-IR adapters as possible transmission methods. The listing was updated September 27, 2026. F-Droid’s listing for the same app describes version 3.3.2, added July 4, 2026, as requiring Android 7.0 or newer and mentions Ocrustar USB-C IR dongle support. These are app-specific details, not a compatibility guarantee for other phones or accessories.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.4. Know when Google Home is the right alternative
Google Home controls compatible smart-home devices connected through the Google Home app; it is a separate route from sending IR codes to an appliance. Google documents controls for compatible lights, thermostats, locks, cameras, plugs, vacuums, TVs and speakers, accessible from the Android lock screen or Quick Settings where supported. See Google’s guide to controlling smart devices on Android.
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Use an IR remote app when the phone can transmit IR and the appliance has a supported profile. Use Google Home controls when the device is a compatible connected smart-home product. A network-connected device may offer both options, but one does not imply the other.
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5. Troubleshoot an appliance that does not respond
- Nothing happens during the Power test: Confirm the phone’s emitter is present and that the selected device type and brand are correct. Try another profile if the app offers one.
- Power works but other buttons do not: Test each needed function. A partial response does not establish that the profile supports every control on the appliance.
- You are using an external transmitter: Recheck the app’s compatibility information for the exact phone, accessory and Android version. Connector fit alone does not confirm IR support.
- The device is controlled through Google Home: Check that it is connected to the Home app and supported by Android’s home controls; that integration is not an IR-code setup.
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