Having issues with the Siri Remote? Here’s how you can restart it without restarting the Apple TV in order to fix connectivity issues.

Fix Siri Remote issues on Apple TV by giving it a quick restart

If you own an Apple TV with Siri Remote (any model, really), you’ve probably come across connectivity-related issues from time to time. After all, the remote uses Bluetooth to establish a connection that is prone to interference from devices around it, especially if those devices are also using Bluetooth, such as headphones, smart sensors, and more.

Those issues may include broken functionality, frequent disconnections, and the remote not working at all. In short, it is the most annoying thing on the planet and something that needs to be addressed as it happens. And it can be addressed using the good old ‘have you turned it off and then back on again?’ technique. Literally, a restart will fix 90% of the problems you are facing with the Siri Remote.

The best part here is how you don’t have to restart the Apple TV itself at all - just the Siri Remote, and it’s super duper easy to do, too.

Tutorial

Note: This tutorial is applicable to all Siri Remote models - including the latest one with USB-C.

Step 1. Pick up your Siri Remote.

Step 2. Press and hold the TV + Volume Down buttons for exactly five seconds. When you press down on the buttons, the white status light on your Apple TV will turn off and turn back on after five seconds.

Step 3. Let go of the TV and Volume Down buttons when the Apple TV status light turns back on.

Step 4. On your TV, you’ll see a notification that the remote has lost connection to the Apple TV.

Step 5. After around 10 seconds, press any button on the remote in order to connect it to your Apple TV again. You’ll see a ‘Remote Connected’ notification on the TV confirming that the connection was successful.

The Siri Remote restart is now complete. If you have been having issues, they should be long gone now. But, if for some reason, they are still there, you can give your Apple TV a restart by going to Settings > System > Restart.

Hardware-related faults can’t be fixed instantly unless you’re willing to go to Apple with your Apple TV. We suggest doing that if the set-top box is under warranty. Apple might suggest you to buy a new remote if the warranty has expired. However, you can skip the remote buying part and just use your iPhone or iPad as a remote for your Apple TV as well. The choice is yours.