If you’ve lost your Toshiba TV remote, or if you find yourself searching for it every time you sit down on the couch, your iPhone can completely replace it. In many cases, it can even do the job better. This guide covers the best Toshiba TV remote app options for iPhone, including which apps work and which TV platforms they support. Read on to learn more.
What OS Does Your Toshiba TV Run?
Before choosing a remote app, it helps to know what operating system your Toshiba TV runs, because the right app depends on the platform.
Toshiba has used several different operating systems across its TV lineup over the years:
- ✅ Fire TV (Amazon Fire OS) is the most common platform on current and recent Toshiba Smart TVs sold in the U.S. Amazon and Toshiba have partnered since 2018 to produce Fire TV Edition televisions, with Fire TV built directly into the set. Well-known examples include the Toshiba 4K UHD Fire TV (2022), the Toshiba M550 Series Smart Fire TV (55″, 65″, and 75″), and a wide range of 32″ and 43″ HD and FHD models dating back to 2018. These TVs support Alexa, the full Fire TV app ecosystem, and Wi-Fi-based remote control apps.

- ✅ Android TV powers part of Toshiba’s lineup, especially models sold in international markets and some older U.S. models. Android TV provides access to the Google Play Store and Google Assistant.
- ✅ Toshiba Places (proprietary OS) is found on older Toshiba Smart TVs, typically pre-2019 models, that predate the Fire TV partnership. These TVs have more limited remote app support.
If your Toshiba TV was purchased in the U.S. in 2019 or later, it almost certainly runs Fire TV. That is the most important thing to know when choosing a Toshiba Fire TV remote app.
Best Remote Apps for Toshiba TV
1. TVRem — Universal TV Remote App (Best Overall)
TVRem is the best free Toshiba TV remote app for iPhone overall. It is a universal remote that works with Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Samsung, LG, Google TV, and more, all from a single app. For Toshiba TV owners, this is especially useful because TVRem supports both the Fire TV models that dominate the current lineup and older Android TV sets, without requiring a separate app.
TVRem is also one of the most consistently well-reviewed remote apps on the App Store. Users frequently note that it works where other apps fail, including volume control on Fire TV setups that the official Amazon app does not handle well.

✔️ Key features:
- Full remote navigation – volume, channels, playback
- Touchpad control – swipe and tap like you would on a trackpad
- Smart keyboard – type search queries and passwords using your iPhone’s keyboard instead of the on-screen TV keyboard
- Voice control support via Google Assistant and Alexa on compatible models
- Quick-launch buttons for Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, and more
- Automatic device detection – no manual IP setup required
💵 Price: Completely free – no subscription and no paywalled features
⭐️ App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5
How to Set Up TVRem with Your Toshiba TV
1. Download TVRem from the App Store.

2. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network – your iPhone and Toshiba TV must be on the same network.

3. Open TVRem – the app will automatically scan your network and detect connected smart TVs.

4. Tap your Toshiba TV in the list of detected devices, then enter the code if prompted.
5. Start controlling your TV – use the touchpad, keyboard, or streaming shortcuts right away.

2. TV Remote — Universal Remote
TV Remote Universal Remote is another option in the Toshiba TV remote control app category. It supports more than 1,000 TV models across 100+ countries and is designed for quick, one-tap setup.

✔️ Key features:
- Power, volume, mute, and channel navigation
- Direct channel number entry
- AV/TV mode switching and menu access
- Simple brand-selection setup
💵 Price: Free to download; full features require a subscription
⭐️ App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5
3. Universal Remote TV Smart
Universal Remote TV Smart is another popular App Store Wi-Fi remote app for smart TVs. It supports many TV brands, including Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Fire TV, and more.

✔️ Key features:
- Auto Detection – Automatically finds and connects to TVs on the same Wi-Fi network
- Touchpad Navigation – A large touchpad area for smoother cursor control while navigating and scrolling
- Smart Keyboard – Makes it easier to enter search terms, log in to accounts, and type other text
- App Launchpad – Direct buttons for launching streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu
- Full Control Suite – Power, volume, mute, and channel controls
💵 Price: Free to download; premium features and ad removal require a subscription
⭐️ App Store rating: 4.2 out of 5
How to Choose the Right Remote App for Your Toshiba TV
With several options available, there are a few things worth considering before you download one.
Know your TV’s platform. Most Toshiba TVs sold in the U.S. since 2019 run Fire TV. If that is your model, both apps in the table above should connect, but their feature sets differ significantly. Older Toshiba sets running Android TV or the proprietary Toshiba Places OS may have limited or no support for Wi-Fi remote apps, so checking your model first can save time.
Understand what “free” actually means. Some apps are technically free to download but lock core remote features, such as navigation, app launching, and keyboard input, behind a paid subscription. TV Remote by Inston falls into this category: the free tier is largely limited to volume control, which many users find frustrating. TVRem offers full remote functionality at no cost, making it the stronger choice if you are looking for a genuinely free Toshiba TV remote app.
Think beyond Toshiba. If you have more than one TV at home, or plan to upgrade in the future, a universal remote app that works across brands is more practical than a platform-specific one. TVRem supports Toshiba Fire TV and Android TV, and also works with Samsung, LG, Roku, Google TV, and more from the same app. That means no switching between apps when you are in a different room or buy a new TV.
Check for touchpad and keyboard support. Basic D-pad navigation works well enough for changing channels, but if you use streaming services often, a keyboard and touchpad make a noticeable difference, especially when typing search queries or passwords.
Conclusion
Whether you have a Toshiba Fire TV model, an Android TV set, or an older smart TV, there is a remote app that will work with it. For the cleanest and most reliable experience, TVRem is the top pick. It is a genuinely free Toshiba smart TV remote app that supports Fire TV, Android TV, and more, without requiring a subscription or account.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several ways to control a Toshiba TV without the original remote.
The first is to use the physical buttons on the back or side of the TV. Most Toshiba models have at least a power button there.
The second is to download a Toshiba TV remote app from the App Store, such as TVRem, which lets you control the TV from your iPhone or iPad. As long as the TV is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your device, TVRem should detect it automatically, allowing you to start using it as a remote in about a minute.
Third, if you have an older TV that is not Wi-Fi-enabled, you may want to use a universal remote with IR (infrared) support. Toshiba TVs generally use standard IR protocols, so this can be a practical fallback option.
TVRem is a universal remote app that supports a wide range of smart TV brands and streaming platforms, including Toshiba (Fire TV and Android TV), Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku-based TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, Apple TV, Android TV, and Google TV sets, and more. It is designed as a single app that replaces multiple brand-specific remotes, which makes it especially useful if you have more than one TV brand at home or plan to switch TVs in the future.
Yes. TVRem is a free universal remote app for Toshiba TV that does not lock any core functionality behind a paywall. You get full navigation, keyboard input, touchpad control, voice support, and streaming app shortcuts at no cost, with no subscription, no free trial, and no account required. Some other apps, such as TV Remote by Inston, are free to download but restrict navigation, channel control, and other key features unless you pay, so it is worth checking what the free tier actually includes before downloading.