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corvofeng/atv-core

Lets an iPhone's built-in Apple TV Remote in Control Center control Android TV / Google TV devices and Macs over the local network.

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Last commit
13 days ago

What is it?

atv-core is a receiver that makes Android TV, Google TV and macOS machines appear as Apple TV targets to the native Apple TV Remote on an iPhone or iPad. Users open Control Center, pick the device, enter the PIN 1111, and can then use the touchpad for swipes and cursor movement and the buttons for select, back, play/pause and volume, without installing an app on the phone.

On Android TV the project injects D-pad and media keycodes through a local ADB connection (dadb to 127.0.0.1:5555), with an Accessibility Service as fallback for global Back and Home actions. On macOS it runs as a menu bar app and CLI, using the Accessibility API for cursor and keystrokes. Windows builds run from the system tray with a local web console for trackpad mode and sensitivity.

The project also ships a web inspector on port 8765 and diagnostics on port 8766, plus a bridge script for testing with an Android TV emulator. Controller and target must be on the same LAN, and the macOS app is self-signed, so Gatekeeper needs a one-time workaround.

Key features

  • 01Uses the native Apple TV Remote in iPhone Control Center, so no phone app is needed.
  • 02Controls Android TV and Google TV via local ADB key injection with an Accessibility fallback.
  • 03Provides a macOS menu bar app and CLI with smooth cursor control and media keys.
  • 04Offers a Windows system tray build with a local web console for trackpad settings.
  • 05Includes web inspector and diagnostics pages for debugging touch gestures and protocol sessions.

Use cases

  • Controlling an Android TV or Google TV box from an iPhone without buying a dedicated remote.
  • Navigating a Mac's media playback or cursor from the couch using the iPhone remote.
  • Testing Apple TV Remote protocol interactions against an Android TV emulator in Android Studio.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install the DMG (Mac) or APK (Android TV) from the Download section

  2. 2

    Put the iPhone and the target device on the same Wi-Fi with AP isolation off

  3. 3

    Grant permissions: Accessibility on macOS, or network ADB and the 'Always allow' prompt on Android TV

  4. 4

    On iPhone, open Control Center, tap the Apple TV Remote icon, select the target and enter PIN 1111

Things to know

  • Android TV requires enabling network ADB and approving an RSA prompt on the TV.
  • The macOS app is self-signed, so Gatekeeper warns on first launch.
  • Controller and target must be on the same LAN with AP isolation disabled.
  • Repository metadata lists no license, although the README mentions MIT.

Topics

#apple-tv#android-tv#remote-control#adb#macos#rust#companion-link

FAQ

What is atv-core?
Lets an iPhone's built-in Apple TV Remote in Control Center control Android TV / Google TV devices and Macs over the local network. atv-core is a receiver that makes Android TV, Google TV and macOS machines appear as Apple TV targets to the native Apple TV Remote on an iPhone or iPad. Users open Control Center, pick the device, enter the PIN 1111, and can then use the touchpad for swipes and cursor movement and the buttons for select, back, play/pause and volume, without installing an app on the phone.
Is atv-core free to use? What license does it have?
atv-core has no declared license. Its code is public, but without a license you have no explicit permission to reuse it; ask the author before relying on it.
Is atv-core still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to atv-core was on Oct 7, 2026.
What can I use atv-core for?
Controlling an Android TV or Google TV box from an iPhone without buying a dedicated remote. Navigating a Mac's media playback or cursor from the couch using the iPhone remote. Testing Apple TV Remote protocol interactions against an Android TV emulator in Android Studio.
How do I install atv-core?
Install the DMG (Mac) or APK (Android TV) from the Download section Put the iPhone and the target device on the same Wi-Fi with AP isolation off Grant permissions: Accessibility on macOS, or network ADB and the 'Always allow' prompt on Android TV On iPhone, open Control Center, tap the Apple TV Remote icon, select the target and enter PIN 1111
Where can I get atv-core?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/corvofeng/atv-core

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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