Get your TV connected.
Most connection problems come down to the TV being asleep or on a different network. Start with the checklist, then find your topic below.
Couldn't reach your TV
Make sure it's on and on the same Wi-Fi as your phone. If your router restarted, your TV may need a minute.
- Your TV is on, not in standby
- Your phone and TV use the same Wi-Fi
- Remote control over the network is allowed in your TV's settings
AM-110 · TV unreachable
Still not connecting?
- Turn off any VPN on your phone while you connect.
- Move your phone off a guest network. Guest networks often hide devices from each other.
- Add the TV by its IP address. You'll find it in the TV's network settings.
- Turn on network control on Samsung, LG or Roku.
- Use Bluetooth instead. Your phone pairs with the TV as a keyboard and mouse.
Let AirMouse test each step.
In the app, open Settings › Help & troubleshooting › Check connection. AirMouse checks five things in order and tells you which one needs attention.
A check mark means it's fine, an info mark means worth a look, an alert mark means that's what's stopping the connection.
When the first connection doesn't go through
The code expired or didn't match
Google TV codes last a short time. Tap Show a new code and enter the new one from the TV. Codes use letters A–F and numbers 0–9, so a round letter is always the number 0.
No message on the TV
Make sure the TV is on and awake. On Samsung, check Settings › General › External Device Manager › Device Connection Manager. On LG, turn on LG Connect Apps in the network settings. Then tap Show the prompt again.
"Your TV didn't allow AirMouse"
Deny was chosen on the TV. Try again and choose Allow with your TV remote.
"Your TV forgot AirMouse"
After a TV reset or update, the TV may no longer recognise your phone. Forget the TV in AirMouse and pair it again.
Pair from your TV.
With Bluetooth, the TV finds your phone, not the other way round. Keep the AirMouse pairing screen open: your phone is visible to nearby TVs as a keyboard and mouse.
Open the TV's Bluetooth menu
Often called Remotes & accessories, or Bluetooth devices.
Choose your phone
Use your TV remote to pick your phone's name from the list.
Check the code and confirm
Make sure the code matches, then confirm on both screens.
Bluetooth tips
Text that doesn't reach the TV
Typing goes into whatever text box is selected on the TV. If nothing is selected, there's nowhere for it to go.
- Select the box first. Open the search or sign-in field on the TV so its on-screen keyboard shows, then type on your phone.
- Roku is slower. Roku receives one letter at a time, so long text takes a moment.
- Bluetooth needs a keyboard-friendly TV. The TV must accept Bluetooth keyboards.
- Voice needs the microphone. Allow it when asked, or in Settings › Permissions.
- "Keyboard isn't supported on this TV." This TV doesn't accept typing from apps. Use the D-pad on the TV's own keyboard.
No arrow on the TV? That may be normal.
Only LG TVs and Bluetooth connections show a real pointer. On Google TV, Samsung and Roku, the touchpad and air mouse move the highlight from tile to tile instead.
Pointer drifts
Keep your phone still when you start pointing. Let go of the orb to stop.
Too fast or slow
Settings › Touchpad & air mouse: pointer speed and sensitivity.
Lost the pointer
Tap Recenter to bring it back to the middle of the screen.
Scrolls the wrong way
Switch scroll direction between Natural and Standard.
What the dot next to your TV means
Each state has its own shape and word, so you can tell them apart without relying on colour.
Connected
Solid dot. Keys go straight to the TV.
Connecting · Reconnecting
Pulsing dot. AirMouse is reaching the TV; controls are dimmed meanwhile.
Pairing
Pulsing blue dot. Waiting for you to confirm on the TV.
Not connected
Ring. Paired before, not connected right now.
Off or out of range
Dashed ring. The TV doesn't answer. Turn it on.
Not supported yet
Grey ring. AirMouse recognises this TV but can't control it yet.
Couldn't connect
Red dot. The screen says why, and what to try.
Searching
Pulsing. Looking for TVs on your Wi-Fi.
What each code means
Codes appear in small type under an error. Mention the code if you contact support.
| Code | What happened | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| AM-104 | No TVs found on your Wi-Fi | Check the TV is on and on the same Wi-Fi, and that network control is allowed. Or add it by IP address. |
| AM-110 | Couldn't reach your TV, or the connection was lost | Make sure it's on and on the same Wi-Fi. After a router restart, give the TV a minute. |
| AM-120 | Your TV didn't allow AirMouse | Try again and choose Allow on the TV. |
| AM-121 | Your TV didn't answer in time | Try again and accept the prompt on the TV. |
| AM-130 | Remote control is turned off on the TV | On Roku: Settings › System › Advanced system settings › Control by mobile apps › Enabled. |
| AM-140 | Pairing didn't finish | The message says why: usually the code didn't match or expired. Show a new code and try again. |
| AM-150 | Your TV's security certificate changed | This can happen after a TV reset. Forget the TV and pair it again. |
| AM-201 | Local network permission is off | Settings › Permissions › Local network, or Android Settings › Apps › AirMouse. |
| AM-301 | This phone can't act as a Bluetooth keyboard | Use Wi-Fi instead. |
| AM-302 | Nearby devices permission is off | Allow Nearby devices for AirMouse in Android Settings. |
Changed your mind about a permission?
Settings › Permissions in AirMouse shows each one with its live status, and lets you ask again or jump to Android Settings. The microphone shows "Not asked yet" until you use voice search.
Common questions
My TV doesn't show up
Check the TV is on (not in deep standby) and on the same Wi-Fi as your phone. Guest networks and VPNs can hide TVs.
Some TVs need network control turned on: Samsung › Settings › General › External Device Manager › Device Connection Manager. LG › Settings › Network › LG Connect Apps. Roku › Settings › System › Advanced system settings › Control by mobile apps › Enabled.
You can also add the TV by its IP address.
Keyboard doesn't type on my TV
Select a search box or text field on the TV first, so its on-screen keyboard is open. Then type on your phone. Roku receives one letter at a time, so long text takes a moment. Over Bluetooth, the TV must accept keyboards.
The pointer drifts in air mouse
Keep your phone still when you start pointing, and let go of the orb to stop the pointer. Lower the sensitivity in Settings › Touchpad & air mouse, or tap Recenter.
Only LG TVs and Bluetooth connections show a real pointer. On other TVs, air mouse moves the highlight.
The pairing code expired
Tap Show a new code on the pairing screen and enter the new code from the TV. Google TV codes use the numbers 0–9 and the letters A–F.
Which TVs work with AirMouse?
Google TV and Android TV (Sony, TCL, Philips, Xiaomi, Chromecast and more), Samsung Smart TVs from 2016, LG webOS TVs, and Roku devices over Wi-Fi. Any TV, projector or stick that accepts a Bluetooth keyboard works over Bluetooth.
Fire TV, Apple TV and Vizio aren't supported yet. See what works on each TV.
Some keys are dimmed
Your TV doesn't support them. Keys stay in place so the remote looks the same on every TV. Tap a dimmed key to see why.
Can I control the TV from the lock screen?
Yes. While a TV is connected, AirMouse shows volume down, play and pause, and volume up in your notifications. Allow notifications for AirMouse to see them.
My phone's volume buttons change the TV
That's on by default. Turn off Phone volume buttons control TV in Settings to have them control your phone instead.
Can AirMouse turn my TV on?
The power key works while the TV is reachable. When a TV is fully off, its network is usually off too, so turn it on with its own button or remote. AirMouse then reconnects.
Is AirMouse an infrared remote?
No. AirMouse talks to your TV over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. TVs that only accept infrared aren't supported.
You see the report before it's sent.
Contact support in the app opens your email app with a short report you can read and edit. It's sent only if you send it, and used only to answer you.
Diagnostics ID: 7c1e…a90f
App version · Android version
Connection check:
Wi-Fi: connected
Your TV: doesn't answer
An example. The ID is random and made on your phone.
Contact support
The quickest way is from the app: Settings › Help & troubleshooting › Contact support. It includes the connection check results, so the answer can be specific.
Or email contact@airmouse.app. Include your TV's brand and model, any error code, and what you see on screen.