How-to guides
Mastering the tvOS Remote Control
Master the UHF app on Apple TV with our guide to tvOS remote controls. Learn essential Siri Remote shortcuts for live TV, VOD playback, and timeline scrubbing.
If you're using the UHF app on your Apple TV, the Siri Remote is your ultimate wand for navigating content. However, to get the most out of the viewing experience, it helps to know exactly how the remote behaves in different contexts.
The most important rule to remember is that the remote acts differently depending on whether the player overlay is visible or hidden.
When the overlay is visible on your screen, the directional arrows simply control which component of the user interface is currently in focus. But when the overlay disappears, those same buttons transform into powerful shortcuts.
Here is your cheat sheet for mastering the UHF tvOS player controls.
Live Stream Channels (Overlay Hidden)
When you are watching a live stream and the overlay is hidden, the clickpad arrows are optimized for quick channel surfing and multitasking:
Top Arrow: Jump to the previous channel in your collection.
Bottom Arrow: Skip to the next channel in your collection.
Left Arrow: Quickly jump back to the previous channel you were watching.
Right Arrow: Pull up your channel history.
Long-Press Left Arrow: Activate Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode so you can keep an eye on the stream while browsing elsewhere.
VOD, Recordings, and Catch-Up (Overlay Hidden)
If you are watching Video on Demand (VOD), a DVR recording, or a catch-up program, channel surfing doesn't apply. Instead, the remote shifts its focus to playback control:
Right Arrow: Skip forward 15 seconds.
Left Arrow: Jump backward 15 seconds.
Long-Press Left Arrow: Activate Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode.
Precision Timeline Scrubbing (Overlay Visible)
Sometimes you need to find a very specific moment in a recording or VOD. The UHF app makes scrubbing through the timeline incredibly intuitive.
When the overlay is visible and the timeline view is in focus, follow these three steps:
Click the central button on the remote to engage the timeline.
Swipe left or right on the clickpad to glide smoothly to your desired position.
Click the central button one more time to confirm your selection and resume playback.
With these shortcuts committed to muscle memory, you'll be navigating the UHF app like a pro in no time!
