Guides · October 13, 2026

PC connected to the TV: how to use your phone or tablet as the remote

Many families connect a computer (a desktop, an old laptop or a mini PC) to the TV with an HDMI cable to watch videos stored on it on the big screen: home videos, courses they bought, learning videos for the kids.

The catch: the computer sits next to the TV, so pausing or switching episodes means walking over to the mouse. And kids can't really operate it on their own.

Here are the common options, from easiest to most involved.

Option 1: a wireless keyboard and mouse, or an air mouse

The most direct: buy a wireless keyboard and mouse, or a gyroscope "air mouse", and control the PC from the sofa.

• Pros: no software to install, works with any program.
• Cons: text and buttons on the TV are usually tiny from across the room; kids can't hunt through folders with a mouse; and there's no way to limit viewing time.

Option 2: remote-desktop apps

Install a remote-desktop app on your phone and control the PC's screen from it.

• Pros: full control of the whole computer.
• Cons: you're working on a shrunken desktop on a phone screen, so tapping files and dragging the progress bar is fiddly; streaming the screen uses network and PC resources; not suitable for kids.

Option 3: the media player's own web or phone remote

Some players, such as the free VLC, have a built-in web interface you can open in a phone browser to play, pause and seek.

• Pros: free, no screen streaming, responsive.
• Cons: you have to enable it in the player settings, set a password and find the PC's IP address; the interface is a file list with no covers; changing shows means browsing folders; it doesn't remember where each show stopped; and again, no time limits.

Option 4: a dedicated "playback remote" app

The idea: a small program on the PC scans your video folders and makes covers; on the phone or tablet you open a web address and see a wall of covers. Tap one and it plays full screen on the TV.

KiddoRemote works this way. On top of VLC it adds:

• a cover grid, so a tap plays the show, simple enough for kids;
• each show remembers its episode and position, so switching back picks up where it stopped;
• automatic next episode, looping the whole series;
• parents can set how long per day and which hours are allowed, and it pauses itself when time is up;
• no app to install: open a web page on the tablet or phone and enter a 6-digit pairing code.

Which to choose

• Occasional personal use and you don't mind small text: a wireless keyboard and mouse.
• You need to operate the whole computer: remote desktop.
• Playback control only, and you don't mind some setup: the player's built-in web remote.
• For kids, with covers and time limits: a dedicated playback remote.

Whichever you use, please play only videos you own and have the right to play.