Arguably the Apple Remote has the longest battery life of any Apple device currently made, probably because of its lack of a screen and fewer power needs. One might almost forget that it needs to be charged on a regular basis…until the battery dies.

So how do you charge it? Plug a Lightning cable into it! Yep, the same cable you use to charge your iPhone and non-Pro iPads also charges the Apple TV cable. This will work as well with the new Siri remote Apple released in May 2021.

1: Get your Apple TV Remote, and look for the port at the bottom. That’s the Lightning port.

2: Get your Lightning cable. This cable should have come in the box with your Apple TV. If not, you can use a Lightning cable that came with your iPhone or iPad. If you don’t have one, then you’ll need to get a Lightning to USB cable.

3: Plug the Lightning end of the cable (the smaller, flatter end) into the port at the base of the remote.

4: Plug the USB end into either a computer or a wall outlet adapter. Now you’re done.

How do I know if it’s charging?

The Apple remote doesn’t actually have a way to show whether it’s charging. The only indication it gives is on the Apple TV (if it’s on), you’ll see a pop up in the top right corner of the screen appear for a few seconds saying the Remote is charging.

Can I check the battery level of the Remote?

Yes. Open up the Settings app and select “Remotes and Devices”. Then, at the “Remote” section, typically third from the top, you will see the battery charge icon next to the word “Remote”. You can click on Remote, however, and get the actual percentage charge remaining on the battery, as well as things like the battery’s serial number and firmware version.