Control playback on Apple TV

You can use the remote to control various aspects of playback while using Apple TV. The options available change based on whether you’re watching TV or listening to music.

Show or hide playback controls

When a movie, TV show, song, or podcast is playing, you can display onscreen controls that show elapsed time, remaining time, and other options.

Use your remote to do either of the following:

Show playback controls: Rest your finger on the clickpad or touch surface, or press up on the clickpad ring.
Hide playback controls: Press or .

Play or pause

During playback, do either of the following on your remote:

Press .
Press the center of the clickpad or touch surface.

Rewind or fast-forward

During playback, use your remote to do any of the following:

Skip backward or forward 10 seconds: Press left or right on the clickpad ring or touch surface. Press again to skip another 10 seconds.
Continuously rewind or fast-forward: Press and hold left or right on the clickpad ring or touch surface. Press repeatedly to cycle through rewind or fast-forward speed options (2x, 3x, 4x).
To resume playback, press .

Scrub backward or forward on the timeline

During playback, press on your remote to pause.
Swipe left or right on the clickpad or touch surface to scrub backward or forward through the video or song.
Do either of the following:
- Start playback at the new position: Press .
- Cancel and return to the original position: Press or .

Helpful?

Apple TV User Guide

Control playback on Apple TV

Show or hide playback controls

Play or pause

Rewind or fast-forward

Scrub backward or forward on the timeline