If you enjoy playing games on your Android TV or Google TV but don't have a physical game controller, you can use your Android phone as a wireless gamepad. In this guide, I'll show you how to turn your phone into a game controller and use it to control games directly on your Smart TV.
The method uses the Gamepad for Android TV app. The app creates a virtual gamepad on your phone with buttons, analog sticks, triggers and other controls. Once connected, you can hold your phone like a normal controller and play compatible games on your TV.
What You Need
Before starting, make sure you have:
An Android Smart TV, Android TV or Google TV.
An Android smartphone.
A working Wi-Fi connection.
Bluetooth enabled on your phone and TV.
The Gamepad for Android TV app installed on the required devices.
Step 1: Install Gamepad for Android TV on Your TV
First, open the Google Play Store on your Android TV or Google TV.
Select the Search option and search for:
Gamepad for Android TV
Look for the app from AIO TECH. Open the app page and select Install.
Wait until the installation is completed. Once installed, open the app on your TV.
Step 2: Install the Gamepad App on Your Phone
Now take your Android smartphone and open the Google Play Store.
Search for the same Gamepad for Android TV app and install it on your phone. After installation, open the app.
When you launch it for the first time, the app may ask how you want to play. You will see options such as Standard Mode and Compatibility Mode.
Standard Mode
Start with Standard Mode, which is the recommended option. It is designed to work with many supported games and does not require the gamepad app to be installed on the TV in the same way as Compatibility Mode.
Compatibility Mode
If a particular game doesn't respond correctly in Standard Mode, you can try Compatibility Mode. This mode is intended for games where controller detection or button response may not work properly with the standard setup.
For this guide, use Standard Mode first.
Step 3: Set Up the TV Gamepad
After opening the Gamepad app on your TV, you will see a Set Up Your TV screen.
The app asks you to enable its gamepad keyboard so that the TV can receive the button presses from your phone.
Select Open Keyboard Settings.
This will take you to the TV's keyboard settings.
Step 4: Enable Gamepad for Android TV Keyboard
Inside the TV settings, look for the available keyboard options.
You should see an option related to Gamepad for Android TV.
Select it and enable the gamepad keyboard.
Once it is enabled, return to the Gamepad for Android TV app.
The setup screen should now show that the gamepad keyboard is enabled and the TV is ready to connect with your phone.
Step 5: Open the Gamepad App on Your Phone
Now open the Gamepad app on your smartphone.
You will see a virtual controller on the phone screen. It includes controls such as:
Left analog stick
Right analog stick
D-pad
A, B, X and Y buttons
Back button
Select button
Start button
LT and LB buttons
RT and RB buttons
At the top of the screen, you should see the SCAN FOR TV option.
Tap SCAN FOR TV.
Step 6: Connect Your Phone to the TV
The app will search for the available TV.
Make sure your Smart TV is turned on and that Bluetooth is enabled.
When your TV appears in the list, select it.
In the video, the TV appears with its device name, and the phone then starts the connection process.
The TV may display a Bluetooth pairing request with a pairing code.
Check that the code shown on the phone and TV matches, then accept the pairing request.
Once the pairing is successful, the phone's gamepad screen should show Connected.
Step 7: Hold Your Phone Like a Game Controller
Now your phone works as a wireless gamepad.
Hold the phone horizontally with both hands. Your left thumb can control the left analog stick, while your right thumb can control the right analog stick and the action buttons.
The virtual controls on the phone work like the buttons on a traditional game controller.
You can use the analog sticks for movement, the A/B/X/Y buttons for game actions, and the shoulder buttons such as LT, LB, RT and RB when supported by the game.
Step 8: Start Playing Games on Your Smart TV
Now open a game on your Android TV.
Once the game starts, use the controls on your phone to control the character or vehicle.
In the video, the phone is successfully connected to the TV while a racing game is being played on the large TV screen.
You can move the character or vehicle using the analog sticks and use the action buttons on the phone just like you would with a physical controller.
This allows you to play compatible Android TV games without purchasing a separate gamepad.
Step 9: Switch Between Gamepad Modes
The Gamepad app also provides an option to switch the device type or mode.
If the controls are not responding correctly in a particular game, go back to the gamepad settings and try the available mode options.
For most supported games, start with Standard Mode. If the game does not detect the controls properly, try Compatibility Mode.
Keep in mind that controller support can vary between games, so some games may require additional controller configuration inside their own settings.
How to Fix Connection Problems
If the phone cannot find your TV, first make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.
Then close and reopen the Gamepad app on your phone and try SCAN FOR TV again.
Also check the TV's Bluetooth settings and make sure there isn't another controller or Bluetooth device interfering with the connection.
If the TV shows a pairing request, carefully check the pairing code before selecting Pair.
How to Fix Game Controls Not Working
If the phone is connected but the game does not respond to the buttons, first check whether the game supports external or physical controllers.
Then try switching from Standard Mode to Compatibility Mode.
You can also check the game's controller settings and make sure the required buttons are properly mapped.
Some games support gamepads natively, while others may have limited or different controller support.
Final Words
That's how you can use your phone as a gamepad for Smart TV and play compatible TV games without buying a separate physical controller. The Gamepad for Android TV app gives you a virtual controller with analog sticks, action buttons, triggers and other controls directly on your Android phone.
If you already have an Android phone and an Android TV or Google TV, this can be a simple way to start gaming on the big screen using your phone as the controller.
