Explainers & comparisons
Is there an official Sony BRAVIA remote app? Which one fits your TV
Yes, and there are two. Sony’s support article says you can turn a phone into a remote with either the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app or the Google TV app. BRAVIA Connect only works with recent BRAVIA ranges. The Google TV app works with Sony’s Google TV and Android TV models in general. Older BRAVIA sets that run neither have no current official phone remote, but many can still be controlled over Sony’s IP control.
By TV Remotely · Updated · Sources and testing policy
Start with the model and the platform
Find the model on the label on the back of the TV or in the TV’s About screen. If the home screen says Google TV or Android TV, the Google TV app will work. If the model also appears on Sony’s BRAVIA Connect list, you can use either app. If it is an older BRAVIA without Google or Android, skip to the last section.
Sony | BRAVIA Connect: recent ranges only
Sony’s European support article lists BRAVIA Connect compatibility for these TV lines:
- BRAVIA 9 (XR90)
- BRAVIA 8 and BRAVIA 8 II (XR80)
- BRAVIA 7 (XR70)
- BRAVIA 5 (XR50)
- BRAVIA 3 (S30)
- BRAVIA 2 II (S20)
- A95L series
Regional versions of the same article disagree: the Canadian list, for example, leaves out the BRAVIA 7. Sony also says the A95L needs the latest TV software, and that the BRAVIA 3 works without an update in Mainland China and Europe but needs a future update in other regions. You must be signed in to a Google account on the TV. Sony keeps a separate, regularly updated list of compatible models, so check it for your exact model and country before installing.
Google TV app: any Sony Google TV or Android TV
Google’s app is the more widely compatible option, and it is the one to try first on a 2021 or later Sony Google TV. On Android, Google describes the pairing like this:
Open the Google TV app and tap TVs nearby, near the bottom right.
A list of TVs on your network appears.
Put the phone on the same home network as the TV and make sure the TV is fully on, not in standby.
Select your Sony TV, enter the code shown on the TV screen and tap Pair.
The remote opens. You can control playback, power, volume and Google Assistant, and type text.
If no code appears on the TV, follow the pairing-code guide linked below before trying again.
On Android you can also add the remote to Quick Settings so it opens without launching the app. The Google TV app is available for iPhone too, with its own instructions.
Older BRAVIA sets and Video & TV SideView
Older guides recommend Sony’s Video & TV SideView. Sony has been winding that app down: it removed the programme guide and video-on-demand features in 2017, and Sony Canada lists its services as discontinued from October 2019. Don’t buy or set up a TV expecting SideView to be its remote.
Many BRAVIA models that predate Google TV can still accept a phone remote through Sony’s IP control, which uses a PIN shown on screen or a pre-shared key you set on the TV. TV Remotely supports both routes. Sony is listed as “few reports” in our compatibility table: in the app’s analytics for 23 to 30 October 2026, 3 of 7 people who tried a Sony connected, so test it on your model before relying on it.
Continue with your Sony setup
Sources for these instructions
- Sony: use the BRAVIA Connect app or Google TV app as a remote (compatible models and requirements; read from Sony’s indexed article, direct fetch blocked) — checked 2026-10-30
- Google TV Help: cast, connect and control your TV with the Google TV app — checked 2026-10-30
- Sony: Video & TV SideView feature discontinuation notice (2017) — checked 2026-10-30
- Sony Canada: Video & TV SideView services discontinued — checked 2026-10-30
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a Sony TV remote app for Android?
- Yes. The Google TV app works as a remote for Sony Google TV and Android TV models, and Sony | BRAVIA Connect works with recent BRAVIA ranges. Both are also available on iPhone.
- Do Sony’s remote apps work without Wi-Fi?
- No. Both apps reach the TV over your home network, so the phone and TV must be on the same network. Without Wi-Fi, use the TV’s own buttons or an infrared remote.