Apple has updated the design of the virtual Apple TV Remote for the iOS 27 Release Candidate, which was released yesterday, and there are two new features that have been added to the iPhone app's interface.
First up, Apple has added a new button to the top-right corner of the Remote UI with a glyph showing four squares. Pressing the button pops out an app menu similar to the Apple TV home screen that allows you to quickly select an app and launch it.
Second, you can now drag down from the top of the virtual trackpad with your finger to reveal the Apple TV's top shelf carousel, where shows in your watch list are displayed, along with shows that you've started so that you can continue watching.
The two new features, hidden behind feature flags, were discovered by MacRumors and later demonstrated on X (Twitter) by code sleuth "pdfu."
Apple TV Remote is about to get a lot more useful. iOS 27 RC introduces a refreshed design and two new features, both currently hidden behind feature flags:
1. An app launcher to open apps on your Apple TV.
2. Top Shelf content from the selected app on your Apple TV, with... pic.twitter.com/aOFoToCnrR — pdfu (@itspdfu) September 9, 2026
The next-generation Apple TV 4K will ship with an upgraded Siri Remote, according to previously discovered macOS 26.7 code findings. We don't know what those upgrades will be, but these two new Remote app features could hint at what's to come. The new Apple TV 4K is likely to be unveiled later this month or in October.
Starting in iOS 27, the virtual Apple TV remote can also be added to the iPhone's Home Screen again, so it's no longer limited to Control Center. If you're on the iOS 27 beta, you can find it by swiping down on the Home Screen and searching for "remote."
