A free Insignia TV remote app that's actually free

Yes, a phone app can control your Insignia TV over Wi-Fi instead of a plastic remote. Before installing one, check what you own: the letter in your NS- model number decides everything — DR means a 2016–2018 Roku TV, F means a Fire TV, and the last two digits are the model year.

100% free basic controls. No paywall after 2 taps. No credit card. Works on all Insignia Fire TV models.

Download Free App

No 2-tap paywalls · No credit card · Basic controls free forever

Universal TV Remote App — control your Insignia TV from your iPhone

4.8 ★

App Store

FREE

No paywall

16+

TV brands

Your Insignia model number names the platform

Which Insignia TV you have — and how it takes commands

Insignia is Best Buy’s own brand, sold only in North America, and it has run on two different platforms. The model code tells you which: an NS- number with a DR segment is a Roku TV from the 2016–2018 era, while an F designator marks the Fire TV sets that took over and became the whole line by 2024.

Insignia TV model lines, the operating system each one runs, how it is reached over the network, whether pairing is required, and where the on-set button is.
Model line / series	TV operating system	How it is controlled over the network	Pairing	On-set button
NS-…DR… (e.g. NS-39DR510NA17, NS-32DR310NA18)	Roku TV — the 2016–2018 generation	Roku ECP — HTTP on port 8060, found by SSDP	None on most units	Joystick nub, bottom-centre under the logo
NS-…F2… (e.g. NS-42F201NA23, NS-32F201NA26)	Amazon Fire TV — entry series	Local HTTP, found by mDNS (_amzn-wplay._tcp)	4-digit PIN on screen	Joystick nub, bottom-centre under the logo
NS-…F3… (e.g. NS-43F301NA24, NS-55F301NA25)	Amazon Fire TV — 4K series	Local HTTP, found by mDNS (_amzn-wplay._tcp)	4-digit PIN on screen	Joystick nub, bottom-centre under the logo

The last two digits of the model number are the model year — NS-43F301NA24 is a 2024 set, NS-32F201NA26 a 2026 one. Between the letter and those digits you can identify any Insignia without opening a menu.

Reaching the menu with no remote

A nub, not a button

The nub does not reach the network menu on either platform. On a Fire TV Insignia, use the phone app or a CEC-capable TV remote; on a DR-series Roku Insignia, Ethernet through first-time setup is the way in without a remote.

Known Insignia failure mode

The replacement remote will not pair

What helps: Hold the Home button for about ten seconds until the pairing screen appears. If nothing happens, take the batteries out for thirty seconds, put them back, and hold Home again. Meanwhile the phone app on the same Wi-Fi controls the set without any pairing at all.

100% Free Insignia TV Remote App

Basic Insignia TV controls are free forever. No paywall after 2 taps. No credit card. No subscription. Ever.

Free

No trial
No subscription

★★★★★

4.8

App Store
170+ ratings

Auto-Discovery. Zero Config.

The best free Insignia remote app for iPhone — connects to your Insignia Fire TV Edition via HTTP over Wi-Fi. mDNS (_amzn-wplay._tcp) auto-discovers your TV with no manual IP entry. Quick 4-digit PIN on first launch. No ads, no subscription, no in-app purchases — all controls unlocked permanently. Insignia TVs are Fire TV Editions, so it replaces the account-gated Fire TV app — local control of your Insignia set plus the rest of your TVs, free.

How it works

Get Free Insignia TV Remote Control — Step by Step

Step 1

Download for Free

Install the Universal TV Remote app at zero cost. No account, no credit card, no trial period.

Step 2

Open and Find Your Insignia TV

Launch the app and it automatically scans your Wi-Fi for your Insignia Fire TV.

Step 3

Connect — No Login Needed

Tap your Insignia TV in the list. Instantly connected. No subscription popup or paywall.

Step 4

Use Free Controls Forever

Navigate Fire OS, control volume, launch streaming apps—basic Insignia TV controls stay free forever.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Specific answers for Insignia TV users — including which Insignia lines run which system.

What is the best free remote app for Insignia TV on iPhone?

Our app is a top-rated free Insignia remote for iPhone. It connects to your Insignia Fire TV Edition via HTTP, with mDNS (_amzn-wplay._tcp) finding your TV automatically on the local network. The app prompts you to complete 4-digit PIN. Features include full D-pad navigation, volume and mute, HDMI input switching, media playback controls, and streaming app launcher. No in-app purchases, no subscription, no ads — all features unlocked at no cost.

How does the free Insignia remote app connect to my TV without Bluetooth or IR?

The app communicates entirely over your home Wi-Fi network using HTTP. mDNS (_amzn-wplay._tcp) discovery finds your Insignia Fire TV Edition automatically — you don't need to enter an IP address or enable any special TV settings beyond ensuring your TV and iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi network. The app prompts you to complete 4-digit PIN. The connection persists as long as both devices remain on the same network, making this a permanent wireless remote replacement for your Insignia TV.

Does the free Insignia remote app require an account, subscription, or in-app purchases?

No. Our free Insignia remote app requires no account, no subscription, no credit card, and has no ads. It communicates locally with your Insignia Fire TV Edition over your home Wi-Fi via HTTP — no cloud service is involved. All controls including D-pad, volume, HDMI switching, media playback, and streaming app launcher are permanently unlocked at zero cost. Requires 4-digit PIN on first connection.

Does Insignia have its own remote app for this TV?

None — Amazon’s or Roku’s app, depending on the model. Best Buy publishes no Insignia remote app. Which first-party app applies is decided by the model code: Fire TV sets use Amazon’s Fire TV app, and the older DR Roku sets use Roku’s.

Where is the button on the Insignia TV itself, and can it reach the settings menu?

Insignia uses a small multi-function joystick rather than a plain button, normally on the bottom-centre edge under the logo, though some models place it on the side or rear. A short press steps through inputs or opens the menu; a long press selects, or powers the set off. The nub does not reach the network menu on either platform. On a Fire TV Insignia, use the phone app or a CEC-capable TV remote; on a DR-series Roku Insignia, Ethernet through first-time setup is the way in without a remote.

Why would a remote app fail to find my Insignia TV?

Insignia’s Fire TV sets use Amazon’s remote pairing protocol, so they inherit its documented failure and its documented recovery — a remote that sits unpaired and unresponsive out of the box or after a battery change. Hold the Home button for about ten seconds until the pairing screen appears. If nothing happens, take the batteries out for thirty seconds, put them back, and hold Home again. Meanwhile the phone app on the same Wi-Fi controls the set without any pairing at all.