Apple TV/Apple Remote & Keyboard FAQ

This FAQ covers common Apple TV, Apple remote, and virtual keyboard questions to help improve navigation, typing, and overall performance.

How do I check the battery level of my Apple TV remote?

You can view the current battery level and charging status directly in Apple TV settings.

Steps:

1. Open Settings on your Apple TV.

2. Go to Remotes and Devices.

3. Select Remote.

What you’ll see:

• A battery icon showing the current charge level

• The battery percentage

Charging information:

• The Siri Remote typically takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to fully charge.

Important best practice:
To ensure the remote is working at maximum efficiency and responsiveness, it is recommended to charge the remote after every training session. Regular charging helps prevent performance issues caused by low battery levels.

How do I force close apps on Apple TV?

Force closing apps ensures optimal performance, especially before training sessions.

Steps:

1. Press the TV button (or Control Center button, depending on your remote) twice quickly to open the App Switcher.

2. Swipe left or right to move through all open apps.

3. Swipe up on each app to close it.

4. Continue until all apps are closed.

5. Reopen SideLine/PoolSide Live from the Home Screen.

Why do this?
Closing background apps frees system resources and helps prevent freezes or lag.

Important best practice:
Before every training session, it is highly recommended to force close all apps so that SideLine/PoolSide Live is the only app running. This ensures the app launches fresh and runs at maximum efficiency and stability during training.

How do I change the Apple TV keyboard to a grid layout?

You can switch the on-screen keyboard from a horizontal line to a grid, which many users find easier for typing.

Steps:

1. Open Settings from the Apple TV Home Screen.

2. Go to General.

3. Select Keyboard Layout.

4. Choose Grid.

Why use this?
The grid layout makes it easier to enter passwords, search terms, and longer text.

How do I reduce swipe sensitivity on my Apple TV remote?

If the remote feels too sensitive when swiping, you can slow down the tracking speed.

Steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Select Remotes and Devices.

3. Choose Touch Surface Tracking.

4. Set it to Slow.

What this does:
This requires larger thumb movements to move shorter distances on the screen, reducing accidental selections.

Can I turn off swipe gestures on the Apple TV remote?

Yes—but this option is only available on 2nd generation (and newer) Apple TV remotes. It is not available on 1st generation Siri Remotes.

Steps (2nd generation remote only):

1. Open Settings.

2. Go to Remotes and Devices.

3. Select Click and Touch.

4. Choose Click Only.

Important note:

• On 1st generation Siri Remotes, swipe gestures cannot be fully disabled.

• Reducing swipe sensitivity is the best alternative for those remotes.

What this does:
Swipe gestures are disabled, and navigation is done entirely by clicking.

How do I remap the Home (TV) button on the Apple TV remote?

You can change the TV/Home button so it returns you to the Home Screen instead of opening the Apple TV app.

Steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Select Remotes and Devices.

3. Choose TV Button.

4. Set it to Home Screen.

Why change this?
It provides faster and more predictable navigation back to the Home Screen.

Will these settings work on all Apple TV models?

Most features are available on Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models. Menu options and availability may vary depending on your tvOS version and remote generation.