Connecting your iPhone or iPod touch to your computer or AppleTV using Remote is usually pretty easy. However, sometimes – even when you follow the proper connection steps – you can’t establish the connection. In that case, try these troubleshooting steps:
Your iPhone/iPod touch Can’t Be Connected
Remote can’t control your iTunes library when the device it’s installed on is syncing to a computer or even charging while attached to a computer. When you try to use Remote, make sure that your device isn’t connected to a computer.
Use the Same WiFi Network
In order to control your computer or AppleTV, the iPhone/iPod touch must be connected to the same WiFi network as your compuer/AppleTV. Check on your computer for the name of the WiFi network it’s on and then, on the iPhone/iPod touch, go to Settings -> Wi-Fi -> and make sure the names are the same.
Reconfigure Your Firewall
This is the trickiest troubleshooting measure, but if nothing else works, this probably will. A firewall is a security program that most computers come with these days. Among other things, it prevents other computers from connecting to yours without your permission. As a result, it can sometimes prevent your iPhone/iPod touch from connecting to iTunes.
If you’ve followed all the steps in connecting Remote to your computer but Remote says it can’t find your library, open your firewall program (on Windows there are dozens; on the Mac, go to System Preferences -> Security -> Firewall).
In your firewall, create a new rule that specifically allows incoming connections to iTunes. Save those settings and try using Remote to connect to iTunes again. Things should work fine now.
If none of these measures work, you may have a different problem and should contact Apple.
