If you watch YouTube on your computer from bed, from the couch or with your laptop hooked up to the TV, you already know the problem: every time you want to pause, skip an ad, turn the volume down or pick another video, you have to get up and walk over to the keyboard.
Smart TVs come with a remote. PCs don't. In this guide we go through the usual ways to control YouTube on your PC from your phone and show you the simplest one available in 2026, which takes less than a minute to set up.
Why the usual fixes fall short
There are plenty of ways to control a PC from a distance, but none of them are built for YouTube:
- Wireless mouse and keyboard: they work, but a keyboard on the couch or in bed is awkward, the batteries run out and it's easy to click the wrong thing.
- Remote desktop apps (Chrome Remote Desktop, AnyDesk, TeamViewer): they stream your whole screen to your phone. Everything looks tiny, there's some lag, and tapping YouTube's buttons on a small screen is frustrating.
- youtube.com/tv: YouTube's TV interface used to let you pair a phone with a code, but it is no longer available in regular desktop browsers. Opening it on a PC just takes you to the normal YouTube site. We explain why in youtube.com/tv not working on PC.
The easiest way: an extension and your phone
The most practical option today is a browser extension that pairs with a web page on your phone. You don't install anything on the phone, and the remote shows only what you need: big buttons for YouTube.
That's exactly what RemoteTube does. It takes the YouTube player controls and puts them in a touch-friendly remote on your phone, without capturing your screen or asking for personal data.
Step by step: set up RemoteTube in 30 seconds
Step 1: install the extension on your PC
Go to the Chrome Web Store and install RemoteTube for Chrome. It works in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave and Opera.
Step 2: open YouTube on your computer
Open any YouTube video in your browser. You'll see the RemoteTube icon in the extensions bar.
Step 3: scan the QR code with your phone
Click the extension icon. A QR code appears: point your phone's camera at it (iPhone or Android). If you prefer, you can type the short pairing code instead.
Step 4: control YouTube from your phone
The remote opens in your phone's browser at yt.remay.xyz. From there you can:
- Play and pause instantly.
- Change the volume with a slider or mute with one tap.
- Skip forward or back with the progress bar, great for long videos and podcasts.
- Search for videos on your phone and have them play on your PC.
- Browse recommendations and jump to the next video.
Comparing the options
| Method | RemoteTube | Remote desktop | Wireless mouse | Casting to a TV (Chromecast) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Under 30 seconds | 5 to 10 minutes | Buy the device | 2 minutes |
| App on your phone? | No (web page) | Yes | No | Sometimes |
| Same Wi-Fi needed? | No | Usually yes | Doesn't apply | Yes |
| Interface | Touch remote built for YouTube | Your PC screen, shrunk down | Physical | Playback queue only |
| Account or sign-up? | No | Yes | No | Google account |
| Cost | Free | Free or paid | Depends on the model | You need the device |
Common problems and how to fix them
- The QR code doesn't open anything: check that QR scanning is turned on in your phone's camera, or use the short pairing code.
- The buttons don't respond: make sure a YouTube tab is open on your PC with a video loaded.
- Your PC goes to sleep mid-video: if your laptop is connected to the TV, set the screen and sleep timeouts to a longer value (or "Never" while plugged in) in your power settings. We cover the whole setup in the guide to using a PC connected to the TV via HDMI.
- The sound comes out of the laptop, not the TV: click the volume icon in the taskbar and pick the TV as the output device.
Conclusion
Controlling YouTube on your PC from your phone no longer takes a keyboard on your lap or a heavy remote desktop app. With RemoteTube you scan a QR code once and your phone becomes your computer's YouTube remote.
Looking for other options? See our comparison of ways to pause YouTube on PC without getting up.