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remote-control-tv

An MCP server that lets AI agents control Android TVs — search for content across streaming services and play it, manage power and volume, send remote control commands, all via ADB.

Say "play Stranger Things" and it finds it on Netflix, launches the deep link, navigates the profile picker, and starts playback. No manual searching, no menus, no remote.

How it works

  1. You ask your AI agent to play something

  2. The server searches JustWatch to find which streaming services have it and gets the Android TV deep link

  3. It sends ADB commands to your TV: force-stops the app if needed, launches the deep link, detects the profile picker, and selects your profile

  4. Content plays. Results are cached locally so repeat requests are instant.

For music, it searches the Spotify API to find the exact track and artist, then opens Spotify with a targeted search that plays the right song and auto-queues similar music.

Related MCP server: ADB MCP Server

What can it do?

  • "Play Stranger Things" — finds it on Netflix, launches with deep link, selects your profile

  • "Play Frozen on Disney+" — opens directly to the movie

  • "Play Bohemian Rhapsody" — finds the song on Spotify, plays it, queues similar music

  • "What services have The Boys?" — shows it's on Prime Video, Apple TV, etc.

  • "Pause" / "Next episode" / "Rewind" — remote control commands

  • "Turn off the TV" / "Turn on the TV" — power control with Wake-on-LAN

  • "Volume up" / "Mute" — volume control

  • "Open YouTube" — launches any installed app

  • "Play The Boys on the Bob profile" — picks a specific streaming profile

Supported devices

Any device running Android TV or Google TV:

  • TV brands: Philips, Sony, TCL, Hisense, Sharp, and others with Android TV

  • Streaming devices: NVIDIA Shield, Xiaomi Mi Box, Chromecast with Google TV

  • Amazon Fire TV (partial — ADB works, some deep link formats may differ)

Enable ADB on your TV

Before anything else, you need to enable ADB (Android Debug Bridge) on your TV. This is a one-time setup:

  1. Go to Settings > Device Preferences > About

  2. Tap Build number 7 times — you'll see "You are now a developer"

  3. Go back — Developer options now appears under Device Preferences

  4. Enable USB debugging (some TVs call it "Network debugging")

  5. Reboot the TV

  6. When you first connect via ADB, the TV will show "Allow USB debugging?" — accept it and check "Always allow from this computer"

The exact menu path may vary by manufacturer. On some TVs it's Settings > About > Build number. Search "[your TV brand] enable developer options" if the above doesn't match.

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18+

  • ADB installed on your machine:

  • Spotify Developer App (optional — only needed for music search)

Installation

npm install -g remote-control-tv

Setup

remote-control-tv setup

The wizard connects to your TV, tests the connection, and saves configuration to ~/.remote-control-tv/config.json.

Add to your AI agent

Add to ~/.claude/settings.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tv": {
      "command": "remote-control-tv"
    }
  }
}

Or without global install:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tv": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "remote-control-tv"]
    }
  }
}

Add to .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace or user settings:

{
  "servers": {
    "tv": {
      "command": "remote-control-tv"
    }
  }
}

The server uses stdio transport. Run remote-control-tv as a subprocess and communicate via JSON-RPC over stdin/stdout.

Tools

Tool

Description

Key parameters

tv_play

Search for content and play it. Handles deep linking, app force-stops, and profile selection automatically.

title (required), service, profile, music

tv_search

Search for content without playing. Returns available services and deep links.

title (required), type (video/music)

tv_power

Power on, off, toggle, or check status. Supports Wake-on-LAN for TVs in deep standby.

action (required: on/off/toggle/status)

tv_volume

Adjust volume up/down, mute/unmute, or set to a level.

action (required: up/down/mute/unmute/set), steps, level

tv_key

Send any remote control key press.

key (required), count, delay

tv_app

Launch an app by name.

app (required)

Supported apps

youtube, netflix, disney, prime, spotify, jellyfin, hbo, skyshowtime, youtube_music, youtube_kids

Custom apps can be added via config.

Supported keys

Category

Keys

Navigation

up, down, left, right, center/ok, back, home, enter

Playback

play, pause, play_pause, stop, next, previous, fast_forward, rewind

Volume

volume_up, volume_down, mute

Power

power, sleep, wakeup

System

search, settings, tv_input

Profile setup

Streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video show a "Who's watching?" profile picker. Run the profile wizard to configure them:

remote-control-tv profiles

The wizard detects which apps are installed, auto-reads Disney+ profiles directly from the TV, and walks you through Netflix and Prime Video interactively. No manual config editing needed.

Spotify setup (optional)

For music search, create a free Spotify Developer App:

  1. Go to developer.spotify.com/dashboard

  2. Create an app (redirect URI: https://localhost, select Web API)

  3. Add clientId and clientSecret to your config

Without Spotify configured, tv_play with music: true will return an error. All other tools work without it.

Multiple TVs

Add multiple entries to the tvs array in config. Pass the tv parameter in tool calls to select which one. If omitted, uses defaultTv or the first TV in the list.

Known quirks

  • Netflix ignores deep links when already running. The server force-stops it before each launch.

  • Netflix sometimes skips the profile picker entirely. The server detects this and avoids sending unnecessary key presses that would interfere with playback.

  • Spotify TV app only responds to spotify:search: URIs (not spotify:track: or spotify:artist:). The server works around this by using the Spotify API to identify the exact artist and track name, then constructs a precise search query.

  • Prime Video uses a custom renderer. Profile detection uses logcat monitoring instead of UI inspection.

  • Deep standby drops the TV off the network entirely. Configure the mac field for Wake-on-LAN, or enable "Network standby" in TV settings.

Debugging

Test your server with the MCP Inspector:

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector remote-control-tv

Check ADB connectivity:

adb connect <TV_IP>:5555
adb -s <TV_IP>:5555 shell echo ok

Contributing

Contributions welcome. Some areas that could use help:

  • App-specific deep link testing — verify deep link formats on different TV brands and Android versions

  • Profile detection — improve detection reliability for more streaming services (HBO Max, SkyShowtime, etc.)

  • Fire TV support — test and document differences for Amazon Fire TV devices

  • Additional streaming services — add app registry entries and deep link patterns

License

MIT

Available Tools

6 tools
tv_appA

Launch an app on the TV by name. Available: youtube, youtube_music, youtube_kids, netflix, disney, prime, spotify, jellyfin, skyshowtime, hbo. Does not handle deep links or profiles — use tv_play for that.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
appYesApp name

TDQS

A4.8/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description carries the behavioral burden. It clearly defines the supported app set and discloses the deep-link/profile limitation. It stops short of stating error behavior when an unsupported app name is passed, but for such a simple launcher this is largely sufficient.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences with no filler: the action and allowed values come first, and the limitation with routing to the sibling comes second. Every sentence earns its place.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a one-parameter TV app launcher, this is complete: the agent knows what to call, which values are accepted, and what to use instead for deep links/profiles. The absence of an output schema is not a gap here because the tool is a simple side-effecting launch command.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters5/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema only says 'App name', while the description provides the actual accepted values: youtube, youtube_music, youtube_kids, netflix, disney, prime, spotify, jellyfin, skyshowtime, and hbo. This is concrete semantic value beyond the schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a clear action (launch) and resource (app on TV), then enumerates specific supported app names. It also distinguishes itself from tv_play by explicitly saying deep links and profiles are out of scope.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines5/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly says to use tv_play when deep links or profiles are involved, which gives the agent a firm routing rule. The supported app list also tells the agent exactly which inputs are valid for this tool.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

tv_keyA

Send a remote control key press to the TV. Keys: up, down, left, right, center, back, home, play, pause, play_pause, stop, next, previous, fast_forward, rewind, volume_up, volume_down, mute, power, sleep, wakeup

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
keyYesKey name (case-insensitive)
countNoTimes to press (default: 1)
delayNoDelay in ms between presses (default: 300)

TDQS

A3.5/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description states that the tool sends a key press and enumerates accepted key names, which covers the direct behavior. It does not disclose invalid key handling, connection requirements, or what the call returns, though for a simple key-press action this is a moderate gap, not a contradiction.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

A single introductory sentence followed by a compact list of keys. The verb/object pair is front-loaded, and every word contributes useful information. No filler or redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The essential parameters (key, count, delay) are fully documented in the schema, and the description covers the accepted key set. For a stateless remote-control action with no output schema, only minor details like error/return behavior are missing, which are not critical for correct invocation.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The schema already describes all three parameters with 100% coverage, including defaults for count and delay. The description adds value by enumerating the allowed key names, which the schema does not provide as an enum, helping the agent choose valid inputs.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description uses a specific verb ('Send') and resource ('remote control key press to the TV') and lists valid key names, making the function immediately clear. It does not explicitly differentiate itself from sibling tools like tv_play or tv_power, but the generic key-press scope is distinguishable.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No when-to-use guidance is given. The description never mentions alternatives or when tv_key should be preferred over dedicated siblings such as tv_power, tv_volume, or tv_play. The overlap between the key list and these sibling tools creates ambiguity that is left unresolved.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

tv_playA

Search for and play content on the TV. Handles deep linking, force-stops, and profile selection automatically. Use for shows, movies, and music.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
musicNoSet true to search Spotify for music instead of JustWatch for video
titleYesContent title (e.g. "Stranger Things", "Bohemian Rhapsody")
profileNoProfile name to select (e.g. "Justynka"). Uses service default if omitted.
serviceNoPreferred service: netflix, disney, prime, hbo, skyshowtime, spotify, youtube

TDQS

A4.2/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the behavioral disclosure burden. It does disclose non-obvious automatic behaviors: deep linking, force-stops, and automatic profile selection. However, it does not warn that force-stopping may interrupt currently running apps or that the TV may need to be powered on.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Three short sentences cover the core action, automatic behaviors, and supported content types without unnecessary detail. Every sentence contributes useful information and the most important verb-resource pair is front-loaded.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a content playback tool with no output schema and no annotations, the description gives enough context to select and invoke it: what it does, what content types it supports, and key automatic behaviors. It could mention failure or status behavior, but that is less critical for a fire-and-play command.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema has 100% description coverage, so the schema already explains the title, music, profile, and service parameters well. The description adds only a generic reference to automatic profile selection, which adds little beyond the structured definitions.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states a specific action and resource: 'Search for and play content on the TV.' It also distinguishes itself from siblings by mentioning automatic deep linking, force-stops, and profile selection, which separates it from tv_search, tv_app, and other TV control tools.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

It gives clear usage context ('Use for shows, movies, and music') and states the scope of what the tool handles. It does not explicitly contrast with tv_search for search-only requests or tv_app for direct app launching, but the intent is reasonably clear.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

tv_powerA

Control TV power. Actions: on (wake + WOL if needed), off (standby), toggle, status

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
actionYesPower action

TDQS

A4.2/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

The description adds useful behavioral detail beyond the schema by explaining that 'on' performs wake and WOL if needed and 'off' triggers standby. It does not disclose every edge case (e.g., what 'status' returns, idempotency), but for a simple power control tool with no annotations, it provides meaningful insight into operation semantics.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is extremely compact, front-loading the main purpose ('Control TV power') and then listing the actions in a clear, scannable format. Every word earns its place with no redundancy or filler.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a one-parameter tool with no output schema and simple action semantics, the description covers all necessary aspects: what the tool does, the allowed actions, and behavioral notes for key actions. The only minor gap is the lack of explicit mention of return values for 'status', but the action name and overall context make it fairly obvious.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Although the schema covers 100% of parameter documentation, the description enriches the 'action' parameter by associating each enum value with a behavioral outcome. This goes beyond the schema's generic 'Power action' label, helping the agent pick the right value with greater confidence.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description uses a specific verb-resource pairing ('Control TV power') and enumerates the exact actions (on, off, toggle, status), making it immediately clear this tool manages TV power. It clearly distinguishes from sibling tools like tv_play, tv_volume, and tv_key, which handle other functions.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Usage context is implied by the tool's purpose and the sibling list, but there is no explicit guidance on when to choose this tool over alternatives. An agent must infer that power-related actions belong here rather than getting a direct 'use this when...' statement or exclusions.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

tv_volumeA

Control TV volume. Actions: up, down (repeatable with steps), mute, unmute, set (absolute level via ADB key repeats)

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
levelNoTarget volume level (0-100) for "set". Sends key presses to approximate.
stepsNoNumber of up/down presses (default: 1)
actionYesVolume action

TDQS

A3.8/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description carries the burden of disclosing behavior. It reveals the ADB key-repeat mechanism, supports repeatable up/down steps, and notes that set targets an absolute level. It does not mention result feedback or edge cases, but the core side effects are stated.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is one dense, front-loaded sentence with a concise action list. Parenthetical modifiers keep it compact while preserving important distinctions like repeatability and absolute level.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a tool with one required parameter and a fully documented schema, the description is nearly sufficient. It could mention what the tool returns or confirms after an action, but overall the action semantics and parameter mappings are adequately covered.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3. The description adds 'absolute level' and 'ADB key repeats,' but these mostly restate or slightly extend what the schema already says for 'level' and 'steps.' No significant new parameter meaning is added.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly identifies the resource (TV volume) and the specific actions available (up, down, mute, unmute, set). It is distinct from sibling tools like tv_power, tv_play, and tv_key without needing their schemas.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description states what the tool controls but does not explicitly say when to use it versus alternatives or when not to use it. Sibling tool names help by contrast, but the description itself provides no routing guidance.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. 6 tool updatesv0.1.0
    • First observedtv_app
    • First observedtv_key
    • First observedtv_play
    • First observedtv_power
    • First observedtv_search
    • First observedtv_volume

TDQS

A4/5.0
Disambiguation4/5

Most tools have clear boundaries: tv_play handles playback with deep linking, tv_search only returns results, tv_app launches apps without deep linking, and tv_key sends raw key presses. Some overlap exists between tv_volume and tv_key (both can send volume commands), and tv_play/tv_app can both launch content, but descriptions clarify when each should be used.

Naming Consistency4/5

All tools follow a consistent tv_ prefix and snake_case convention, making the set predictable. The second part is mostly an action noun (power, volume, key, app) rather than a strict verb_noun pattern, but the naming remains coherent and easy to navigate.

Tool Count5/5

Six tools is a well-scoped set for a TV remote control server. Each tool covers a distinct major function: playback, power, volume, key input, app launching, and search — no unnecessary bloat or redundant duplicates.

Completeness4/5

The core remote control lifecycle is well covered: power, volume, navigation, playback, app launch, and content discovery. Obvious gaps like input/source switching or querying current playback status are missing, but the tool surface is still sufficient for most common TV control workflows.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessSyncing

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