# Getting my MacBook to ignore my Apple TV remote

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-macbook-to-ignore-my-apple-tv-remote/593224>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 18, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-macbook-to-ignore-my-apple-tv-remote/593224 "2011-08-18T21:20:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-macbook-to-ignore-my-apple-tv-remote/593224/1 "2011-08-18T21:20:14Z")

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I’ve just discovered that my Apple TV remote control also works on my MacBook, but in a manner that I don’t understand. Just now, I somehow remotely restarted my MacBook, which was very annoying.

Is there any way I can set the MacBook to ignore the remote control?

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**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-macbook-to-ignore-my-apple-tv-remote/593224/2 "2011-08-18T21:37:45Z")

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A little Googling turned up this:  
[http://gigaom.com/apple/disable-apple-remote-control/](http://gigaom.com/apple/disable-apple-remote-control/)

If that doesn’t work, try putting some tape over the MacBook’s infrared sensor.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-macbook-to-ignore-my-apple-tv-remote/593224/3 "2011-08-18T21:43:20Z")

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[You can pair the remote.](http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1619)

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-macbook-to-ignore-my-apple-tv-remote/593224/4 "2011-08-18T21:47:30Z")

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Excellent! Thanks.