Bluetooth Remote Compatibility
SpeakerView supports two different families of Bluetooth remotes, and each works in a completely different way. This guide explains both, so you know what to buy (or how to use what you already have).
The two supported remote types
| Remote type | Example | Advance | Go back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation remote | Satechi and similar “clicker” style remotes | Right arrow / Page Down button | Left arrow / Page Up button |
| Camera shutter remote | Bluetooth camera/selfie shutter remotes | Volume Up button | Volume Down button |
Both work automatically once paired — there’s no remote-specific setup screen inside SpeakerView, and no pairing code to enter in the app itself.
Presentation remotes (arrow-key style)
These are the small clickers commonly used for PowerPoint/Keynote presentations. They work by sending standard arrow-key and page-navigation signals over Bluetooth, which SpeakerView listens for directly. Also supported from this same remote family: the spacebar and return/enter key both advance to the next card, if your remote (or a connected Bluetooth keyboard) sends those.
Setup: Pair the remote via iPhone Settings → Bluetooth like any other Bluetooth accessory. No app-side configuration needed — once paired, its buttons work immediately inside a SpeakerView presentation.
Camera shutter remotes (volume-button style)
These are typically sold as camera shutter/selfie remotes, and they work differently: they simulate pressing your iPhone’s physical volume buttons. SpeakerView takes advantage of this by watching for volume-button presses while a presentation is active, using Volume Up to advance and Volume Down to go back.
To make this reliable, SpeakerView quietly locks your iPhone’s system volume to a fixed low level for the duration of the presentation, and hides the on-screen volume indicator (the “HUD”) so it doesn’t pop up and distract you or your audience every time you advance a card. This all resets back to normal automatically the moment you exit the presentation.
Setup: Pair the remote via iPhone Settings → Bluetooth. It will typically appear as a generic Bluetooth accessory or keyboard-type device. No app-side configuration needed.
If button presses aren’t registering, see Volume Buttons Aren’t Advancing Cards.
Which one should I buy?
- If you want the most traditional “presentation clicker” feel and are only using SpeakerView (not also snapping photos), a presentation remote is the more standard choice and tends to be less fiddly.
- If you’re already using (or already own) a camera shutter remote — for example, one you use for photography — SpeakerView is designed to work with those too, so you don’t need to buy a second device.
Remotes that aren’t supported
Any Bluetooth remote that doesn’t send arrow-key/Page Up/Page Down signals and isn’t a standard volume-button shutter remote (for example, remotes that only work through a proprietary companion app, rather than acting like a standard Bluetooth HID keyboard/shutter device) is unlikely to work with SpeakerView. If you’re unsure whether a specific remote will work before buying it, check whether its packaging or manual describes it as compatible with “presentation apps” (arrow-key style) or “camera/selfie shutter” (volume-button style) — either of those descriptions is a good sign.