He turned an old Android phone into a TV and lights remote for guests

A smart home can be hard for guests to use. One How-To Geek writer solved that by turning an old Android phone into a simple guest remote. It shows only the things visitors usually want: lights, heating and TV. It also locks to that one screen, so nobody can wander off into settings.

The problem

Adam Davidson runs Home Assistant, free and open source smart home software, at home. After a software update, the big red power button on his universal remote began causing trouble. Home Assistant now reads that button as a request to shut down, so pressing it turns off the whole smart home software. His family learned to avoid it. A guest would not know.

The fix

A standard remote would not label things like lights, so it would still need a manual. A phone can show clear labels, and almost everyone knows how to tap a screen. It is also obvious how to charge. Home Assistant can build visual dashboards with virtual buttons and sliders, so he made one just for guests.

• Lights: turn them on and off
• Heating: turn it up or down
• TV and streaming services
• Every section is clearly labeled

Locking it down

Two tools keep the phone on that screen. The Fully Kiosk Browser app shows the dashboard full screen and removes browser controls and other distractions. Android's built-in app pinning then holds the screen in place, even if someone presses Home, Recents or Back. To leave, you hold Back and Recents together and enter the phone's PIN.

How it went

The test was an elderly relative who was babysitting. According to the writer, the remote passed with flying colors. The relative did everything they wanted and watched a Netflix show they had always wanted to see, since they have no account of their own. One chore remains for the host: hide the old Wi-Fi remote before guests arrive.

What you need

The setup uses an old Android phone, a smart home system that can show dashboards, and the two lock-down tools above. The writer used Home Assistant and a Samsung phone. The article does not say how long the setup takes or how well it works on other phones or other smart home systems.