YogaTimer

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Bluetooth remote setup guide

Control YogaTimer hands-free while you teach. Pair a small, cheap Bluetooth remote with your phone or tablet and use it to pause, resume, and skip through your live sequence without touching the screen.

1. What to buy

Buy a Bluetooth remote with keyboard arrow-key functionality (up, down, left, right).

This is critical. Cheap "Bluetooth camera shutter" remotes only send a single button press (volume up/down) and cannot control multiple actions. You want a remote that presents itself to your phone as a Bluetooth keyboard with arrow keys.

Where to look on Amazon / eBay / AliExpress:

  • Search for "Bluetooth keyboard remote arrow keys", "wireless page turner remote", or "Bluetooth presenter arrow keys".
  • Look for models used by Kindle readers, PowerPoint presenters, or e-book page turners — these all use arrow-key HID (Human Interface Device) profiles.
  • Price range: £8-£20. You do not need an expensive remote.
  • Check the reviews for "works with iOS/Android as keyboard" before buying.

Recommended features:

  • Arrow keys (up, down, left, right) — the essential requirement.
  • Rechargeable battery or standard CR2032 coin cell.
  • Small enough to hold in one hand or clip to a mat.
  • iOS/Android compatibility explicitly stated.

What to avoid:

  • "AB Shutter" or "camera shutter" remotes — these only send a single volume key.
  • Remotes that require a proprietary app to work.
  • Remotes without a listed iOS mode.

2. Pair the remote with your device

Do this once per device. The remote will remember the pairing afterwards.

On iPhone / iPad

  1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
  2. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
  3. If your remote has a mode switch, set it to iOS mode (usually a small slider on the side).
  4. Turn the remote on and hold the pairing button (often marked with a small Bluetooth icon) for 3-5 seconds until the LED flashes rapidly.
  5. Under "Other Devices", tap the remote when it appears. It may show up as "BT-Keyboard", "AB Shutter 3", or a generic name.
  6. Wait for it to move under "My Devices" with status "Connected".

On Android

  1. Open Settings → Connected devices → Pair new device.
  2. Set the remote to Android mode if it has a switch.
  3. Hold the pairing button until the LED flashes.
  4. Tap the remote in the list of available devices.
  5. Confirm any on-screen pairing prompt.

3. Test it in YogaTimer

  1. Open YogaTimer and sign in.
  2. Go to the Bluetooth test page.
  3. Press each arrow key on the remote and watch for the corresponding signal to appear on the page.
  4. If keys are detected, you are ready to teach.

What each key does during a live class:

  • Right arrow (→) or single click: next move.
  • Left arrow (←): previous move (during class) or start first move (on ready screen).
  • Up arrow (↑): go to first move.
  • Down arrow (↓): go to last move.

4. Troubleshooting

Nothing happens when I press keys

  • Confirm the remote shows as "Connected" in your device's Bluetooth settings.
  • If your remote has an iOS/Android switch, try toggling it — YogaTimer detects mismatches and displays a "wrong mode" hint.
  • Restart Bluetooth on your phone and reopen the app.
  • Check the battery. Cheap remotes often ship half-drained.

Only one key works

  • You probably bought a camera shutter remote. Return it and get one with arrow keys as described in step 1.

Remote disconnects mid-class

  • Keep the remote within 5 metres of your device.
  • Avoid resting the phone on metal surfaces that block the signal.
  • Replace the battery every 6-12 months.
  • YogaTimer shows a "Bluetooth idle" banner if it hasn't received a signal for a while — press any key to wake it back up.

Screen goes to sleep during class

  • YogaTimer uses the Wake Lock API to keep the screen on during a live session on supported browsers (Chrome, Edge, Safari 16.4+).
  • If your browser doesn't support Wake Lock, disable auto-lock in your device settings for the duration of your class.

Still stuck? Email us at support@yogatimer.co.uk with the make and model of your remote and we'll do our best to help.