Imagine your favorite football team starts playing in a couple of minutes, or your favorite tv show will air soon- then just as you are about to switch tv stations or increase the volume, you realize the remote to your smart tv is not working!
If you are here, it means you are either in this situation at the moment, or you have been in this type of situation in the past, and would not like a repeat.
In that case, I welcome you. In this article, you will find the solution to the problem which tortures and torments you. This article will show you how to fix your smart tv remote not working. Keep reading…
Many of us do not find it necessary to study our gadgets and figure out ways in which they may develop issues. As long as your Samsung, LG, Hisense and others works fine, you have no reason to worry about it, right? This is a common mindset and while I understand the logic, I encourage users to know more about the gadgets they use.
Before we proceed, the first steps must be to make sure everything is okay at a first glance.
How to Fix TV Remote not Working
Below are some of the known few steps to take when your TV remote is not working and you are dead sure that the TV isn’t damaged or spoilt
- Remove any obstacles that may be blocking the remote from having clear access to the TV.
- Confirm that the TV buttons work properly and can be operated.
- Make sure none of the buttons on the remote are physically damaged or jammed.
- Remove external devices like HDMI connection cords and USB hard disk that are connected to the Tv. This is to make sure there are no interferences between these devices and the smart tv remote.
- Press the power button on the remote for 3-5 seconds, then try again.
- Power cycle the remote: remove the batteries from the remote, press all the buttons on the remote at least once. Insert the batteries and try again.
Troubleshooting your tv remote depends on the exact issue you have with it: you smart tv remote may be pressing all by itself, it could be accepting some requests and denying some, or it may just not be responding to commands at all. Your remote could be dirty, the battery may be dead or fake or it may be another issue entirely.
Problems with your Smart TV Remote
Below are some of the reasons why your smart TV remote is not working.
- The batteries in your remote may be non-functional (one or both of the batteries may be dead)
- Your tv itself may have a slight glitch.
- Your tv remote could be dirty.
- Your smart tv remote may have taken a great fall and therefore in need of a reset.
- Your tv may need a software update-this can affect all the other apps and external hardware that work together with it.
- Bad batteries may have damaged the remote.
- A defective remote control
The Batteries In Your Remote May Be Non-Functional
This is usually the very first step towards troubleshooting any gadget-related problems, especially one that uses batteries. You will be surprised the number of problems that are fixed by simply taking out the batteries and putting them back again. Yes, it is possible to do this and have your tv remote working again.
If this doesn’t work, you may need to get a new set of original batteries. I say original batteries because sometimes we unknowingly buy fake sets of batteries.
Your TV May Have A Slight Glitch.
You may be surprised to discover that the problem with your smart tv control, is actually from the television itself. To make sure this is not the case, disconnect your television from all plugged-in sources. Wait a few minutes and then plug it back in. When your tv comes on, try the remote and see if anything changes.
Your TV Remote Battery Connector Could be Dirty
As humans, we become comfortable with our gadgets when we have used them overtime. Sometimes, we become too comfortable and totally forget that these gadgets also need taking care of. The way your gadgets take care of you by providing you with information and entertainment, you should also ensure to care for them.
Cleaning your gadgets, making sure they don’t hit the ground (or at least not too frequently), making sure their batteries are changed every once in a while.
Sometimes dirt and dust may accumulate in your tv remote and cause it to stop functioning. You may be lucky to find that a simple cleaning out, will do the job. Taking a clean and dry rag, take out tv remote batteries and clean properly. You can also clean touch controls on the TV, if any.
Note: Make sure your cleaning procedure is gentle, because you do not want to break anything or cause a new, additional problem.
Your smart TV remote may need a reset
To reset the remote control to your television:
- Take out the batteries.
- Press on the power button for ten seconds.
- Re-insert the batteries and try to use the remote again.
Your TV or TV remote may need a software update
Smart TVs are just like smartphones, in that they require a software update from time to time. You will notice that once your iPhone or android is in need of a software update, it sometimes doesn’t respond as it should. Also, software updates means that new or improved features have been added to the product, so this is usually a good thing. But how do you update your software without a tv remote?
How To Update Your Smart TV Without Remote
The answer to this is by using the smart TV app or the buttons on your tv. On the app store or the google playstore, search for the app that is suitable to your smart Tv. Using this app, you can control your smart TV, even without the remote. The alternative is to use the buttons on your smart tv, to update its software. How to update the software on your smart tv without remote control [click here].
Bad Batteries May Have Damaged The Remote.
Hopefully it hasn’t gotten to this, but just in case, you need to take out the damaged batteries quickly. Using a clean rag, carefully clean out the battery terminal of the TV remote. Wipe properly to make sure bad battery residues do not remain. Leave the battery terminal open and facing upwards for some time. Insert new set of batteries and try again.
If the remote still does not work, the alternative may be to replace the smart Tv remote.
Defective Remote Control
For a defective remote control, the product manufacturer can help replace your smart tv remote. It helps if you are still under warranty.
Pair your smart TV remote with the TV
Wireless smart tv remotes can be registered/ re-registered. To pair your tv remote with the smart tv, the first step is to reset your TV remote-I discussed this earlier. Next, press and hold the return and play/pause buttons simultaneously, until a message appears on the TV confirming that your remote has been paired.
Conclusion
with problems like this, it is important to try and stay calm, no matter how frustrating it may get. Gadget problems can be frustrating but in order to get the best solution, you need to follow all the steps properly. The information provided in this article will surely set you on the right path.