TV remote not working? How to find the cause and fix it

Is it an infrared remote or a paired remote?

TV remotes send their commands in one of two ways, and each way needs different checks. An infrared remote sends invisible light to a sensor on the front of the TV. It must point at the TV, and nothing can be in the way. A paired remote is linked to one TV or streaming device. If it loses that link, it stops working with that device, even with good batteries, until you pair it again.

To find the type of a Roku remote, look for a voice button with a microphone or magnifying glass icon. Roku says a remote with that button is a voice remote, and a remote without it is a simple remote.

Some paired remotes also use a second method for a few buttons. Google says its Voice Remote controls the TV's power and volume by infrared. Roku says its remote sends power and volume commands to the TV through HDMI-CEC. For more detail on the two types, read which remotes send infrared and which are paired.

Start with the batteries

Samsung, LG and TCL all start their troubleshooting with the batteries. Check them first, even if they are new.

1. Remove the batteries from the remote.
2. While the batteries are out, reset the remote. Samsung says to hold the Power button for eight seconds. Roku says to press any two buttons.
3. Look at the + and − marks, and put the batteries back the correct way round.
4. Try the remote again.
5. If the remote still does not respond, install two new batteries of the same type.

Do not mix old and new batteries. LG says to replace both batteries, and Energizer says that a mix of fresh and used batteries, or of different battery types, increases the risk of a leak.

If a battery has leaked, do not touch the leak with bare skin. Energizer says alkaline battery leakage is extremely caustic. If it touches your skin, flush the area with a large quantity of water for 15 minutes.

Samsung gives different steps for its solar remote, which comes with 2021 and later Samsung TVs. Samsung says to let it charge for a while. To reset it, hold Return and Enter (the centre of the navigation pad) for 10 seconds, then pair it with the TV again.

Test the infrared signal with your phone camera

Your eyes cannot see the infrared light from a remote, but a phone camera can show it on the screen. Samsung, LG, TCL and Roku all describe this test.

1. Open the camera on your phone and select the front camera, the one for selfies.
2. Point the front tip of the remote at the camera lens.
3. Press and hold the Power button, then press the buttons that do not work.
4. Look at the phone screen. If you see a flashing light, the remote sends a signal.

Use the front camera because TCL says some phone cameras filter out infrared light better than others, and Roku says the test generally works only with a front-facing camera. TCL also suggests a dark room, and says the light can look purple, white or pink.

If you see no light, install new batteries and do the test again. If there is still no light, Samsung and TCL say the remote probably needs to be replaced.

If you see the light but the TV does not respond, the remote sends its signal correctly. The problem is between the remote and the TV: the path to the sensor, the pairing, or the TV itself. The next sections check them in that order.

The test checks only the infrared part of a remote. On a paired remote, a light shows that the batteries work, but the remote can still be unpaired. Samsung's own sequence also goes from the camera test to pairing the Smart Remote again.

Clear the path to the TV's sensor

An infrared remote must reach a small sensor on the front of the TV. LG gives these steps for its standard remote:

• Remove objects between the remote and the TV, for example the edge of a soundbar, decorations or a cabinet door.
• Move closer to the TV and point the remote directly at the TV's receiver.
• Switch off nearby fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent bulbs and lights with electronic ballasts.
• Check that the standby light on the TV is on, and press the TV's own Power button to see if the TV responds.

TCL gives the same advice for objects in front of the TV, such as a soundbar or a centre speaker.

On a Samsung TV, point the remote at the Samsung logo. For a standard remote that sends a signal but has no effect, Samsung says to switch the TV on with its own controls first, then aim the remote at the logo.

A Roku player must also be visible to a simple remote. Roku says not to put the player behind the TV or in a cabinet. To test, hold the remote higher, for example above your head, and point it down at the front of the device.

Pair the remote with the TV again

If you have a paired remote, pair it again. Switch the TV on, stand near it, and use the button combination for your remote. The combinations below come from each maker's support page, and they can change between model years.

If a Samsung Smart Remote still does not pair, Samsung says to unplug the TV for 30 seconds, plug it in again, and repeat the 5-second hold.

On a Google TV device, you can also start the pairing from the TV. Google says to use your phone as a virtual remote and select Pair remote or accessory on the TV.

Some Fire TV remotes have a troubleshooting mode. To start it, hold Rewind and Right for 3 seconds, then press Menu. The light turns green. Press any button, and the colour of the light shows the problem. Amazon lists these colours:

• Red, slow blinks: the batteries are low.
• Red, fast blinks: there is a problem with the remote, so reset it.
• Orange: the remote is not paired with the Fire TV.
• White: make sure that the Fire TV is on.
• Blue: the remote has no problem, so restart the Fire TV.

Restart the TV

Sometimes the TV, not the remote, stops responding. A full restart can correct this.

1. Unplug the TV from the wall socket.
2. Wait about 30 seconds. Samsung and TCL both give this time.
3. Plug the TV in and switch it on.

If you can still get to the menus, a TCL Android TV has a restart option in Settings, More Settings, Device Preferences, About, Restart.

If the remote controls a streaming device and not the TV, restart that device instead. Roku says to unplug a Roku player for 5 seconds. Amazon says to restart the Fire TV.

Is it the remote or the TV? Test with your phone

If the remote still does nothing, find out which side has the fault. A remote app on a phone sends its commands to the TV over your Wi-Fi network. It does not use the remote's batteries, its infrared light or its pairing.

TCL uses this as a test on its support page. TCL says that if its TCL Home app can control the TV, the remote is defective. If the app cannot control the TV either, the TV's remote sensor may be defective.

For the test, the TV must be on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone. The makers' support pages name their own apps for this. Samsung suggests its SmartThings app, Roku has its own remote app, TCL uses its TCL Home app, and Google says to use your phone as a virtual remote. An iPhone cannot copy an infrared remote, because no iPhone has an infrared emitter; why a TV remote app needs Wi-Fi explains this.

If your house has TVs of different brands, one universal app is easier than one app for each TV. Tivi, a universal TV remote app for iPhone from Nefarius Apps, finds Samsung, LG, Android TV and Google TV sets on your Wi-Fi automatically, and controls them with no account. It has the arrows and OK, volume and mute, play and pause, back, home and menu. It can do the test above, and it can stand in for the everyday buttons until you get a new remote. It does not control Roku or Apple TV.

The setup takes a few minutes, and how to use your iPhone as a TV remote gives the full procedure. If the TV does not appear in the app, use the checklist for a TV that doesn't show up in a remote app.

When to replace the remote

Replace the remote when the checks show that the remote is the problem:

• The camera test shows no light, even with new batteries. Samsung and TCL both say the remote then probably needs to be replaced.
• A phone app controls the TV, but the remote does not, after you paired it again and restarted the TV. This is TCL's test for a defective remote.
• An LG Magic Remote does not pair after LG's steps. LG then sends you to its support chatbot or to a technician.

If neither the remote nor a phone app can control the TV, the TV can be the problem. Samsung says to request service when a standard remote sends a signal but still has no effect, and TCL refers a defective remote sensor to its after-sales service.

For a replacement, order the remote that matches the model code of your TV. What to do when you lose your TV remote shows where to find the model code, and how to use the TV while you wait.

The short version

Check the batteries first, then test the remote with the front camera of your phone. If the remote sends a signal, clear the path to the TV's sensor, pair a paired remote again, and unplug the TV for 30 seconds. If a phone app on the same Wi-Fi controls the TV, the remote is the problem: replace it, and use the app until the new remote arrives. To set up the phone, start with the guide to using an iPhone as a TV remote.

Common questions

Sources

• Samsung. Samsung remote is not working.
• Samsung (2026). Pair your Samsung Smart Remote to your Samsung TV.
• LG (2026). How to troubleshoot an LG TV standard remote control that is not working.
• LG (2026). How to fix LG Magic Remote connection and voice recognition issues.
• TCL. How to Troubleshoot Your TCL Android TV Remote Control.
• TCL. What can I do if the TV remote does not work properly?
• Roku (2026). What Roku remote do I have?
• Roku (2026). Fix your Roku remote (simple or voice).
• Roku (2026). How do I resolve problems with my Roku IR (infrared) remote?
• Roku (2026). How to use the Roku remote app to control your Roku streaming device without a remote.
• Google. Troubleshoot the Chromecast or Google TV Voice Remote.
• Amazon. How to Troubleshoot Your Fire TV Remote Not Working.
• Energizer (2004). Frequently Asked Questions: Alkaline Batteries.