Troubleshooting
TV remote sensor not working? How to test it and what to do
Nefarius Apps13 min read
When the TV remote sensor is not working, the remote sends its signal, but the TV does not react. First, make sure that the remote really sends a signal: test it with a phone camera. Then look at the sensor itself. It is a small window on the bottom edge of the TV. Remove anything in front of it, keep bright light off it, and unplug the TV for 30 seconds. Sony says that direct sunlight and bright lights "may interfere with infrared signals, especially if they are shining toward the TV's IR sensor." If two different remotes fail and the TV's own buttons work, the sensor is probably faulty and the TV needs service. Until then, you can control the TV over Wi-Fi.
What does the remote sensor on a TV do?
The remote sensor is an infrared (IR) receiver behind a small window on the front of the TV. An IR remote sends light that the human eye cannot see. The light must reach this window. If something blocks the light, or if the sensor fails, the TV does not receive the command.
Not every remote uses only infrared. A Samsung Smart Remote connects to the TV by Bluetooth. Samsung says that when the Bluetooth connection is lost, volume and channel still work through infrared. An LG Magic Remote uses radio frequency (RF). LG says that without that link, "only specific buttons like Power and Volume will work." Thus a paired remote can need the IR sensor for some buttons, and a simple remote needs it for all of them.
Many TVs also have a light sensor near the IR sensor. On some Sony models, the light sensor is in the centre and the IR sensor is in the lower right corner. Sony tells you to point the remote at the IR sensor, not at the light sensor.
Is it the remote or the TV's sensor? Four tests
Do these tests in this order. Each test removes one possible cause.
- Test the remote with a camera. Point the remote at a phone camera, hold the Power button, and look at the screen. Samsung says that you see a colored light if the remote sends an IR signal.
- Press the Power button on the TV. If the TV does not turn on with its own button, LG says that the problem may be the TV or the power supply, not the remote.
- Try a second IR remote. Use another remote of the same brand, a universal remote, or a cable box remote that is set up for the TV. A user in an iFixit thread about a Samsung sensor gives this test: if the other remote does not work either, the problem is the TV.
- Try a phone app over Wi-Fi. A remote app sends commands over the network, not by infrared, so it does not use the sensor. Our article on why a TV remote app needs Wi-Fi explains why an iPhone cannot send infrared.
| What you see | What it probably means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| No light on the camera, even with new batteries | The remote does not send a signal | Replace the remote |
| Light on the camera, but the TV does not react | Something blocks the sensor, or the sensor does not receive | Clear the path, check the light, restart the TV |
| A second IR remote works | The first remote is faulty | Replace the first remote |
| No IR remote works, but the TV buttons and a phone app work | The TV works, but its IR sensor does not receive | Restart and update the TV, then request service |
| Nothing works, not even the TV buttons | The TV or its power supply | Check the power cable and outlet, then request service |
A note about the iPhone camera
The camera test can give a false result on an iPhone. Sony says that iPhones have an IR filter. Hold the remote within 2 inches (5 cm) of the iPhone camera. Sony also says that a smartphone test is only reliable if the camera showed the light of another IR remote before. Thus, if you see no light, test the camera with a second remote before you replace the first one.
On a Bluetooth remote, test with the Power button. Sony says that some Bluetooth remotes send an IR signal only from the Power button.
Where is the remote sensor on your TV?
The sensor is almost always on the bottom edge of the TV, below the screen. The exact position changes with the brand and the model.
| Brand | Where the sensor is | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | On the lower right side or at the bottom centre. For a standard remote, Samsung also says to point at the Samsung logo | Samsung pairing guide, Samsung US |
| LG | At the bottom of the TV | LG |
| Sony | On the left, middle or right of the bottom edge. If the TV has a printed IR logo, the sensor is next to it | Sony |
| TCL | Usually near the bottom front of the TV | TCL |
| Other brands | Look in the manual of your model | The maker's support page |
If you do not know which window is the IR sensor, point the remote at each part of the bottom edge in turn. Stand close to the TV when you do this test.
Clear the path to the sensor
Infrared is light. It does not go through furniture, plants or the edge of a soundbar. The makers list the same objects:
- LG names soundbar edges, decorations and cabinet doors.
- Sony names indoor plants, furniture, a soundbar or a home theatre speaker in front of the sensor, and a glass enclosure. If the TV is behind glass doors, open them.
- TCL names soundbars, centre speakers, decorations and other devices.
Then move closer and point the remote directly at the sensor. If the remote works from a short distance, the path was the problem. A user in the iFixit thread says that dust on the sensor stopped the remote, and that a wipe made it work again. The maker pages in this article give no steps to clean the sensor. For the touch controls on the bezel, Samsung says to unplug the TV and wipe them with a microfiber cloth.
Keep strong light off the sensor
Bright light can hide the remote's signal. The sensor then cannot see the infrared light of the remote. Check these light sources:
- Direct sunlight and other bright lights that shine on the sensor. Sony says to keep the TV away from them.
- Fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), some LED lamps and lamps with electronic ballasts. LG names these on its standard remote page.
- Halogen lights and low energy bulbs. Sony names these too.
LG explains that three-wavelength fluorescent lamps can cause the remote to malfunction, and gives the frequency of its remote as 38 kHz. LG tells you to turn off the lamp and try the remote again.
Another device can also send infrared into the room. In a Reddit thread, two Samsung TVs in one room acted as if a volume button was held down. A user told the owner to cover both IR sensors as a test. The owner found that a touch lamp was the probable cause. This is one user report, but the test is easy: turn off the lamps one at a time, and cover the sensor with your hand to see if the problem stops.
If a soundbar covers the sensor
A soundbar in front of the TV can block the sensor. Sony says that a soundbar placed too close to the TV can block the IR signal, and tells you to move the soundbar.
If you cannot move it, some soundbars have an IR repeater. The soundbar receives the remote's signal and sends it again to the TV's sensor. On Sony soundbars, Sony gives these steps:
- Connect the IR blaster cable to the IR BLASTER jack of the soundbar.
- Put the IR blaster near the TV's remote sensor, and aim it at the sensor.
- Press MENU on the soundbar remote.
- Select Setup, then IR Repeater, then ON.
Sony gives a caution before you start: turn on the IR repeater only if the TV remote cannot control the TV. If the remote still reaches the TV, the repeater can cause interference. Some soundbars have the repeater built in, so read the manual of your soundbar.
Restart and update the TV
A TV can stop reacting to the remote because of a software problem, not a broken sensor. Restart the TV completely:
- Unplug the TV from the wall outlet. If your Samsung TV has a One Connect Box, unplug it too.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Plug the TV in again, and test the remote.
Then update the TV software. Sony says that an update can help, and that you can do it with the TV's buttons or with another Sony remote.
Samsung 2022 TVs and the SmartThings app
Samsung describes a known problem on its 2022 TVs (B models). After you register devices in the SmartThings app on the TV, the app can disrupt the IR signal of the TV remote. Samsung gives a temporary fix:
- Turn the TV off and on with the Power button on the TV. The button is usually in the centre, under the Samsung logo.
- On the TV, open the SmartThings app.
- Select Settings in the top right corner.
- Select About SmartThings, then SmartThings Guide.
- Select Do not receive new device notifications.
- Exit the SmartThings app.
Samsung says that the remote then works again and that no service is necessary. Samsung also said that an update for the app was in preparation.
If the sensor is broken
If the camera shows light, the path is clear, the light is normal, and no IR remote works after a restart, the TV's sensor or its connection is probably faulty. The makers send you to service at this point:
- Samsung says to request service when a standard remote sends a signal but the TV does not react.
- Sony says that the TV may need repair.
- TCL says to contact its after-sales team for warranty service when the TV's remote sensor is defective.
- LG says that service fees may apply for an engineer visit if the TV is out of warranty.
A TV parts seller, TV Parts Today, says that the sensor is a separate small board on some TVs. On many newer TVs, it is part of the main board or the Wi-Fi board, so a repair can mean a larger part. Ask the service centre before you buy a part. If the TV is under warranty, contact the maker first, as TCL tells you to do.
Use the TV while the sensor does not work
A TV with a broken IR sensor still works. Only the infrared path is missing. You have three ways to control it.
A paired remote can still help. A Samsung Smart Remote uses Bluetooth, and an LG Magic Remote uses radio frequency. While such a remote is paired, most of its buttons probably do not need the IR sensor. If the link drops, only the infrared buttons are left, and these need the sensor. To pair a Samsung Smart Remote, Samsung tells you to point it at the remote sensor first, so pairing again can fail with a broken sensor.
The TV's own buttons work without the sensor. Samsung says that the Power button is usually in the centre, under the Samsung logo, and TCL says that its button is usually under or behind the TCL logo. Our guide on how to use a TV without its remote shows the menus that you can reach with it.
A phone app is the easiest way for everyday use. A smart TV on your Wi-Fi accepts commands from an app over the network, so the IR sensor does not matter. Tivi is a universal TV remote app for iPhone from Nefarius Apps. It finds the TVs on your Wi-Fi and controls Samsung, LG, Android TV and Google TV sets without an account. It has the arrows and OK, volume, mute, channels, play and pause, Home and Back. The free version runs the full remote on one TV. The iPhone and the TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Tivi does not control Roku, Fire TV or Apple TV devices.
A TV that is off has no network connection to the app. Turn the TV on with its Power button. On a Samsung or LG TV that Tivi connected to before, Turn On TV in the app can wake the TV over your home network. The TV's setting for this must be on: Power On with Mobile on a Samsung, Turn on via Wi-Fi on an LG. Turn On TV does not work for Android TV or Google TV.
The first connection needs one action on the TV. A Samsung TV asks you to allow the phone to connect. An LG TV shows a code that you type in the app, as the LG pairing PIN guide explains. Android TV and Google TV sets also show a code. On a Samsung with a broken sensor, answer the prompt with a paired Smart Remote, because it uses Bluetooth. For the full setup, read how to use your iPhone as a TV remote. If the TV does not appear in the app, go through the checklist for a TV that doesn't show up.
The short version
If the remote sends a signal but the TV does not react, the TV's IR sensor is the next thing to check. Test the remote with a camera, and on an iPhone hold it within 2 inches. Find the sensor on the bottom edge of the TV, and point at it, not at the light sensor. Remove what is in front of it, keep sunlight and bright lamps off it, and unplug the TV for 30 seconds.
If a soundbar covers the sensor, move it or use its IR repeater. On a 2022 Samsung, turn off new device notifications in SmartThings. If no IR remote works but the TV's buttons and a phone app do, the sensor is probably faulty: request service. Until then, use a paired remote, the TV's buttons or a phone app over Wi-Fi.
Common questions
What is an IR sensor on a TV?
An IR sensor is the receiver for the infrared light of the remote. It sits behind a small window, usually on the bottom edge of the TV below the screen. When you press a button, the remote sends a pattern of invisible light, and the sensor passes it to the TV as a command. Something in front of the window or bright light on it can stop the signal.
How do I know if my TV's remote sensor is broken?
The sensor is probably broken when the remote shows light in a camera test, a second IR remote also fails, and the TV still works with its own buttons and with a phone app over Wi-Fi. Before you decide, clear the path, turn off bright lamps, and unplug the TV for 30 seconds. If nothing changes, request service from the maker.
Why can't my iPhone camera see the remote's light?
iPhones have an IR filter on the camera, so the remote's light can be very weak or not visible. Sony says to hold the remote within 2 inches (5 cm) of the iPhone camera. Also test the camera with a second IR remote. On a Bluetooth remote, press the Power button, because some send infrared only from that button.
Why does my TV remote work only when I stand close to the TV?
Then probably too little infrared light reaches the sensor. Something can partly block the sensor, a bright lamp or sunlight can interfere, or the batteries can be low. Sony says that a dim light in the camera test can mean low batteries. Clear the path, turn off nearby lamps, and put in new batteries.
Sources
- Sony (2024). My infrared remote control does not work (archived).
- Sony (2024). Test if your remote control sends an infrared (IR) signal (archived).
- Sony (2019). The Infrared (IR) sensor on the TV does not appear to be working (archived).
- Sony (2021). The sound bar is blocking the IR sensor of the TV (archived).
- Samsung. Samsung remote is not working.
- Samsung (2026). Pair your Samsung Smart Remote to your Samsung TV.
- Samsung (2026). Samsung Smart TV remote control LED guide.
- LG (2026). How to troubleshoot an LG TV standard remote control that is not working.
- LG (2024). My remote control does not respond.
- LG (2026). What to do if the Magic Remote pointer doesn't appear (archived).
- TCL. How to troubleshoot your TCL Android TV remote control.
- TCL. What can I do if the TV remote does not work properly?
- TV Parts Today (2025). The IR sensor board: what it is and how to fix it.
- iFixit Answers (2017). Remote sensor doesn't work.
- Reddit r/hometheater (2023). Weird IR sensor issue with Samsung TV.