Watching TV or any form of couch entertainment would be impossible without a remote because it would require us to get up and manually change the channels, volume, or settings every time we want to watch something different. Remote controls have offered us a truly laid-back entertainment option by allowing us to control our devices from a distance with just a button click. We can easily switch between different sources of entertainment, such as cable, streaming, gaming, or DVD, without having to move from our comfortable spot. Even with smart TVs, remotes still hold a place of importance and are yet to be replaced. In fact, many companies offer smart TV remotes with voice and gesture controls, making the experience even more enjoyable.
While remotes do offer much better accessibility and ease of control, there are a few problems that usually occur with TV remotes. It can be annoying if the remote is not functioning properly or malfunctioning continuously. It will completely disrupt the experience and make you feel frustrated or irritated, especially if it’s your TV and you are missing out on the live scores or news updates because of it.
To avoid that, we have prepared this helpful guide on common problems and solutions for remotes. For this guide, we only focus on LG remotes since LG smart TVs are quite popular, and most buyers prefer smart TVs from LG. We strongly suggest you check out all of the information provided in this guide so that you can easily fix the problems with your LG remote.
Reasons Behind LG Remote Not Working
It is important to first get to the root of the problem and find out the reason why your LG TV remote is not working because different causes may require different solutions. If you do not know the exact reason, it is possible that you may end up wasting time with a fruitless solution. Worst case scenario, it might also create additional problems, and you certainly wish to avoid that. Also, knowing the reason can help you prevent the same problem from happening again in the future.
Here are some common reasons behind the LG remote not working properly.
- Out of Range: The remote may be out of range or not pointing directly at the TV. This can cause the signal to be weak or blocked, and the TV may not respond to the commands. The remote should be within 10 feet of the TV, and there should be no obstacles between the remote and the receiver on the TV.
- Dirty Remote: This can affect the buttons, the infrared sensor, or the circuit board inside the remote and prevent it from sending or receiving signals properly. The remote should be cleaned regularly with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner, and avoided from dropping or spilling liquids on it. If the remote is broken beyond repair, it may need to be replaced with a new one.
- Low Batteries: In most cases, low battery power in the remote can cause it to lose power or stop working altogether. The remote should have good quality batteries and be replaced periodically to ensure proper working of the remote. If there is a battery level indicator on the remote, you can also check if the batteries are low or not.
- Problems With Pairing: This can happen if the remote is reset or replaced, or if there is interference from other devices. This can create problems in the data transfer from the remote to your TV, causing misinput. This can also be because of outdated firmware, which causes the TV to malfunction or not recognize the remote commands.
How To Fix LG Remote?
Now that we are aware of the common problems with LG remote controls, let us look at the possible solutions for the problem. Depending on the cause of the issue, you may need to try one or more of the following methods to fix our LG TV remote:
1. Check the Batteries
The first and simplest thing to do is check whether the batteries are low or dead. You can do this by looking at the battery level indicator on the remote (if it has one) or by testing the remote with another device. If the batteries are low or dead, you must replace them with new ones.
2. Check the Remote’s IR Sensor
The IR sensor at the front of the remote sends signals to the TV. You must ensure the IR sensor is not blocked by the remote’s protective cover or casing. We can use a camera to check if the IR sensor emits light when we press a button. If not, we may need to clean it.
3. Check the TV’s IR Receiver
Similarly, you will find an IR receiver in front of the TV that receives signals from the remote. Here, you must ensure that the TV’s IR sensor is not blocked by dirt, dust, or any other object. We can use a digital or smartphone camera to see if the TV’s IR sensor is flashing when we press a button on the remote. If not, try cleaning it like the remote’s IR sensor with a cloth or mild cleaner.
4. Clean the Remote
Sometimes, dirt, dust, or liquids can get inside the remote, affecting its functionality. So, you should clean the remote regularly by wiping it with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner. You can also open the remote and clean the buttons, the circuit board, and the contacts with a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol. However, be careful not to damage any components while doing this.
5. Power Cycle the TV
Turning the TV OFF and ON can also fix some minor glitches or errors that prevent the remote from working properly, especially if the problem is caused by improper power supply. You need to unplug the TV from the power source, wait for a few seconds, and plug it back in. Then you can try using the remote again and see if it works.
6. Check With Different Remotes
Sometimes, the problem may not be with the LG TV remote but with the TV itself. To assess the same, you can check this by using a different remote that is compatible with the LG TV, such as another LG TV remote, a universal remote, or a smartphone app. If the different remote works fine with the TV, then you know that the TV remote is faulty and needs to be replaced.
7. Update TV Firmware
An outdated or corrupted firmware can certainly cause the TV to malfunction or not recognize remote commands altogether. So, We have to update our TV firmware regularly to ensure optimal performance and compatibility with our remote. You can do this by following the instructions on the screen or the LG website. If the firmware is corrupted, you may also need to reset or re-install it by following the LG website steps or contacting a professional technician.
8. Check With a Universal Remote
Even if your remote works fine before, some software or firmware updates can cause compatibility issues. Right now, it is possible that your LG TV remote may not be compatible with our TV or may have some functions that are not supported by the TV firmware. We can check this using a universal remote that can control multiple devices with one device. You must program the universal remote with the correct code for our LG TV. Then you can try using the universal remote and see if it works better than the LG TV remote.
9. Check For Physical Damage
If none of the solutions have worked out for you so far, it is possible that your LG TV remote may be physically damaged due to dropping, spilling liquids, or other accidents. You can check this by looking for any cracks, dents, or loose parts on the remote. If the remote is physically damaged, you may need to replace it with a new one or repair it by a professional technician.
10. Re-Pair the Remote
In most cases, an LG TV remote, especially the LG Magic Remote may lose its connection with our TV due to interference from other devices or resetting. In such a case, you must re-pair the remote with the TV by following the instructions on the screen or the LG website. This will allow the remote and the TV to communicate with each other again.
11. LG App
Another possible solution for fixing your LG TV remote, or rather bypassing the need of a remote entirely, is using the LG App on your smartphone or tablet. The LG App is a free application that allows you to control your LG TV and other LG devices with your mobile. You can download the LG App from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store based on your smartphone’s OS. To use the LG App, you need to connect your mobile device and your LG TV to the same Wi-Fi network. Then you can launch the LG App and follow the instructions to pair your mobile device with your LG TV.
Once paired, you can use your mobile device as a remote control for your LG TV. You can access various functions like power, volume, channels, settings, apps, and more. It also supports voice commands or gestures to control your LG TV with the LG App, which can be an upgrade over your previous remote. The LG App can be a convenient and easy way to control your LG TV without using a physical remote. However, you need to make sure that your mobile device and your LG TV are compatible with the LG App and that they are connected to the same Wi-Fi network for it to function.
Reset LG TV remote
For the standard LG TV remote, you can try to reset it by removing the batteries and putting them back in after a few minutes. This will power cycle the remote and clear any minor glitches. You may need to re-pair the remote with the TV afterwards by pointing it at the TV and pressing any button.
But, you must follow a procedure to reset the remote for the LG Magic Remote 2010 and 2011 versions.
- You can reset it by pressing and holding the OK and Mute buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
- The power light on the remote will blink three times to indicate a successful reset.
- Then you can re-pair the remote with the TV by pointing it at it and pressing the OK button.
Similarly, for the LG Magic Remote shipped after 2012:
- You can reset it by pressing and holding the Smart/Home and Back/Exit buttons simultaneously for about five seconds.
- The power light on the remote will blink to indicate a reset.
- Then you can re-pair the remote with the TV.
LG Remote Not Working – FAQs
Ans: If only a few buttons of your remote, like the power and volume buttons, are not working, it indicates physical damage to the buttons or some residue dust and first inside the remote, which is preventing contact between the button and the circuit board. It can also be caused by stuck buttons that are unable to break contact with the circuit board which is necessary to register the input. In any case, it would mean that the remote needs a repair, or in the worst-case scenario, a replacement.
Ans: LG Electronics warrants against defects in materials or workmanship with your new LG product under normal and proper use. However, the warranty does not cover damages caused by external factors. Therefore, LG may offer replacement for damaged remotes under warranty, unless the damage is due to a manufacturing defect. If your remote stops working suddenly without any external damage, you can attempt to claim a replacement from the company under the warranty period.
Ans: Stuck buttons on LG remote can be a common problem that can affect the functionality and usability of the remote. Sometimes, dirt, dust, or liquids can get inside the remote and cause the buttons to stick or jam. You can try to clean the remote by wiping it with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner. You can also open the remote and clean the buttons, the circuit board, and the contacts with a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol.
Ans: Generally, the remotes that are shipped with an LG TV are designed to be compatible only with the TV. However, opt for an additional or smart remote option, such as the Magic remote from LG. You may also find it useful for other LG hardware, such as soundbars, speakers, media players, etc. However, the remote’s compatibility depends on the remote’s type and the model of the LG hardware as well.
Conclusion
We hope you have managed to fix the problem with your LG remote after going through our guide and making your remote functional again. Remember that remotes are very fragile, especially the sensor on the device, which can easily get damaged by external impact. So, you should avoid any form of external damage to the remote as far as possible to maintain its functionality. You can also reach us via the comment section in case you still have any doubts about your LG TV remote, and we will try our best to answer your query with a satisfactory response.
