RCA Smart TV Remote Not Working: Causes & DIY Fixes
RCA TV is the most affordable smart TV brand that offers a variety of TV models with exciting features at a low price. Besides being the best brand, there may be times the remote may not work properly. In any such scenario, you don’t need to buy a new replacement remote or universal remote immediately. Instead, you can perform basic troubleshooting and fix the RCA TV Remote Not Working issue by yourself.
Why is RCA Smart TV Remote Not Working?
The RCA TV remote app may fail to work for the following reasons.
| SCENARIO | CAUSES |
|---|---|
| 1 | Remote batteries may be weak, or it is no longer functioning |
| 2 | Remote or remote buttons may be damaged and cannot be used |
| 3 | The uncleared signal path between the remote and the TV |
| 4 | If there is an issue with your IR sensor, your TV won’t be able to receive inputs from the remote. |
How to Troubleshoot RCA TV Remote Not Working
If your RCA Smart TV remote is not working, try the below-mentioned troubleshooting ideas to fix it.
Check and Replace the Batteries
Drained or weak batteries are the main reason for the RCA TV remote not working. It is mandatory to check and replace the remote batteries if they are poor or weak. Remove the battery cover first, and insert the pair of new batteries in the battery compartment. Make sure to insert batteries based on their positive and negative polarities. Finally, replace the battery cover and check whether the remote is working.
Clear the Obstructions
As the RCA TV remote works by sending IR signals to the sensor, you must operate the remote in a direct line of sight. If there is an object or furniture in between the TV and the remote, the remote won’t work. Therefore, remove such objects and ensure that there is no obstruction. Also, remember that the optimum range for operating the remote is less than 30 feet. Check if RCA TV remote sensor not working issue is sorted out. If not, follow the other fixes below.
Clean the Remote Buttons
In some cases, dirt or dust on the remote may be the reason for the RCA TV remote not working. As a result, the dirt even goes inside the button, causing buttons to stuck inside. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the RCA TV remote with proper alcohol cleaners. Also, remove the batteries from the RCA TV remote and keep pressing all the buttons one by one to fix if the buttons are jammed inside.
Check the IR Signal
Since the remote uses the IR emitter, you should ensure that the RCA TV remote sensor isn’t blocked. If it happens to be blocked, you will find the RCA Roku remote not working issue. To fix this, on your smartphone, open the Camera app and point the remote’s IR emitter head towards the camera. Then, press the remote button to see whether there is a blinking light. If the light blinks, there is no issue with the remote. Otherwise, you should repair the remote or buy a replacement remote.
Power Cycle the Remote
Sometimes, the RCA TV may encounter an unexpected error that causes the remote to not work. So, power cycling the RCA TV helps to fix the issue.
- Take your RCA TV remote and remove the batteries from its compartment.
- Press and hold the Power button for about 15 seconds. This helps to drain all the power residuals on the remote.
- After a minute, insert the batteries back in and check whether the remote is functioning.
Note: If power cycling the remote doesn’t work, it is better to reset the RCA TV without a remote.
Pair the RCA TV Remote
The RCA TV remote needs to be paired before you control any device. If the remote does not pair properly, the TV will not respond to the remote. In such a case, you can repair the remote. To pair the RCA TV, you just need to insert the batteries and press any button on your remote and this will pair your RCA remote to the TV. You have to use RCA TV universal remote codes if you want to pair a universal remote.
Contact RCA Support
If the above-mentioned ways do not work out or fail to fix the issue, then you can contact the RCA team directly and explain the issue that you’re facing. They will help you to fix all kinds of problems you have with the RCA remote.
Alternative Fix
If the RCA TV remote is defective or broken due to physical damage, the only way is to buy a new RCA TV remote. Besides using the original remote, you can also use the universal remote or you can use the RCA TV remote app to control your TV.
FAQ
You can use the RCA TV physical button at the back or use the RCA Remote app to control your TV without using the remote.
