Philips TV Remote Not Working? Here’s How We Fix It

If your Philips TV remote is not working with new batteries, you may think that the remote has become dead. Actually, the remote issue occurs for simple reasons like signal obstructions, stuck buttons, etc. Before you throw your Philips TV remote out of the window, we suggest you try some workarounds given in this article.

Before explaining troubleshooting methods, we have outlined the predominant issues faced by Philips TV users on their remotes.

Issues	Cause	Fixes
Philips TV responds to the remote only after multiple clicks	Remote signals blocked	Remove the objects from the remote signal path
The remote has slow responsiveness	Poor batteries in the remote	Replace the remote batteries
TV fails to receive commands from the remote	Residual power in the Philips TV	Power cycle the Philips TV
One or more buttons on the remote are unresponsive	Accumulation of dust between the button gaps	Clean the Philips TV remote
The remote gets unpaired on its own	Technical glitches in the remote	Reset the Philips TV remote
The remote is completely dysfunctional	Damages in the remote’s hardware components	Repair or replace the Philips TV remote

Remove the Obstructions

Ensure there shouldn’t be any blocking objects between the remote and the receiver to control your Philips TV without interruptions. Keep devices like baby monitors and radio transmitters a little away from the remote functional range as they can distract signals. Then, aim the remote at your Philips TV and check if it works. If not, try the next method to rectify it.

Use the Remote in a Philips TV Range

Philips TV can only receive remote signals from a range of fewer than 30 feet. If you operate the remote from a long-range, the remote signals cannot reach the Philips TV. So, know the exact functional range by looking into the user manual. Also, operate the remote in a direct line of sight for flawless control of your Philips TV. Then, see whether the Philips TV remote is working. If not, try the next fix.

Check the Remote Batteries

Batteries are the life component of the Philips TV remote. Poor or bulged batteries are useless, as they cannot be used to control the Philips TV. So, open the remote’s battery compartment and test whether the batteries have adequate charge. If they are weak, replace them with new AAA batteries. Then, check whether the Philips TV is responding while pressing the buttons on the remote. If it doesn’t work, move on to the next fix.

Power Cycle the Philips TV

Occasionally, you may find the Philips TV not responding to the remote buttons. This happens if the Philips TV hasn’t been turned off properly, paving the way for storing residual power. To resolve this, power cycle the Philips TV.

• Click the TV Power button on the panel once to turn it off.
• Remove the TV cord from the electric socket.
• Wait until the TV power gets drained completely.
• Then, plug the TV cord back into the electric socket.
• Press and release the TV Power button, and your Philips TV will turn on.

Aim the remote towards your Philips TV and press the Volume or Channel keys. If it doesn’t respond, jump to the next solution.

Clean the Philips TV Remote

It is hard to control the TV if your remote is covered with dust or floating particles. Since you leave the remote in an open zone, the dust will settle on the remote’s IR emitter or the button gaps. Gradually, it will block remote signals and affect its functions. Hence, clean the remote sensor and buttons.

Pick a soft cloth dipped in isopropyl alcohol solution and gently wipe all the dust from the IR sensor and buttons. If you can, disassemble the remote’s shell and wipe the button gaps and boards. This helps the Philips TV remote to function properly. If the Philips TV remote is still not working, try the next fix.

Re-pair the Philips TV Remote

When you leave the Philips TV remote unused, it may automatically unpair from the TV. In that case, you can’t control the Philips TV until you pair it again.

• Pair Philips Saphi TV remote – Hold the Pair button on the remote → Release it if a light around the microphone button flashes.
• Pair Philips Google TV remote – Hold the Home and Back buttons on a remote → The remote will pair with the Philips TV.
• Pair Philips Android TV remote – Hold the Pair button on the remote → Once the light around the microphone key flashes, release the Pair button to complete pairing.
• Pair Philips Titan OS TV remote – Hold the Pair or Sources button on the remote → Once a blue light around the Mic button flashes, release the Pair button.
• Pair Philips Roku TV remote – Hold the Pairing button on the remote’s battery compartment → Release the Pairing button when the remote’s LED light flashes.

Test Remote’s IR Sensor and Buttons

In some cases, the remote’s IR sensor may have been damaged. Luckily, you can identify the issue using your smartphone’s camera. Launch the Camera app and point the Philips TV remote facing the rear camera. Press the remote Power button and see if the light is visible through the camera. If not, the remote’s IR is damaged. Likewise, press other buttons. If you can’t see the light while pressing certain buttons, those buttons may have a problem working.

Update the Philips TV Remote

Some Philips TV remotes need to be updated for proper functioning. To. Using the Philips TV remote app or a wireless keyboard or mouse, you can access the TV settings and update the remote.

• Update Philips Saphi/Android/Titan TV remote – Go to Settings → Click All Settings → Choose Wireless and networks → Tap Remote Control → Tap Update remote control software.
• Update Philips Google TV remote – Launch Settings → Click Remote & Accessories → Select Remote control settings → Tap Update remote control.

Note: Like others, you can’t update the Philips Roku TV remote. Instead, update the TV firmware to fix remote problems.

Reset the Philips TV Remote

If the mentioned methods above don’t fix the issue, try resetting the Philips TV remote based on its model.

• Reset Philips Google TV remote – Turn off the Philips TV and pop-out batteries from the remote → Wait for 1-2 minutes → Hold the Home button and insert batteries into the remote → Release the Home button if the remote’s LED light goes off.
• Reset Philips Android TV remote – Power off the TV and remove its cord from the socket → Wait for a few minutes → Plug the TV cord into the socket and long-press the Power button.
• Reset Philips Roku TV remote – After turning off the TV, remove its cord from the socket → Remove batteries from the remote → Plug the TV cord into the power socket and turn on the TV → When the TV logo loads, insert the batteries into the remote → Hold the pairing button on the remote.

Note: There is no way to reset the Philips TV Titan/Saphi remote. However, you can still delete the remote pairing history by factory resetting the Philips TV.

Contact Philips TV Customer Support

If the Philips TV remote is not working due to physical damage, it is better to visit the nearest Philips TV service center. Submit the remote and ask them to identify the cause and replace the remote’s faulty components. You can request a replacement remote if your Philips TV comes under an active warranty. For more details regarding customer service, visit its official website.

Try These Remote Alternatives

If you feel spending extra bucks for a remote is unnecessary, try these methods to control your Philips TV.

• Use the TV buttons – Most Philips TVs have physical buttons, which you can see on the side or bottom of the TV panel. Using these buttons, you can change TV channels, adjust the volume, access the menu, etc.
• Use the Remote Apps – Install the Philips TV remote app on your phone and link your TV. For successful pairing, Philips TV and phone should be on the same WiFi network. Then, using virtual buttons, you can control your Philips TV.
• Plug a Keyboard or Mouse – Philips TVs support connecting a wireless keyboard and mouse. Once you plug in a USB dongle, you will get an air mouse control. You can use it to manage the Philips remote functions.

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