If your Dish remote control is not working properly, it may be due to various reasons. Unless the Dish remote has any physical damage, you can solve other remote issues with some fixes. This guide unveils the practical solutions you can undertake to bring the Dish remote back to working.
Below are some of the common factors that affect your Dish remote functionality. This will help you prevent unexpected issues with the remote.
| Problems | Reasons | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| The dish remote is completely unresponsive | The Dish remote batteries might be weak or drained completely | Replace the Dish remote batteries |
| Other than the Power button, no buttons are responding | The Dish remote might not be properly paired | Re-pair the Dish remote |
| The Dish remote is working only at a particular angle | Any obstructions between your Dish and remote might block the signal | Clear the obstructions present between your Dish and the remote |
| Dish remote keeps unpairing after a particular time | Any software issues on the remote | Unpair and repair or reset your Dish remote |
| The dish remote is unresponsive and emits no light even after changing the batteries. | There might be any damage to the IR sensor or the remote panel. | Repair or replace your Dish remote |
Use the Right Dish Remote
If you are using multiple Dish receivers in your home and the remote control for all of them looks similar, you will be confused easily. So, if the remote is not responding properly other than the Power button, there is a possibility that you are using the wrong remote to control a particular receiver.
To find your remote, you need to press the Locate Remote button on the front of the receiver. This will make the remote control paired with the receiver, and as a result the remote will beep repeatedly. This step helps you find the correct remote control.
However, pressing the Locate Remote button and identifying your remote every time might frustrate you. As an alternative, pasting a sticker with a number or a room name on your remotes will prevent you from being confused.
Check the Remote Batteries
One of the basic reasons for the remote not working might be due to weak batteries. So, remove the batteries from your remote, wait for a few minutes, and place them again correctly by watching the positive or negative polarities. If the remote is not responding again, replace the old batteries with a new one.
Usually, a dish remote requires 2 batteries. For some models, you need 4 batteries to use the remote. Thus, replacing the batteries periodically will help you to prevent this kind of issue when you are in the middle of a show.
Remove the Signal Obstructions
Generally, when using an IR remote, you should be within a particular range so that the remote signals will reach your receiver. Hence, always point your remote towards your TV and use your remote within a 10 ft range.
If your Dish remote is working only at a particular angle, there is an obstruction blocking the remote signals from transmitting to the receiver. So, clear all obstructions like the table, chair, or any other objects that block the signal. Also, clear the dirt or dust on the IR sensor on your remote and the receiver.
Pair the Dish Remote
If you are a new user of Dish or you recently bought a replacement remote, only the Power buttons will work until you pair it. If you are facing this issue on your old remote, the remote might have been accidentally unpaired. By repairing your remote with your Dish receiver, you can solve this not working issue.
1. Make sure your TV is turned on to pair your remote with the Dish receiver.
2. Press the System Info button on the front side of your Dish receiver once.
3. Then, hit the SAT button on your remote.
4. Press the Cancel or Back button to complete the pairing process.
Once your remote gets paired successfully, the System Info screen on your TV will disappear.
Reset the Dish Remote
If your Dish remote volume is not working even after pairing it with your receiver, resetting it will fix the issue.
1. Hit the SAT button on your Dish remote once.
2. Then, on the front panel of your Dish receiver, press the System Info button.
3. Press the SAT button on your Dish remote again.
After performing a reset, you need to pair your Dish remote with your receiver once again. Then, check if it works. If the Dish remote doesn’t work, try the next fix.
Inspect the Dish Remote’s IR Emitter
Inspect all sides of your Dish remote and look for signs of physical damage. Due to an accidental fall, there is a chance that the Dish remote’s IR emitter can become dysfunctional. To confirm whether the IR emitter of your remote is damaged or not, you need to check it using your phone’s camera app.
To do that, launch the camera app on your smartphone and point your remote’s IR emitter towards the rear camera. Then, press the Power button on the remote and verify whether you can see a light through the camera app. If there is no light, you can confirm that your remote’s IR emitter is damaged. In that case, you can take your remote to a nearby service station and repair or replace the remote.
Contact Dish Customer Support
If there is no physical damage and none of the troubleshooting methods fix the remote issue, contact Dish customer support. Visit the official customer support page of Dish, and you can ask your query using the Chatbot.
You can also speak with the Dish customer executive by dialing 800-333-3474. Once they diagnose the Dish remote, they will tell you what to do next. If your Dish remote is under active warranty, you can ask them for a free replacement remote.
Use Remote Alternatives
Until you repair or replace your Dish remote, you can try these remote alternatives to control your Dish receiver and remote.
- Control using the physical buttons on the receiver: A few Dish receiver models come with built-in control buttons. Using those buttons, you can control your Dish receiver using the Power, Select, and navigation buttons.
- Use the DISH OnePoint app: If you are an iPhone user, you can control your Dish receiver without a remote using the DISH OnePoint app. You can get this app via the Apple App Store. Once installed, you need to link your receiver with the app. To do so, ensure your Dish receiver and the phone are on the same WiFi.
If your Dish remote has become very old and often encounters issues, it is better to buy a universal remote. Otherwise, you can consider using remote alternatives.
