How to Fix Sony TV Remote Not Working [9 Fixes]

The remote control unit is an essential piece of equipment for many devices, including the TV. As and when a TV remote fails to work, it becomes difficult to perform select functions. Nowadays, there are almost no buttons present on the TV to be able to control various functions, hence having a functioning remote is essential.

If you have a Sony TV and its remote is not functioning for some particular reason, check out the troubleshooting methods to fix Sony TV remote not working.

Sony TV Remote Not Working – Try These Fixes

Before we delve into the various troubleshooting methods that you need to follow to fix the Sony TV remote that is not working, let’s take a look at the various reasons why the remote might not be working.

Why Does My Sony TV Remote Not Work?

TV remotes as you should know is a very delicate device that needs to be handled with care. Mishandling the remote can cause the internal parts of the remote to come loose and break.

Additionally, if you have a smart remote for your TV, software or even sync-related issues can cause the remote to not function properly.

Now that you know the various reasons why your Sony TV remote might not be working.

Let’s take a look at the various troubleshooting fixes that you can follow to solve the issue of the Sony TV remote not working.

Check Your Sony TV Remote’s Batteries

The batteries are the main functioning components of any remote or drive out there. Ensure that the batteries inserted in the remote are fresh and in working condition. Apart from that you need to make sure that the batteries are inserted in the right polarity. Here are some important things about the batteries for your Sony TV remote.

Do not mix different brands of batteries.
Do not use rechargeable batteries for your remotes.
Ensure that the batteries are not swelling or leaking internal material.
Do not mix new and used batteries for the Sony TV remote.

Clean The Sensor Points Of The Remote and TV Unit

A lot of remotes are usually infrared ones. Because infrared remotes require a clear line of sight between the sender and receiver points, check that there is no dirt or dust on both sides.

If there is any dirt or dust, it will block the infrared rays. To solve this, take a soft and dry cloth and clean up the contact points on your TV as well as your remote.

Manually Power Cycle Your Sony TV

Electronic devices tend to have some sort of an issue at times. This is common and usually, a simple reboot or restart of the TV should just work fine. To do this follow these steps.

Make sure your TV is plugged into the power outlet.
Now, press the power button to switch the TV on. These buttons are present either at the sides or at the rear of the TV.
Press the power button again to switch the TV off.
Disconnect the plug from the power outlet and leave it that way for 1 to 2 minutes.
Once the time has passed by, plug it back in and then switch it on using the remote.
The TV remote should now work properly.

If the TV remote does not work, you will need to try out the other troubleshooting methods that we have mentioned below.

Ensure That The Remote is Not Broken

The Sony TV remote is a delicate piece of equipment. When the remote falls there are possibilities of the remote suffering internal damages. So it is best to check whether the remote is functioning or not.

To do this, put fresh batteries in the remote and open up the camera app on your smartphone. Now point the TV remote to your smartphone’s camera.

When you press a button, you should see a red light flash through the infrared sensor port. If there is no red light, that means the remote is broken and you need to replace the broken Sony TV remote with a newer Sony TV remote.

Reset Your Sony TV Remote Control

Now, we do know that most of the remotes out there are infrared models. While smart remotes can reset themselves, infrared remotes do not have any reset options software-wise. However, you can manually perform a type of reset for your remotes. Here are the steps.

First, remove the batteries from the Sony TV remote.
Now, press all the buttons on the remote to discharge any type of power remaining in the Sony TV remote.
Now, insert new batteries into the remote and then test the Sony TV remote out. It should be working fine.

If the remote still doesn’t respond to the button presses, then you might have to get a new remote for your Sony TV.

Keep Some Distance Between Yourself and The Sony TV

Infrared remotes are disengaged at work within a specific range. The ideal range for an infrared Sony TV remote to work is between 3 feet and 10 feet. So make sure you stand within that distance to operate the TV remote.

Also, make sure to not have any other objects in the line of sight between yourself and the Sony TV. Objects such as plants and other wireless devices could also interfere with the infrared connection between the remote and the TV.

Update Your Sony TVs Firmware

Firmware updates are known to fix bugs and issues for your device. In the case of Sony TVs that run on Android or Google TV OS, firmware updates can be easily checked and installed on your Sony Smart TV.

We have a dedicated guide on how you can update your particular Sony TV to the latest firmware version. Once your firmware has been updated to the latest version, you can check and see if the updates

Factory Reset Your Sony TV

If none of the troubleshooting methods work, the best solution that you can try is to perform a factory reset. The factory reset solution will work in case you are using a Sony TV remote that works either on wifi or Bluetooth connectivity.

We have a dedicated guide on how you can perform a factory reset of your Sony TV. Once you perform a factory reset, your Sony TV remote should be working just as fine.

Just Get A New Remote

At the end of the day, you might have to get yourself a brand-new Sony TV remote. However, if there is no chance of getting an original remote for your particular Sony TV, you may have to go and get yourself a universal remote that will work with almost any brand and model of TV. These universal remotes require simple programming and you can easily get it done within 2 minutes or less.

If you have questions or queries, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. If you have some other solution or troubleshooting method that might work, you can freely comment on those solutions in the comments section below.

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