Just when you’re about to watch your favorite TV show…
Your TV stops working.
But upon further investigation…
You notice that your remote is the problem, not the LG TV itself.
However, you’re lucky.
Why?
Because it’s easy to fix LG remotes.
And I’ll help you do it.
Continue reading to find out:
- The reasons why LG remotes suddenly stop working.
- 7 quick solutions to make your LG TV remote work again.
- How you can download a virtual LG remote replacement on your phone.
- And much, much more…
Why is my LG TV remote not working?
Your LG TV remote isn’t working because its batteries are loose or dead. In some cases, obstacles or dust specks block your TV’s IR sensors making it unable to detect the remote. Sometimes, it can also happen because your TV is running on outdated firmware.
LG TV remote not working: 7 fixes
#1: Reset your remote
Most of the time, when LG TV remotes stop working…
The problem is due to minor factors, like loose battery connections.
So before you decide that you need to buy a new remote or batteries…
Check if a simple remote reset can fix the problem.
This is an easy process that you can do in just a few minutes.
But it has saved me tons of money from buying new batteries.
To reset your LG remote:
- Flip it over.
- Remove its back cover.
- Take the batteries out of the device.
- Wait for 10 seconds.
- Place the batteries back on your remote.
- Return its cover.
If you’re finding it hard to remove the back cover of your remote, you can watch this video:
#2: Replace your remote or its batteries
If your LG TV doesn’t turn ON using your remote…
Then most likely, its batteries are already dead.
But fret not. Remote batteries are cheap and easy to acquire.
Note: Replace both batteries with new ones. Don’t combine new and old batteries as they can still emit a weak signal.
To replace the batteries:
- Remove the battery cover of your remote.
- Take the batteries off.
- Insert the new batteries.
- Return the back cover of your remote.
Note: Ensure to match your battery’s + and – ends to the labels inside your remote.
Check if the remote is working again.
Ensure that the light indicator of your remote lights up whenever you press a button.
If it doesn’t…
The remote itself is the problem. And you might need to buy a new remote replacement.
#3: Remove obstacles between your TV and remote
It’s common to place displays and objects in front of your TV.
And while this is an entirely harmless act…
Placing an object in front of your TV’s IR sensor will prevent it from receiving signals from your remote.
“What’s an IR sensor?”
An IR sensor is a device used to detect infrared lights from its surroundings.
Your remote emits this type of light every time you press a button.
And your TV receives the signal through the IR sensor. That’s how your remote and TV communicate.
But unlike other wireless connections like Bluetooth and Wifi…
IR sensors need a direct view of the IR signal.
Which means…
You need to directly point your remote to the IR sensor of your TV.
If they can’t directly align with each other…
Signals won’t transmit properly or won’t transmit at all.
So to make sure your TV can detect your remote…
Here are the steps you can follow:
Step 1: Locate the IR sensor of your TV.
This is usually located in the bottom right corner of LG TVs.
Step 2: Remove any obstacles in front of the sensor.
Step 3: Grab your remote.
Step 4: Point your remote to the sensor.
Step 5: Press any button.
If your TV doesn’t respond to the remote despite having a clear line of sight…
#4: Check the IR sensors on both devices
Clearing any obstacles between the IR sensors of both devices won’t be enough to fix the problem if…
Either of the sensors is blocked with dust or dirt.
Although a speck of dust won’t directly affect your remote’s functionality…
Having dust build up over time can cause a significant signal blockage.
But fortunately, this issue is very easy to resolve.
All you need to do is clean both the IR sensors on your TV and your remote.
You can do this by using a clean towel or rag.
Once you finish cleaning both sensors…
Point your remote to the TV again and see if the device responds to the signals now.
You might also be interested in: Where Are LG TVs Made? 8 Countries Revealed
#5: Power cycle your TV
When your TV stops responding to its remote…
It’s easy to think that the remote is the problem.
But sometimes, this isn’t the case.
Like any other tech…
Your TV is also prone to minor bugs and glitches from constantly operating.
But the good thing is that it’s easy to remove these minor bugs.
All you need to do is power cycle your device.
But what’s power cycling in the first place?
It’s a fancy term with a simple meaning. And in short, it means to drain the power from your TV and power it up again.
The easiest way to do this is to unplug your TV from the outlet and plug it back again.
“What happens when I power cycle my TV?”
When you unplug your TV from its power source…
You allow it to stop all of its active and background tasks.
Believe it or not…
Some of them continue to run even when your TV is on standby mode.
And when these tasks become too much to handle…
Your TV can be too overwhelmed to accept any more commands.
Including very simple ones coming from your remote control.
But when you drain all of its power, even background tasks have no choice but to halt.
And if there are any glitches or bugs associated with these running apps…
They’ll be removed as well.
Power cycling lets your TV start fresh when you turn it ON again.
And I know everything it does can be intimidating…
But the process is much, much simpler than you think.
All you need to do is:
- Turn your TV OFF.
- Unplug it from the outlet.
- Hold the power button on the TV for 10 seconds.
- Wait for 3 minutes.
- Plug the cord back into the socket.
- Turn your TV ON.
Check to see if your TV now responds to your remote.
Editor’s pick: 15 Best LG Smart TV Apps
#6: Update your TV firmware
Do you remember the last time you updated your LG TV?
If you don’t…
Then it’s about time you do it again.
Updates are crucial in making your TV system run smoothly.
Because having outdated firmware makes your system prone to bugs…
And can even cause some of its functions to stop working.
Like what’s currently happening with your remote.
But the good thing is it’s effortless to update LG TVs.
All you have to do is access your remote…
Oh, wait, yours doesn’t work.
But fortunately, there’s an easy solution to this.
Did you know that there’s a mobile app that you can use as your LG TV remote?
If not…
Then it’s your lucky day.
Here’s how you can use your phone as a remote for your LG TV:
Step 1: Download the LG Smart ThinQ app (iOS and Android) on your phone.
On Android devices:
- Open the Play Store App on your phone.
- Search LG ThinQ.
- Tap Install.
- Wait for the installation to finish.
On iOS devices:
- On your phone, open the App Store.
- Tap the magnifying glass at the bottom right corner.
- On the top of the screen, click the search bar.
- Type LG ThinQ.
- Tap the GET option.
- Wait for the installation process to finish.
Step 2: Open the LG ThinQ App and turn ON your TV.
Step 3: On the top of your app’s screen, press the + button.
Step 4: Head to Home Appliances.
Step 5: Find the model of your LG TV.
Step 6: Wait for a verification code to appear on your TV.
Step 7: Enter the code in your app.
The app will now act as your virtual remote.
Check if your TV is responding to your phone.
If it is, you can even decide to settle with this virtual remote instead of fixing your current 1.
But well…
Having your phone act as your permanent remote isn’t convenient for long-term use, right?
While it can work as a temporary alternative…
It’s still much better to get your original remote working.
So let’s get back on track and use this virtual controller to update your TV.
Because a simple update might be able to get the physical 1 working again in no time.
To update LG TVs using webOS:
- Using your virtual remote, press Home/Smart.
- On the top-right corner of your screen, tap Settings.
- Select All Settings.
- Click General and choose About this TV from the choices.
- Tap CHECK FOR UPDATES.
- If there’s an update available, follow the on-screen instructions.
To update LG TVs using Netcast:
- On your virtual remote, tap Home/Start.
- At the bottom-left corner, select Settings.
- Go to the Others tab.
- Click Software update and turn the toggle ON.
- Select Check Update Version.
- If there are updates available, follow the instructions on your screen.
Note: The update process may take some time to finish. Don’t power OFF your device while the update is ongoing.
After updating your TV, try to…
#7: Register your remote again
Now that your TV is running on the latest version of its firmware…
It’s time to try to register your physical remote to the TV once more.
Don’t worry. This isn’t a lengthy process.
All you need to do is:
- Turn your TV ON.
- On your remote, press the Home and Back buttons simultaneously.
- Wait for the red lights to blink on your remote.
- Press the OK button on your remote.
A pop-up notification will appear to confirm that your remote has been registered.
At this point, it should already be working.
So if your remote still isn’t responding…
Bonus: It’s time to replace your remote
All technological pieces degrade over time.
And your LG TV remote isn’t an exception.
So if you’re still having problems…
It’s time to replace it with a new 1.
Fortunately, you can easily buy universal LG remote controls from Amazon.
It won’t cost you much, but it’ll make your streaming experience way more convenient.