Philips TV Remote Not Working (How to Fix)

You’re probably reading this article because your Philips TV remote is not working. You’re not alone since I have experienced this issue on different TV brands over the years.

In this article, I’ll provide an answer to why your Philips TV remote is not working and troubleshooting guides to fix this issue.

Why Is My Philips TV Remote Not Working?

If your Philips TV remote is not working, try replacing the batteries with a fresh pair. Low battery charges can often be the cause of this issue. Simply swapping the batteries can help you determine if that’s the reason for the problem.

Most of the time, your TV remote might not be working because the batteries in it have run out of charge. Other times, your remote might not be working because of interference with the IR sensor on the TV.

The IR sensor receives the signal from the remote control’s IR blaster. So interference will prevent the signal from reaching the TV.

If your remote is functioning but some of the buttons are not responding, or are responding infrequently, this guide is also for you. Here are some troubleshooting steps to fix this issue.

How to Fix Philips TV Remote Not Working?

1. Perform an IR Test

The first troubleshooting step is to perform an IR signal test on the remote to see if it is sending out signals to the TV.

For this method, you’ll need to use your smartphone’s camera since most smartphone cameras can detect infrared light. Here’s how:

1. Open the camera app on your smartphone.
2. Point the end of the remote with the IR emitter directly towards the camera.
3. Then, press and hold the power button on the remote.
4. On your phone’s camera app, you should see a light being emitted from the remote.

If you see this light when you press the power button or any other button on the remote, then the IR signal is working properly.

If you can hardly see the light or it is flickering, then this indicates that you need a new set of batteries.

2. Replace Remote Batteries

After you have performed an IR test, the next step is to insert a fresh set of batteries into the remote control. If the batteries in your remote have run out of charge, then it’ll be impossible to send an IR signal to the TV.

All you have to do is flip over the remote, remove the current batteries by opening the battery compartment, and then insert new ones.

If you have replaced your remote batteries and it still doesn’t work, move on to the next step.

3. Power Cycle Philips TV and Remote

The next troubleshooting step is to power cycle your Philips TV and the remote control. TV manufacturers like Philips will advise you to perform a power cycle since it is known to fix minor issues such as this one.

You will need to first perform the power cycle on your TV, and then the remote. Here’s how:

Power Cycle Philips TV

1. First, use the power button on the TV to shut it down.
2. Next, unplug the TV from the wall outlet.
3. Leave the TV unplugged for 60 seconds. During this time, you can press and hold the power button on the TV for a few seconds.
4. Replug the TV into the wall outlet, power it on, and see if the issue has been resolved with the remote.

Power Cycle TV Remote

1. First, remove the batteries from the remote.
2. With the batteries removed, carefully press each button on the remote and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
3. Re-insert the batteries into the remote and see if it works.

4. Remove Interference

Another reason why your Philips TV remote is not working after following all these steps is that there is some kind of interference preventing the signal from reaching your TV.

Even if no solid obstructions are disrupting the IR signal, some light sources, such as fluorescent sources, can interfere with IR signals. The solution will be to switch the light off and see if it works.

Also, make sure other devices that transmit electronic signals are not near your TV since they might be receiving the signal instead of your TV.

If you discover that there is no interference preventing your remote from working, move to the next solution.

5. Reset Philips TV Remote

At this point, if none of the above troubleshooting steps have solved the issue with your remote, then you’ll need to reset the remote.

Here’s how to reset your Philips TV remote:

1. First, power on your Philips TV and make sure it is on TV mode.
2. Next, press the OK and MUTE buttons on the remote simultaneously for about 5 seconds.
3. Now, press the OK button to proceed.

6. Contact Customer Support

If the remote is still not working, then it is time to reach out to Philips customer service for more help.

There are situations where there might be an issue with the IR sensor in the TV. In this case, contacting customer service will provide direct assistance and potential warranty eligibility.

Final Thoughts

To fix Philips TV remote, first, perform an IR signal test and change the batteries. Then, power cycle your TV and remote, and remove any IR interference.

Before going for a replacement remote for your Philips TV ensure to contact customer service for possible warranty eligibility.