Troubleshoot your DirecTV Remote if it’s not working

The DirecTV remote will not work if it is not programmed properly to control the required devices, or if the box’s firmware is no longer valid. Try resetting the remote and DirecTV box to their default settings, as this will refresh all the affected modules.

Before diving into the troubleshooting process, ensure that the remote, DirecTV box, and other accessories (TV, soundbar, etc.) are compatible with each other.

1. Perform a cold restart of the DirecTV box and connected devices.

If your DirecTV remote stops working, one possible reason could be that the input modules of the box or connected devices are in an error state, and residual current on the components prevents the modules from restarting properly.

To fix this issue, perform a cold restart of the DirecTV box and any connected devices. By doing so, you will reset the components and clear any errors that might be causing the problem.

1. Power off the DirecTV box and connected devices.
2. Unplug their power cables and wait for a minute.

   

3. Plug the power cables back in and turn on the devices. Check if the DirecTV remote is working.

2. Try new batteries.

Another reason your DirecTV remote might not be working could be due to drained or nearly drained batteries that cannot provide enough current for the remote to operate properly. To resolve this issue, replace the batteries in the remote with new ones.

Always make sure to use good-quality batteries and check the battery compartment for any signs of corrosion or debris that might interfere with the battery contacts.

1. Dislodge the cover of the remote’s battery compartment and remove the old batteries.
2. Insert new AA batteries into the remote according to the diagram shown in the compartment, and close the battery compartment cover. Check if the remote is operating properly.

   

3. Insert a piece of tin foil on top of the batteries.

If the spring in the battery compartment of the DirecTV remote is permanently compressed and doesn’t return to its required position, it can prevent the battery from making a proper connection with the remote, causing the remote to malfunction.

In this case, you can insert a small piece of tin foil on top of the battery to help establish the necessary connection. By doing so, you can potentially fix the issue and get your remote working again. However, it’s important to be cautious when using tin foil, as improper placement could cause a short circuit.

1. Dislodge the cover of the battery compartment and remove the batteries from the compartment.
2. Place a piece of tin foil on one side of the compartment, and then insert the batteries back in. Make sure a proper connection is established.

   

3. Place the compartment’s cover back on and check if the remote is operating properly.

4. Update the firmware of the TV.

A TV with outdated firmware will not be compatible with your DirecTV box and its remote. In this case, updating the TV’s firmware will solve the problem. To update the firmware for Sony Google TV models, follow these steps:

1. Open Quick Settings and navigate to Settings > System > About > System Software Update.

   

2. Enable the automatic check for software updates, and if an update appears, install it.
3. Once done, check whether the remote is working with the TV.

5. Use the ‘Clear My Box’ command.

If your DirecTV box takes a long time to respond to remote commands, ranging from a few seconds to minutes, it could be due to an overloaded cache and data buffers within the box.

To resolve this issue, you can use the “Clean My Box” command to clear the cache and improve the box’s performance. By doing this, you should notice a significant improvement in the responsiveness of your DirecTV box to remote commands.

1. Press the Menu button and navigate to Search & Browse > Smart Search.
2. Press the Select button and enter the following code:

   CLEARMYBOX

   

3. Press the “Select” button and highlight “All.
4. Press the Select button and wait until the box reboots. It may take more time than usual.
5. Upon restarting, check if the DirecTV Remote is working properly.

6. Reset the DirecTV remote.

If your DirecTV remote stops working due to invalid firmware, it might cause issues with sending commands or make them incomprehensible to the receiving device. In this situation, resetting the DirecTV remote can help resolve the problem.

By resetting the remote, you will restore it to its default settings, which can often fix any firmware-related issues and allow the remote to function properly once again.

1. Press and hold the following buttons until the green lights flash three times:

   Mute
   
   Select

2. Press the following buttons, and the remote will flash four times to complete the reset process:

   9
   
   8
   
   1
   
   Select

   

3. Once finished, check if the remote is working properly. The remote will be in IR mode, and you will need to program it to work with different devices (discussed later).

7. Reset the DirecTV box to factory defaults.

If your DirecTV box is unable to process signals from the remote due to corrupted firmware or improperly functioning essential modules, you can resolve this issue by resetting the box to its factory defaults.

Before performing a reset, ensure you back up any important data or information stored on the box, as the process will erase all existing settings and content. Once the box is reset, it should restore the proper functioning of the essential modules, allowing it to process the remote’s signals correctly.

1. Locate the red reset button on the box. It can be on the side of the receiver or inside the access panel.

   

2. Press and hold the reset button until the receiver restarts.
3. Once the process is complete and a picture appears on the screen, reset the box again.
4. Wait till the process is complete. This may take longer than usual.
5. Once completed and the “Hello, Your DirecTV Receiver” screen appears, press 02468 on the remote a few times.
6. A software download screen should appear. Wait until the process is complete. If the Running Receiver Self-Check screen appears, repeat the steps above to initiate a new software download.
7. Once completed, reset the remote (discussed earlier) and press/hold the following buttons on the remote until the remote’s LED begins to blink:

   Mute
   
   Enter

8. Point the remote at your DirecTV receiver to enable RF lock for the remote and that specific box, then press the volume up button.
9. Follow the prompts on the screen to program your remote to control the TV and soundbar. Check whether the remote is functioning properly.

8. Reset your TV to the factory defaults.

Your TV will not respond to the DirecTV remote if the TV’s firmware is missing essential modules. In this case, resetting your TV to factory defaults will resolve the issue. Before resetting the TV, make sure to back up any information or data on it. To reset a Bravia TV:

1. Press the Home button and navigate to Settings > Device Preferences > Reset > Factory Data Reset.
2. Select “Erase Everything” and wait until the process is complete.

   

3. Once completed, set up the TV according to your requirements and check if the remote is operating correctly.

9. Reprogram the DirecTV remote.

In case your remote is successfully controlling the DirecTV box but not your TV or any other accessories, such as a soundbar, it’s possible that the remote has lost its programming or was never programmed correctly. To resolve this issue, you’ll need to reprogram your remote to control the TV or other accessory.

1. First, check if your remote has a slider to select the device.
   Make sure it is set to the required position, i.e., DirecTV, AV1, AV2, or TV. If you are trying to control the TV, the slider should be on the TV.

   

2. If that is not the case, reset the remote (discussed earlier) and go to Settings > System > Remote and Devices > Program Remote > Choose TV.
3. Click on Manual and input the TV model.
4. Follow the prompts to complete the process and check if the remote is working.

If that fails and you want to use code to pair with the remote, please follow these instructions:

1. Hold the Mute and Select buttons until the green light blinks twice.
2. Now enter the 5-digit code.
3. Enter the first number, and wait a bit until the LED blinks twice.
4. Enter the rest of the code normally. The LED will blink twice at the end of the process. Check if the remote is working.

However, the problem lies in finding the 5-digit code. If the code is incorrect, the remote will either not function at all or only some functions will work. You will need to find the code that enables all the remote functions to work. That code can be found either in the remote’s manual or by searching the Internet.

Here is a list of codes that have worked for different people in various circumstances; you can try them to see if they work for you as well:

• 11756
• 12434
• 11423
• 12049
• 11524
• 11864
• 11756
• 12434
• 12051
• 00056
• 11758
• 10083
• 10650
• 10250,
• 11454
• 10060
• 11756

If a particular button is not working (e.g., volume fails to control the TV), you can program another button on the remote to control volume. To do this, you will need to consult the manual that came with the remote or visit the DirecTV website.

If you have a newer Genie remote, the process of reprogramming becomes a bit simpler.

1. Navigate to Settings > Remote Control > IR/RF Setup > RF Setup.

   

2. Once you reach the 2-minute countdown screen, point the remote away from the box and hold the following buttons until you see 2 green flashes:

   Mute
   
   Select

3. Press 961 and then press the Channel Up button.
4. Press Enter and navigate to Menu > Settings > Remote Control > Pair/Program Remote.

   

5. Select your TV and model. The codes will be transmitted to the remote. Check if the remote is working properly.
6. If not, repeat the above steps; however, after pressing 961, press the channel down button and check if the remote works at the end of the process.

10. Clean the DirecTV remote.

If dust, debris, or rust has accumulated under the remote’s buttons, either the remote or some of its buttons will stop working. In this case, cleaning the DirecTV remote will solve the problem. If your remote is under warranty or a protection plan, it would be better to take advantage of that service.

It would be better to take pictures of the circuitry at each step, as it will make reassembly easier.

1. Dislodge the cover of the battery compartment and remove the batteries from the remote.

   

2. Remove any screws from the remote casing (if present) and disengage the casing locks.

   

    
3. Remove the remote casing and clean the PCB with an electrical contact cleaner (such as isopropanol). If a contact cleaner is not available, opt to use a pencil eraser, especially under those buttons which are not working.
   If a button point looks physically damaged, you may place tin foil on that point and press it against the remote body, or superglue it on the edges only. Make sure the glue does not reach any connection points.

   

4. Clean the remote’s rubber buttons and reassemble the remote.

   

5. Place the batteries back, and hopefully, the remote will work properly.

If none of the above worked, then either the remote is faulty or the receiver/TV has problems with connectivity. You can test another remote with your setup or try the remote in use with another setup. In the case that the remote is faulty, you will need a replacement remote.

Until then, you can use a mobile app (such as the DirecTV app) to work as a remote control for your setup. If the problem is with the receiver or TV, have them checked at an authorized service center.