TV remotes often unpair due to various factors such as pending updates, depleted batteries, physical damage, poor internet connection, and distance between the TV and remote. This recurring issue leads consumers to prefer TV brands offering both smart and infrared remotes, providing an alternative when pairing fails. While smart remotes offer extensive functionalities, their susceptibility to unpairing prompts users to troubleshoot rather than discard them. Understanding the common culprits behind unpairing is essential for effective problem-solving.
1). Pending Updates
Regular firmware updates are crucial for Smart TVs, improving functionality and security while addressing glitches. TVs often update automatically, but manual checks ensure no updates are missed, reducing the risk of unpairing issues.
2). Defective Updates
Software updates can backfire, causing malfunctions in TVs and rendering remotes unresponsive. Instances of TVs malfunctioning post-update are common, underscoring the risks associated with software updates.
3). Active Updates
During firmware updates, temporary unpairing between the remote and TV may occur. This is usually resolved automatically once the update is complete, but manual re-pairing may be required in some cases.
4). Depleted Batteries
Regular use can deplete remote batteries, leading to erratic behavior and eventual unpairing. Regularly replacing batteries prevents such issues and ensures smooth remote functionality.
5). Physical Damage
Physical damage, whether caused by accidents or carelessness, can result in unpairing and unresponsiveness. Protecting the remote from damage helps maintain its functionality and prevents unpairing issues.
6). Poor Internet Connection
A stable internet connection is essential for remote functionality. Troubleshooting internet issues and reducing network congestion can help resolve unpairing problems caused by poor connectivity.
7). Distance Between The TV and Remote
Obstacles and distance between the TV and remote can disrupt pairing. Ensuring a clear line of sight and minimizing obstacles can improve pairing reliability and prevent unpairing issues.
Troubleshooting Tips For TV Remote That Keeps Unpairing
- Make sure the remote successfully pairs with the TV. Some consumers think their remote is repeatedly unpairing when it never paired in the first place. An alert on the screen will tell you that your pairing efforts have succeeded.
- Replace depleted batteries.
- Replace bad batteries.
- Take the batteries out and re-insert them.
- Clean the battery terminals.
- Find the router and unplug it. Wait thirty seconds and plug it back in. Resetting the router eliminates glitches.
- Keep the router within the vicinity of the remote and the TV.
- Reduce the number of devices running on the network simultaneously, especially if you’ve noticed that your remote remains connected to the TV for a longer duration whenever you remove some of the devices from the network.
- You can also upgrade your internet to fit your home’s demands.
- Improve the router’s security. Use a password. Sometimes, a consumer’s internet deteriorates because people outside their home are using it. This happens when the consumer forgets to apply a password or the password is weak.
- Update the router’s firmware. An update can remove glitches that cause pairing issues.
- Use a wired connection. Wi-Fi is convenient because it eliminates the need for wires. However, Wi-Fi is also vulnerable to interference. An ethernet cable creates faster and more reliable internet connections.
- Remove the obstructions between the remote and the TV. Electronic devices such as baby monitors are particularly problematic. They can interfere with the remote’s signal.
- Keep the remote near the TV. According to this Sony guide, their TV’s Bluetooth connection has a range of thirty feet. Whether or not your TV’s Bluetooth exceeds that range, keep the remote within the manufacturer’s recommended range to avoid pairing issues.
- Power cycle the TV. Unplug it, wait sixty seconds, and plug it back in.
- Perform a factory reset.
- Install pending updates. If the updates disconnected the remote, consult the manufacturer. They may release a second update to resolve the issues caused by the previous update.
- In some instances, the manufacturer can roll back problematic updates, undoing the damage they caused.
- Hire a technician if you suspect a defect in the TV’s Bluetooth module or mainboard. Pairing can fail because of a fault in the TV. Consider replacing a TV you’ve owned for seven or more years. TVs develop faults as they age. New mainboards in a 7-year-old TV are a waste of money.
- Get a new remote, especially if the old one was unpairing from the beginning. Some remotes have factory defects. Something went wrong during production. Use the warranty to replace it immediately.
- If the warranty expires, or you don’t have one, buy a replacement remote that matches the old one. An incompatible remote will create pairing issues. Ask the manufacturer to recommend a remote model that suits your TV.
- Clean older remotes. Open them and use cotton and isopropyl alcohol to remove dust and debris from the board.
If all else fails, use a conventional IR remote that doesn’t require pairing. Some manufacturers provide both remote types. Others expect you to request an IR remote if the Smart remote has failed to perform as expected. You can control some TVs via an app. If you download the app, your phone can replace the Smart remote.