How to Fix a Not Working Apple TV Remote
If the Apple TV Remote isn’t working, you still have to fix it or you won’t be able to control your TV. As a result, you will be looking for ways to fix Apple TV Remote not working. Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many people simply run into problems trying to change channels or turn the volume up and down. Anyway, the TV remote doesn’t work.
Also, depending on your Apple TV, you’ll either have the old black Siri Remote or the modern aluminum Siri Remote. Both of these are easy to fix, and we have listed methods suitable for both models. With that said, let’s start fixing this issue.
Why isn’t the Apple TV Remote working?
It’s possible that your Apple TV remote isn’t working simply because the batteries are dead. It is also possible that you are out of range. Other causes include Bluetooth issues. Finally, as we found out, the most common reasons for an Apple TV remote not working are dead batteries or a bad connection.
The remote’s battery might be low or defective, or there might be another problem preventing it from communicating with the Apple TV. The Apple TV or its remote may have failed mechanically, so the remote needs to be unplugged and then paired again. By all means, let’s fix this.
How to Fix a Not Working Apple TV Remote 2023
Here we have listed 7 ways to fix Apple TV remote not working. We recommend that you go through all the fixes so you can figure out the problem.
Charge your remote
If your remote is a Siri Apple TV Remote, it must be charged after every 72 hours of continuous use. Although in most cases the battery lasts about 1 month of use, in homes where it is heavily used, the battery drains quite quickly.
If you’ve reached that time limit, it’s time to recharge it. Charging is simple, as you always do. However, if you’ve already tried charging, move on to the next fix.
Check batteries
It’s possible that over time, your Apple TV remote’s batteries have reached the end of their battery life. So check if they need to be changed.
Since the batteries in the Apple TV remote are not user-replaceable, you will need to visit an authorized customer service center and have them replaced. After replacing the batteries, you can start using the remote control.
However, if you have a regular Apple TV remote, you can easily remove the back panel and replace the battery. Battery CR2032. This is a common motherboard battery, often known as a CMOS battery. You can find it everywhere. Buy one and replace it yourself.
Disconnecting and reconnecting the Apple TV Remote
If the above methods didn’t work to get your Apple TV remote working, you’ll need to pair and then re-pair the remote to your TV. To do this, follow these steps:
- Take the remote and bring it near your Apple TV. The distance should be about 3-5 inches.
- Now press and hold the < and volume up buttons together for 5 seconds.
- Image Credit: Apple
- If you have an Apple Remote compatible with Siri, press the menu button and volume up button for 5 seconds.
- Apple TV will now prompt you to place the remote on top of the Apple TV Box.
Your Apple TV remote is now re-paired. Start using it and see if it works or not. If not, follow the next fix.
Restart your Apple TV Remote
If the above methods did not help, you can try restarting it. Follow these steps to restart your Apple TV remote:
- Take the remote control in your hand.
- Press and hold the Control Center button and Volume Down button together for 5 seconds.
- If you have a Siri-compatible Apple TV Remote, press the TV button and Volume Down button at the same time for 5 seconds.
- Keep them pressed until the status light on your Apple TV turns off and back on.
- Wait a few minutes for the Apple TV Remote to start up again.
- Now that the status light is back on, try using it.
If it works now, great. If not, follow the next fix.
Disconnect and reconnect the TV
If you’re having trouble using your Apple TV remote and you’ve already tried restarting your Apple TV remote, it’s time to restart your Apple TV.
Restarting your Apple TV is easy: turn it off, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet, and wait a few minutes. Now, if possible, hold down the power button on your Apple TV for 10 seconds.
After that, plug everything back in and check if it works now or not. If not, move on to the next fix.
Make sure your Apple TV is up to date
The developers are working hard to ensure that there are no bugs in Apple TV. However, sometimes errors occur that cause issues such as Apple TV Remote not working.
If you’ve already tried all the fixes above, it’s time to check if your Apple TV has been updated to the latest version.
Since your Apple TV remote is not working, it’s time to use your iPhone as an Apple TV remote and complete this operation. Follow these steps to check your Apple TV for updates.
- Open Settings on Apple TV.
- Go to “System”and click on “Software Updates”.
- Click “Update Software”again.
- If an update is available, your TV will begin downloading and installing it.
- Once installed, your TV will reboot and be ready to use.
During the update, make sure your TV is connected to the Internet and turned on. Now check if your TV is working.
Buy a new remote
If you’ve tried everything discussed above but don’t see any change, it’s time to buy a new Apple TV Remote. If you have a Siri-compatible TV remote, a new one will cost around $60. It’s not much considering the features it has to offer.
However, if you have a Gen 2 or Gen 3 remote, you can buy a replacement for $10-$15 since it’s not officially available. But the Apple Store can arrange it for you.
bottom line
Well, that is all we have on how you can fix if the Apple TV Remote is not working. We hope this guide has helped you. If you still have any doubts or questions, leave a comment below and we will help you as soon as possible.
Leave a Reply