Sony TV Remote Not Working, Fix It Now [10 Solutions]

Sony is an outstanding brand of electronics. Whether you are looking for a TV or a camera, the brand will most likely come up. As for Sony TVs, their selling points have attracted a lot of people worldwide, such as high picture and sound quality, slimness in design, good motion handling, lower power consumption, and better quality remotes. However, some people have run into issues with their Sony remotes, like the Sony TV remote not working.

The Sony remote issue is common and it is not difficult to get it fixed. This post explains why the Sony remote is unable to work and shows how to make it functional again.

Sony TV Remote Not Working

Thanks to the built-in microphone, Sony remotes make it easy to operate Sony TVs using voice commands via Google Search. Apart from adding useful functions, Sony has updated in design for their remotes, decorating them with a slim metal finish. All in all, Sony remotes are well-designed, functional utilities.

However, some people reported the remote issue as follows:

This is so crazy, my SONY remote worked with my Verizon STB for about 2-3 months, and then just out of nowhere stopped working. No changes, that I was aware of. I can’t find any way to get it working again. I have about 3 hours into it with no luck. — from Verizon Community

The Sony smart TV remote not working is always related to dead batteries, stuck buttons, blocked infrared signals, outdated TV software, and so on. No matter which is the culprit in your case, follow the guide below to troubleshoot your dysfunctional Sony remote.

Fix 1. Check the Batteries

When a remote doesn’t function as expected, first check whether the batteries inside your Sony remote are installed properly and have enough juice.

First and foremost, reinstall the batteries. Uncover the battery compartment, Remove the batteries, clean the battery terminal if necessary, and insert the batteries back into the battery compartment. Be sure to insert the negative pole [-] side of the battery first and then insert the positive pole [+] side.

Now point your Sony remote directly to your Sony TV, press any buttons on the remote, and see if the TV will respond immediately.

If your TV doesn’t give any response, then replace the batteries with fresh batteries because a dysfunctional remote, in most cases, is caused by dead batteries. Here the batteries should come from the same brand and they are not rechargeable.

If swapping the batteries does not resolve the remote issue, proceed to the next solution.

Fix 2. Check the Buttons

If your Sony remote loses its function when you press some buttons, you need to check if these buttons get jammed. When a button is jammed on the remote, its function becomes invalid, which makes the remote seem to not work.

To unjam buttons on your Sony remote, you can try pressing each button twice. Alternatively, slightly slap the remote against your palm several buttons, which is more time-saving.

When all the buttons on your remote return to normal, test if the remote can control your Sony TV again.

Fix 3. Check the Infrared Emitter and Receiver

Most Sony TV remote controls adopt Infrared (IR) technology to communicate with Sony TVs. The IR remote control sends out a signal from the IR emitter when you press one button on the remote, and the IR receiver on the TV receives the signal and performs the corresponding task.

IR remotes are easily recognizable as they have an IR light on the top, and some of them come with an IR mark that is usually located at the bottom part of the remote near the model number.

If your dysfunctional Sony remote has an IR light, it is an IR remote, and you need to check if the remote can send an IR signal. To do so, you can point the remote at your smartphone camera while pressing the power button or any other buttons.

If you see a dot of light, the remote is working. After that, you need to continue to check if the IR receiver on your TV is blocked, which is most likely to be at the bottom of the TV. If yes, unblock the IR receiver and clean it if necessary.

Lastly, make sure there is no obstacle on the direct path between the remote and your Sony TV.

Fix 4. Update the Remote Software

Updating the software of the nonfunctional Sony remote might solve the remote issue, but note this is used for Android TVs released in 2015 and later. To update your remote software, go to Settings > Remote & Accessories > Remote control > Software update, then follow the on-screen instructions.

Fix 5. Reset the Sony Remote

If the Sony remote not working issue persists, try resetting the remote. Here is the reset process:

Step 1. Open the battery compartment cover and remove the batteries for almost one minute.

Step 2. Press and hold the power button on the remote for three seconds to drain out the residual electricity.

Step 3. Insert the batteries again and put the battery compartment cover back.

Until now, the possible internal reasons for the Sony smart TV remote not working have been investigated. Follow the guide below to see if your Sony TV or other devices should be blamed.

Fix 6. Power Cycle Your Sony TV

If your Sony TV issues cause your Sony remote not to work, the quick solution is to restart the TV. To finish that, unplug the TV from the outlet, wait for 30 seconds, and plug the TV back.

Once your Sony TV reboots, check if it can be controlled by your Sony TV.

Fix 7. Disconnected External Devices to the TV

Disconnecting external devices to your Sony TV is to remove interference with your remote signal, and these external devices include a USB hard disk, soundbar, HDMI cables, and so on.

If you have any external devices connected to your Sony TV, try disconnecting them and connecting them one by one, during which you need to notice the status of the TV lamp. If the TV lamp flashes after connecting an external device, the connected device may have a problem.

Fix 8. Check for Bluetooth Interference

The other possible interference with your Sony remote signal is always caused by other Bluetooth devices nearby, including wireless speakers, wireless keywords, microwave ovens, and so forth.

Sony TV remotes have two styles: Infrared (IR) and Bluetooth (RF) models. Sony RF remotes have a microphone button that allows you to control your Sony TV via voice commands.

If there is Bluetooth interference with the Sony RF remote, the remote won’t function well. Hence, if you find any such devices in your room, please place them far away from your TV.

Fix 9. Update the TV’s Firmware

Outdated or damaged firmware is also one of the reasons for the Sony Bravia remote not working. In this case, you can try updating your TV’s firmware.

Warning: During the update process, don’t press any buttons, power off the TV, or disconnect the TV from the AC power outlet. Loss of power during the installation of the firmware update might cause your TV set to become UNRESPONSIVE or REQUIRE REPAIR.

Fix 10. Factory Reset Your Sony TV

A factory reset is always the last resort to fix various issues, including the Sony smart TV remote not working. Factoring resetting a device can remove various glitches as well as all data. If your Sony remote still can’t control your Sony TV, try this solution, and make a backup of your important data first.

How to factory reset your Sony TV without a Sony remote? First, locate the physical button(s) on your Sony TV, which is usually located on the back, side, or bottom of the TV. Then, follow the tutorial below depending on how many buttons you find on your Sony TV.

Find one button (the power button):

Step 1. Unplug your Sony TV from the power outlet.

Step 2. Press and hold the power button on the TV and plug the power cord back in.

Step 3. Continue to press the power button until a white LED light appears near the Sony logo on the TV front, which may take about 10-30 seconds.

Note: If the LED light does not turn white within 30 seconds, start over from Step 1.

Step 4. Wait for the Sony TV to complete the factory reset. After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

Find three or more buttons (the power, vol -, and vol + buttons)

Step 1. Unplug your Sony TV from the power outlet.

Step 2. Press and hold the power and vol – buttons simultaneously, and while holding the buttons, plug the power cord back in.

Step 3. Continue to hold the buttons until a green LED light appears near the Sony logo on the TV front. If the LED light does not turn green within 30 seconds, start over from Step 1.

Step 4. Wait for the Sony TV to complete the factory reset. After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

If the Sony Bravia remote not working still bothers you, please contact Sony Support and ask for help.

Without a Sony Remote, How to Control Sony TV?

Don’t be down. There is an economical backup method to control your Sony TV effortlessly: use a remote app. If you get tired of fixing your dysfunctional Sony remote and want to domain your Sony TV as soon as possible, using a remote app might be your best choice.

A remote app like the Universal TV Remote app by BoostVision can turn your smartphone and tablet (Android and iOS) into a Sony remote control in a few minutes. After that, you can tap the buttons displayed on your phone screen to control your Sony TV with ease.

How to use the remote app? The whole process goes as follows:

Step 1. Download the remote app by clicking on the button below depending on the operating system your phone runs on.

Step 2. Click the Tap to Connect button at the top of your phone screen.

Step 3. Choose your Sony TV from the list (if it is unavailable, please check whether your phone and TV are using the same Wi-Fi network).

Step 4. Wait for the pairing process to finish. When the pairing finishes, you can use your phone as a TV remote. For the app usage, check How to Use Universal TV Remote.

Conclusion

How to fix Sony TV remote not working? Many reasons can impede a remote from working, including its internal glitches, TV issues, and interference with the remote, and 10 solutions based on these reasons are detailed above. Please try these solutions one by one until the remote issue gets solved.

If everything fails, your Sony remote might have been damaged and need to be replaced. Here, it is suggested that you try a remote app to regain full control over your Sony TV ASAP.