8 Methods to Fix Spectrum Remote Not Working

When experiencing the Spectrum remote not working problem, it will be always frustrating. Unlike other smart TVs, Spectrum TV uses a cable box to stream content from the internet and local broadcasts. Therefore, you won’t have too much choice to control the cable box besides its remote. This guide is meant to provide various solutions and help you to regain control of your Spectrum TV.

1 | Replace Batteries

This is the most straight forward answer for why is my spectrum remote not working. In most cases, when a remote controller refuses to work, the reason is its battery drained out. Therefore, you need to swap the batteries inside the remote.

Step 1. Remove the battery cover on the back of the remote.

Step 2. Take out the old batteries, and remember the way they are placed inside the remote.

Step 3. Insert two new AAA batteries.

Step 4. Put back the battery cover.

2 | Make Sure Cable Box is Turned On

Sometimes, the reason for Spectrum remote not working with cable box is you haven’t turned it on. For Spectrum TV, you need to turn on the provided cable box with the power button on the cable box, because the remote is for controlling the cable box, not the TV itself.

3 | Control with Physical Buttons on Cable Box

When losing control of the cable box, there are still some alternative methods to control it. Some Spectrum cable boxes have buttons on them, and they can be an emergency alternative method to control the cable boxes.

4 | Remove Obstruction

Spectrum remote uses infrared light to transmit command signals, and the trait of the infrared is that once you’ve blocked it, the signal won’t be able to be received. Therefore, you need to remove all furniture that blocks the path between your remote and the cable box.

5 | Make Sure Remote Is Correct

There are several types of Spectrum TV remote, and some of them need to be paired with codes. Make sure you are using the right remote controller, which has been paired with the Spectrum TV with the right code. Wrong code will cause some problems, such as Spectrum remote volume not working.

6 | Power Cycle the Receiver

There might be problems with the receiver, or cable box in plain words, so you need to proceed to power cycle the device. Power cycle is the term that you fully restart a device, which means cutting off the power supply of the device, and rebooting it.

7 | Pair with Cable Box Again

There is a chance that your remote has lost the cable box, so you need to search for the cable box and pair with it again. The trick will be applied by pressing and holding the MENU button, and followed with the number 2 key on the numberpad.

8 | Use Smart Phone as Remote

Using your smart phone as a remote is also a good choice when you can’t fix the remote. As a recommendation, the Universal TV Remote app is an excellent choice. You can follow the instructions below to set it up.

Step 1. Make sure you have connected your smart phone and your TV to the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 2. Open the app, click the Tap to Connect area.

Step 3. Select the TV you want to connect to from the detected devices list.

Step 4. Enter the PIN code that appears on the TV if it asks.

Conclusion

With solutions provided above, hopefully you will get your Spectrum remote to work. Start with very basic troubleshooting for both remote and cable box, and give everything a reset, including power cycling devices, re-pairing the remote.

Spectrum Remote Not Working FAQ

Q: How do you reset the Spectrum remote?

In order to reset your Spectrum remote, you need to remove the batteries of the Spectrum remote, hold the power button for about 20 seconds to release all its power, and insert the batteries back.

Q: Why does my Spectrum remote control not work?

1. Low battery on remote.
2. Remote disconnected from cable box.
3. Obstructed infrared path.
4. Wrong remote controller.