Help! My Sony TV remote control doesn't work

IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

You're here because your TV remote isn't operating properly, or it doesn't work at all. In this article, we're sharing our top tips for the most common remote control issues, as well as an easy-to-follow guide explaining how to bring your remote control back to life. Ready?

If you're more of a visual learner, definitely check out our video guide:

Battery change - Obvious but effective!

Unless serious physical damage was done, most of the time, your remote will stop working or become unresponsive because the batteries are running out. If your remote control got smashed, chewed on, was thrown out of the window, dunked in fluids, or if any other type of physical damage was done before it stopped working, it's highly likely that you will need to replace the remote.

Before trying anything else, remove the batteries from the remote control for approximately one minute. Then reinsert the batteries again according to the polarity (Plus [+] or Minus [-]). If that doesn't work, replace the batteries with new ones. 

• TIP: How do I open my TV remote control?

• Make sure to insert the batteries with the plus [+] and minus [-] symbols in the correct positions. Be sure to insert the negative pole [-] side of the battery first, as shown in the image below.
• Do not use a new and a used battery or different brands of batteries together.
• Do not use a rechargeable battery.

If swapping the batteries didn't resolve the issue, continue reading this article. If you've exhausted all the steps and it's still not functioning, you need a new remote control.

How to check if your remote control still works

1. Press each button on the remote control twice to make sure none of the buttons is jammed.
2. Reset the remote control.
   • Open the battery compartment cover and remove the batteries for about one minute.
     • TIP: How do I open my TV remote control?
   • Press and hold the Power button for three seconds.
   • Insert the batteries again and close the battery compartment cover.
3. Remove the batteries from the remote and clean the battery terminals. Use a cotton ball or soft cloth dipped in a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Then place the batteries back into the remote control.
4. For Android TVs released in 2015 or later, updating the software of the remote control might solve the issue. Refer to the article How to perform a TV remote control software update to check whether there is an available software update for your remote control.
5. If only the   Microphone button doesn't work on the TV remote control, check the article: The Remote Control does not respond to voice commands.

Check your remote control type

Do you have an Infrared (IR) remote control or a Wireless remote control? Don't worry if you don't know yet - they're quite easy to tell apart.  

The steps in this section will vary depending on the type of remote control you have.

Infrared (IR) remote control

Wireless or Touchpad remote control

Verify if your TV is causing the remote control issue

1. Check if the TV LED (power lamp/standby lamp) on the front/bottom of the TV is On.
   • If the lamp is lit or is blinking in red, proceed to Step 2. If the lamp isn't lit, make sure the AC power adapter or power cord isn't unplugged or loose. 
   • You can turn on your TV by using the buttons on the TV itself. The location of those TV buttons may vary. Check the sides, back, front, and top of your TV. To find your TV buttons, you can either refer to your product's online manual on our support website or visit the following articles: 
     • Power button location on BRAVIA TV models (2018-2020)
     • Power button location on BRAVIA TV models (2014-2017)
2. Perform a power reset on the TV by unplugging the TV, waiting for 30 seconds, and reinserting the power cord. The remote issue might be caused by an external factor (e.g. a network service/data broadcasting/connected device). 
3. Remove external devices (external USB hard disk, devices connected with HDMI cable, etc.) and cables from the ports on the TV to confirm if a connected device may be causing the problem.
   • Do not remove the TV power cable.
   • If connections are complicated, take note of them - make sure you can reconnect everything first before you start disconnecting devices or cables.
   • When a specific device is connected and the TV lamp flashes, the connected device may have a problem.

If neither the TV remote nor the TV buttons operate the TV, the TV may require service.