If the LG TV remote is dysfunctional, you can replace the batteries, check for interference, and re-pair the remote. If the basic fixes don’t work, you have to understand that the problems are with the TV, not the remote. In this article, you will learn how to troubleshoot the LG TV and fix the remote not working issue.
How to Fix LG TV Remote Not Working
For your convenience, we have explained the workarounds in three different aspects. Follow the instructions one by one to make the LG TV remote work.
- Technical fault
- Remote Issue
- Alternative ways
Technical Fault
If the LG Magic Remote cursor is not working, it is because of technical glitches in the firmware.
Reasons
- Remote pairing is unsuccessful
- Bugs or glitches on the TV
Solutions
You can fix technical faults on your LG TV remote with the troubleshooting methods mentioned below.
1. Power Cycle your TV
Sometimes a temporary bug on your TV software might create this problem. You can fix it by a quick power cycle method to solve the LG TV remote not working issue.
1: Turn Off your TV using the TV physical buttons and plug out the TV power cable from the power socket.
2: Now let the TV rest for 3-5 minutes.
3: Then, plug in the cable and turn on your LG TV.
4: After turning it on, press a button on your TV remote and check whether your remote is functioning or not.
2. Update your LG TV
If your TV is outdated or has any bugs in the firmware, your TV won’t receive the remote signals. If your TV is not updating automatically, you will experience such an error. You can update the firmware of your LG TV with the steps mentioned below.
1: Go to the Settings of your LG TV.
2: Click General from the left pane of the settings page.
3: Select the About This TV option.
4: Tap the Check for updates option.

5: If an update is available, you will receive a pop-up menu. Click the Yes button to update the TV.

After updating your TV, try using your remote and check whether it is working.
3. Re-Pair the Remote with your LG TV
Sometimes your remote may get unpaired by itself. In this situation, you can re-pair the LG Magic Remote to your LG Smart TV with these steps.
1: On your TV remote, press and hold the Back button and Home button simultaneously.

2: Now, the LED light near the power button should blink three times.
3: If the LED light on the remote blinks three times, you have re-paired the remote with your TV successfully.
4: Finally, click the OK button on the remote to complete the re-pairing process.
Note: If you are using the Magic Remote 2021 and above version, you can press the Home and Settings buttons simultaneously to pair the remote.
4. Power Cycle your TV remote
Like soft resetting the TV, you can power cycle the LG Magic Remote in case of issues. It will help you fix any bugs on the remote.
1: Remove the batteries from the remote and wait for a few minutes.
2: Now, place the batteries in the battery compartment correctly and close the cap.
3: After a minute, try pairing your TV remote and check whether the fix has worked or not.
5. Checkout IR Sensor on the TV remote
The IR blaster acts as the communication cell between the TV and the remote. If you have damaged the IR blaster on your remote, you cannot fix it by yourself. Changing the remote is the only solution to fix this issue. You can check the working condition of the IR blaster by following these methods.
To Check the Working Condition of the IR Blaster
1: Launch the Camera app on your smartphone.
2: Now, point the camera towards the IR blaster of the remote.
3: Press any button on your TV remote.
4: If you can see the light through the camera app, your remote is fine.
5: If you can’t see the light on the device screen, then replacing or repairing your remote is recommended.
Note: It is recommended to use the LG TV remote app instead of buying a replacement remote at an extra cost.
LG Magic Remote Issues
Other than the technical faults, your LG TV remote might not respond to your actions because of some remote issues. You can follow the troubleshooting methods below to fix the remote issue.
Reasons
- Expired batteries
- IR blaster covered with dust
Solutions
You can fix it by changing the batteries on the remote and by cleaning the IR blaster.
1. Change the Batteries
Batteries are the key factor in the remote which helps to provide power to the remote. If the batteries on your remote have expired or work in a weak condition, the remote may not respond to your actions properly.
When your LG Smart TV remote is not working properly, the first and foremost thing you should do is change the batteries on the remote. By changing the battery on the remote you can fix the remote not working issue.
1: Take the remote in your hand and open the battery cap on the remote.
2: Now, replace the old batteries with new ones.

3: Make sure to place the battery in the correct position as negative in – and positive in +.
4: Finally, close the battery cap and try pressing any buttons. If the remote responds to your actions, the problem is with the batteries on the remote.
2. Remove obstacles
The LG Magic remote works only with the traditional infrared signal and does not work with the WiFi connection. Since it is using the infrared signal, you need to operate the remote in the clear path. If there is a hindrance in the path between the TV and the remote signal, your TV may not respond to your actions properly. Always ensure to operate the remote in a clear path.
3. Remove the Dust and Dirt particles from the Remote
All the remotes are manufactured with plastic and rubber material which absorbs dust and dirt easily. If the dust particles are settled in between the buttons of the remote, it will not allow the remote to work properly. To remove this, you can use the clear and soft fabric to clean the remote. Also, ensure to clean the IR blaster on the remote using a soft brush.
Alternative Fixes
If the above-mentioned methods fail to fix the remote not working problem, you can use the alternative ways mentioned below.
Use a Universal remote

If you have found the problem is with the remote, you can buy a new remote to control the TV. Instead of buying a brand-new LG remote, you can try the universal remote to control the TV. The universal remote helps you to control your TV and other electronic products in your home. If you have decided to buy a universal remote ensure to program the universal remote with the LG TV remote codes.
Additional Tip: You can buy the best universal remote for LG TV to control the TV when the remote isn’t working.
Use the LG ThinQ App
If you are not interested in buying a brand new remote you can download the LG ThinQ app on your mobile to control the LG smart TV via mobile app.
1: On your smartphone, install the LG ThinQ app from the respective store.
- For Android: Play Store
- For iPhone: App Store.
2: Connect your mobile and TV to the same WiFi network.
3: Launch the LG ThinQ app and log in with your LG TV account.
4: Click the + Add device button on the home screen of the app.

5: Click on the Select device option on the next page.

6: Select the TV option from the current screen and choose your LG TV from the nearby devices.
7: Now, your TV will display a passcode. Enter the passcode into the app and pair your TV with your mobile.
8: After pairing your TV with the LG ThinQ app you can use the app as the temporary remote.
Note: If you don’t want to use a universal remote or the LG ThinQ app, it is better to buy an LG Magic Remote.
FAQ
It means that the LG TV remote battery is low.
It is due to a technical error in the remote itself. To fix this, you can reset the LG TV remote by pressing the OK and Mute buttons simultaneously. Release the buttons if the indicator light flashes thrice.
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