In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the common reasons why your remote might not be working and how to solve them. Keep reading to find out more!
Why Is My Bose Universal Remote Not Working?
A remote can stop working for many reasons. The first thing you should do is check the batteries to see if they need replacing – this is usually the reason why remotes stop working, so it’s a good place to start. Even if the batteries are brand new, sometimes putting in fresh ones will solve all your problems. If this doesn’t fix your issue, keep reading!
Some of the most common issues that could cause your Bose soundbar universal remote won’t work are:
Reason 1 – Interference
Make sure your Bose remote control isn’t interfered with by other electronics. Often, remotes stop working due to interference from other appliances in the room that are sending out radio signals at the same frequency as your TV remote.
Sometimes all you need to do is move your appliance or soundbar away from any devices giving off radio waves, such as a router, phone base unit, or Bluetooth speakers. That way, the remote should work again.
Reason 2 – Dead Batteries
Universal remote controls usually work properly but won’t respond because the batteries are dead. When you press a button to change the TV channel or turn up the volume, it’s actually your batteries that are triggering the signal that changes these settings on your TV. If your batteries are dead, you’ll need to replace them. Sometimes even brand new batteries can stop working if they were stored improperly before purchase, so always check this first!
Another common reason for remote failure is water damage. This could happen if you drop your remote in water or expose it to high humidity or extreme conditions outside (heavy rain or direct sunlight). If this has happened, don’t worry: you can dry out your remote, and it should work fine. Just remember to never use a blow dryer on your remote – the extreme heat could damage its internal components!
It would be good to get some rechargeable batteries to avoid this issue moving forward. They have the same power circuit as alkaline batteries, but they can be used multiple times on multiple devices.
Reason 3 – Remote Loses Codes
Remote controls sometimes lose their connection because they have forgotten the codes needed to operate properly. If this happens, you can usually reset it by pressing and holding down one of the buttons on your Bose universal remote control while pointing it towards the device you want to use it for (for example, your TV).
Once the light starts flashing, let go of the button – this means that your remote now has a new code it can use. That way, you can confirm with the Bose Music app if a connection has been established.
Reason 4 – Broken Remote
Your Bose universal remote may be broken if none of the solutions above worked. If this is the case, you will need to buy a new one or contact customer service for more help.
Reason 5 – Broken Soundbar
We understand it can be very frustrating if your remote won’t work, but we recommend checking that the problems aren’t with your soundbar before you buy a new universal remote. The first thing to do is check that any volume controls on your TV or device itself are turned up and not set to ‘mute’. If this doesn’t fix the issue, try unplugging your soundbar and plugging it back in again.
This will often solve an issue where sound won’t play through one of the speakers. If neither of these solutions helps, we recommend contacting customer service as they may need to send out an engineer who will have more comprehensive knowledge about Bose products. You can also keep in touch with personnel via the Bose app.
Reason 6 – Soundbar Moved Off The TV
If you’ve just moved your Bose system and it’s not working, check that the infrared ports on the back of your soundbar and TV are lined up with each other. This is the main reason why remotes stop working because they only work if both ends line up properly – this will usually take a few attempts to get right. If none of these steps help, we recommend contacting customer service as they may need to send out an engineer who will have more comprehensive knowledge about Bose products.
Reason 7 – Alternative Remote Doesn’t Have All Functions
It’s worth checking that the remote control code you choose for your universal remote control has all of the functions you want to be programmed into it. For example, the TV code may only turn off your TV and change the input source – this won’t work for your Bose soundbar if you want to use it for adjusting the volume or changing sound settings. To do this, try pressing every button on your original remote control until you find all of its functions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBBeo6HSRds&t=1s
How Do I Reset My Bose Soundbar Universal Remote?
If none of the above steps answered the question ‘my Bose soundbar universal remote won’t work’, it’s possible your remote is broken or needs to be reset. Resetting your remote will erase all current settings and return them to factory defaults, so make sure you write down any important settings before continuing:
To reset your Bose Universal Soundbar Remote Control, simply press and hold power and mute together until light flashes. Let go once the light starts flashing and then press – exactly two minutes after this point – volume+ or volume- depending on which model you have (use the buttons below the display if unsure).
How Do I Change The Code On My Bose Soundbar Remote?
You can use the code for your soundbar remote by following the instructions below:
Press and hold power until light flashes twice. Release the power button.
Press the device you want to use it on (for example, your TV).
Press and hold mute together with volume- – release both buttons when the light starts flashing.
Once the light stops blinking, press any other key on Bose Soundbar Remote Control.
The new code has now been programmed in, so you can immediately start using it on your soundbar.
Suppose none of these steps resolved your issue or have a different Bose universal remote control model. In that case, we recommend resetting it as described above before contacting customer service for further help.
How to Program My Bose Soundbar Universal Remote? (Step-By-Step)
If your Bose soundbar universal remote isn’t working, we recommend checking the following things before you rush out to buy a new one:
Turn up any volume controls on your TV or device itself. Make sure both ends of your Bose Universal Soundbar Remote Control have been programmed properly – this usually takes a few attempts to get right. If none of these steps helped and you’re still experiencing problems, there’s a chance that your remote may need to be reset or replaced completely. To do this in the most effective way possible, we’ve created a step-by-step guide for resetting and programming your Bose soundbar remote control:
Step 1: Identify which Bose Universal Soundbar Remote Control model you own. You can do this by referring to the abovementioned section, ‘Which Bose Universal Remote Control Do I Have?’.
Step 2: Write down all current settings and the current code programmed onto your soundbar remote control (if you don’t know it, refer back to ‘What Is The Code For My Bose Soundbar’)
Step 3: Turn on your Bose soundbar universal remote control and press and hold power until light flashes twice. Release the power button.
Step 4: Press and hold mute together with volume- (make sure you release both buttons when the light starts flashing). Once the light stops blinking, press any other key on the remote.
Step 5: Two minutes after step 4 is complete, press volume+ or volume- depending on which model you have (press volume buttons under-display if not sure).
Step 6: The new code has been programmed in, so you can start using it immediately. If this doesn’t fix the problem, try resetting your remote by following steps 1-5 and using a different code from your manual’s list to check whether that fixes the issue.
Again, if the soundbar remote still isn’t working, we recommend getting in touch with customer service for help with diagnosing and fixing any problems.
Wrap-up
Bose universal soundbar remotes are a great way to make your TV viewing and listening experience more streamlined and convenient, but if you find yourself unable to control your soundbar – or even turn it on – at all, it might be time to take action. The above list should help you understand the problem and its potential causes and give you ideas for fixing any issues that might arise with your Bose Universal Soundbar Remote Control. If none of these steps resolved the problem, you might want to consider resetting your soundbar remote control or replacing it altogether.
Feel free to follow up with any questions or comments you might have about programming your Bose remote. We hope this article helped. Best of luck!
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