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When it comes to entertainment and great value, there is one digital satellite service company leading the line ahead of the other, DirecTV.
Being a DirecTV user I can say that, there isn’t anything more annoying than a technical malfunction when you are on your couch after a super hectic day.
I came across such an issue recently. The red light on my TV remote stayed ON and the remote wasn’t working.
Though I thought it was the end and I would probably get a new one, I did my portion of deep diving the internet in search of ways to fix it.
Long story short, to my surprise I was wrong in my assumption. After reading quite a few articles and Reddit threads, I got my remote fixed by myself.
To Fix the Red Light on your DirecTV Remote, try repairing your remote with the receiver, restarting your TV, checking the batteries, or even a factory reset.
I’ve gone more into detail about why the DirecTV remote has red lights, the different kinds of DirecTV Remotes, and how to clean a DirecTV remote.
Why DIRECTV Remote Red Lights Stay On? What Does That Mean?
A red light on electronic devices isn’t good news in most cases. Red light can mean there is something wrong with the device either be a hardware issue or software error or malfunction.
Here are some possible reasons why the red light on your remote is blinking or stays on:
- Worn-out batteries: The remote usually works for a few hours even after the batteries are worn out. Thus the red light indicates a low battery level or worn out batteries
- Unpaired device: If the remote isn’t paired with the receiver or got disconnected, the red light stays on to indicate that the remote currently doesn’t have a receiver.
- Device Hardware issue: Any exposure to a harsh environment can lead to hardware damage. This is when there are any cracks on the hardware or dust particles inside the board unit.
- Memory failure: Sometimes a memory failure in your device can be indicated with the red light staying on.
DirecTV Remote Types
DIRECTV leads the race when it comes to technological upgrades. And it truly can be seen with their handheld equipment.
They provide their users with high feature devices, ensuring the users are satisfied with its design and functionality.
There are two main widely used DIRECTV remote variants. They are as follow:
DirecTV Universal Remote
As the name suggests, these DirecTV remotes are universal and can be used on most devices.
They are simple and easy to use.
This powerful piece of equipment not only lets you control your TV set and DirecTV receiver but also works for DVD players and audio receivers.
DIRECTV Genie Remotes
These amazing DIRECTV genie remotes come in a sleek design and do more than just turn on and off your TV and DIRECTV receiver, change channels, and adjust the volume.
These remotes give you access to the program descriptions, channel guides, manage recordings, and more.
How to Fix Red light Staying ON on DIRECTV Remote
Now that we have come across all the possible causes that led to this problem, let’s dive into solutions to fix this issue.
Check the batteries and power refresh the remote
This is one of the easiest solutions in our discussion and you might have already tried this. If not, here’s how:
- Open the battery compartment on the back of the remote and take out the old batteries.
- Now press and hold each button for 3 seconds
- Reinsert the batteries and see if the problem is resolved
- If not, pass in new batteries and close the compartment
- Make sure the batteries are inserted properly and see if the problem is resolved.
Power refresh drains the current electricity in your remote thus putting it on a cold boot.
Restart your TV
This has to be one of the first things you do before moving any further when facing such issues. Here is how to properly restart your TV:
- Using the power button on the hardware receiver turn off the TV
- Unplug the power adapter from the source.
- Wait for several minutes before plugging the adaptor back into the source.
Make sure that the divider or strip isn’t faulty. It’s advised to plug into a wall outlet to avoid such possibilities.
Reset the Receiver
So replacing the batteries and restarting the TV didn’t work. So let’s dive into more technical solutions.
I know the word ‘technical’ might worry you, but don’t be. It’s not necessary for you to be tech-savvy to do these. Just follow the below-mentioned steps.
This can seem a little complicated but all we are doing here is resetting the receiver.
- To reset the receiver, all you gotta do is press the red button on the receiver. The button will either be on the front or on the side of the receiver hardware.
- Once the above step is done,the resetting process will start and it will take about 10 minutes to complete.
Check if the issue is fixed. If not, don’t worry. Let’s move on to the next solution.
Reset DIRECTV Remote
You reading this means the above-discussed steps didn’t work. If the red light on your remote is still on, you are going to have to reset the remote.
- Press and hold SELECT + MUTE buttons
- Then the light on your remote will start flashing which indicates that it’s ready to be reset.
- Insert the following numerical code using the number pad on the remote. Press 9, then 8, then 1 and press the select button
- The remote light will flash four times and afterwards, it should be reset.
Check if the red light on the remote is still on. If not, let’s move on to the next solution.
Resync The Remote
You might have already done this before. But in time there’s a high chance that it might have disconnected.
In the previous step, we performed a reset which might have disconnected the remote from the receiver. But it automatically might have been paired by default when restarted.
So here are the steps to repair your device. This isn’t a difficult process and should be done in a minute or two.
- Hold your DIRECTV remote towards the TV . Now press and hold the ENTER and MUTE buttons together on your remote.
- Continue the process until an RF/IR setup option appears on the screen.
- As soon as the setup window appears, let go of the buttons you are holding and your remote is resynced.
The above step might have already done the job for you. If it didn’t and the red light is still on, Unfortunately, there is only one more step to try.
Clean the remotes hardware and unstuck the remote buttons
Dust is a huge problem when it comes to electronic devices. Exposure to such environments can easily damage your devices.
In this case, there is a possibility of dust particles damaging the control board or blocking the button system.
To clean the remote hardware, follow these steps:
- Open the battery compartment on the back of your remote device.
- Eject the batteries carefully
- Unscrew the two screws next to the battery compartment
- Using a sharp object like a knife, flat head screwdriver or a steel ruler, create an opening between the top and bottom halves of the remote.
- Pop the upper half carefully. Rushing this process can result in damaging the hardware.
- Now with a very slight wet napkin clean the dust inside including the button pads.
- Make sure not to use wet napkins for the board. Rather use a clean soft piece of fabric.
- Take your time. Don’t rush the process.
- Close the remote compartment and screw in the halves.
- Reinsert the batteries and check if the problem is resolved.
If the red light stopped blinking, good thing the problem is fixed. If the red light is still on or blinking, it’s advised to contact DIRECTV support for help. But there is a high chance that you might need a new remote.
Turning your mobile phone or tablet into a remote using DIRECTV app
This can’t be categorized as a fix but rather an alternative or temporary relief.
As mentioned on their official website, DIRECTV subscribers with receiver model HR20 and above can use this feature.
So the first steps to do are to download the DIRECTV app for your device and find the model of your receiver.
Follow these steps to use the app:
- Open the DIRECTV app.
- Tap Browse for TV. Then a remote icon will appear on the top right corner of the screen.
- Tap the remote icon
- Select the receiver pair or connect your device.
- Complete the setup.
Now your smartphone or tablet can be used as a remote.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting a technical issue is much easier when you know what caused it.
Here we have discussed the possible causes and their fixes regarding this issue.
If the red light is still on, I highly recommend getting in touch with the DIRECTV customer support team.
If none of these tips help you, consider replacing your DIRECTV remote. Chances are that the DIRECT customer support team will send one to you for free if they recognize that the issue is a manufacturing defect.
You May Also Enjoy Reading:
- How to Hook Up DIRECTV Box to TV Without HDMI
- DIRECTV Not Working: How to Troubleshoot
- How to Program DirecTV Remote RC73: Easy Guide
- DirecTV Remote Not Working: How to Fix
- How to Get On Demand On DIRECTV in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix my red light on my directv remote?
There are several solutions that you can use to resolve this problem.
These include Checking the batteries and power, refreshing the remote, Restarting your TV, Resetting the DIRECTV remote, resyncing the devices, or even cleaning the hardware.
How do I reset my DIRECTV remote control?
Hold your DIRECTV remote towards the TV. Now press and hold the SELECT and MUTE buttons simultaneously.
Then the light will start flashing indicating it’s ready to be reset. Insert the confirmation code 981 and press SELECT.
The remote light will flash several times and the remote will be reset.
How do I reconnect my directv remote to my box?
Press the MENU icon on your remote. Then select Settings > Remote Control > Program Remote.
Select the device that you want to control with the remote. Complete the setup following the prompts on the screen.
How do you pair a remote to a TV?
- Turn on the device you want to pair.
- Now select settings & Help
- Go to Settings
- Then select Remote Control and select Program Remote
- Select the device you want to pair and complete the setup process.
