I’m sure we’ve all faced some problems with our TVs. Imagine you’ve had a long day at work or school. You’re finally home, you sit down and click on the power on button on your remote. But your TV takes forever to respond.
Why is your TV slow to respond to the remote?
Luckily for you, I think I know why. It could be due to dying batteries on your remote, or because of loosely connected ones. But it could also be an issue with the IR signals not being sent or being received properly. Additionally, it might also be due to low memory or outdated software.
But don’t worry, because I think I have some solutions for you! Just scroll down to find out more!
Why is Your TV Slow to Respond to Remote?
You might have a regular TV or a smart TV which is more common these days. But regardless of that, you might have faced this problem. Why is your TV not responding to the remote?
And so you hit your remote a few times. A humble attempt at fixing an unresponsive remote control.
But it will require more than that to solve this issue. Because your remote might not be the problem at all whatsoever.
But please don’t hit your TV instead! There are certain things that you shouldn’t do with your TV.
Anyway, first you need to identify the root of this problem. Is it the remote or the TV?
Don’t worry, I have some quick troubleshooting tips to help you figure out where the problem is.
7 Easy Fixes to Your TV Response Problems!
I have some easy fixes for you, but it’s important to understand what’s causing the issues first.
Reason 1: Loose Connection of Remote Batteries
Slow response from TV could be due to loose connection with the batteries on the remote. Hitting your remote might help in this case sometimes. But it is not recommended.
Solution
First, remove the batteries from your remote. Then wait for a minute or two. And now put the batteries back in their place again. But, make sure that you do that based on the correct polarity (+/-).
But if this doesn’t solve your issue, let’s move on to the next one!
Reason 2: Dying Batteries on Remote
This is to check if the slow response is due to dying batteries on your remote. You might wonder why is that?
It is because it will be difficult to send strong signals to your TV with dying batteries.
If you are thinking about which batteries would be best for your remote, take a look below. I have some suggestions for you:
| Product 1 | |
| Product 2 |
I hope you find these helpful.
Solution
But this has a really simple fix. Just replace the old dying batteries with new ones and you should be good to go!
Unless, of course, the problem lies elsewhere.
Reason 3: Too Much Distance Between TV and Remote
There may be too much distance between your TV and your remote control. Due to that, your TV is struggling to receive the signals properly from your remote.
Solution
Just move closer to the TV when using your remote control. That way the distance between the TV and remote would be reduced. And signals would be clearly emitted.
If the distance is the problem, this should resolve it easily.
Reason 4: Obstacles on TV’s IR receiver
Sometimes there are objects covering the TV’s IR receiver or right in front of it. Because of those, your TV can’t receive the signals from your remote clearly.
As a result, your TV will be slow to remove.
Solution
Simply check for and remove any obstacles in front of your TV’s IR receiver. That should solve the problem.
You should be able to switch channels quicker now. And sync your soundbar with your TV remote without waiting hours for it to load.
Reason 5: TV Running Low on Memory
Similar to your phone or laptop or PC, your TV has a memory. And as you continue to use more apps, more memory space gets taken up.
Eventually, the memory runs low. And that would make your TV slow too.
Hence, if you think your TV won’t respond to the remote, you’re probably running low on memory.
As a result, your TV will take longer than usual to turn on. The menu will take forever to load. Plus, any apps you use on it will take longer to start as well
Solution
All you need to do is reboot your TV. It is also known as discharging or power reset or even soft reset.
What this will do is help get rid of the memory cache. And that should have your TV running at its normal pace.
First, switch your TV on. Then, unplug your TV’s power cable from the power supply outlet. Leave it unplugged for a few minutes.
Next, you can re-plug the power cable back into its outlet. And switch your TV back on.
And you should be good to go! You’ve successfully cleared any memory cache issues. But if your TV still isn’t working normally, let’s move on to the next fix.
Reason 6: Software Not Up to Date
Another reason could be software updates. Just like your other devices, your TV requires those too. And not having software updated can also make your TV slow to respond to the remote.
You can actually connect TV to wifi without a remote for this process.
Solution
This is a simple fix. All you need to do is install the necessary updates. That should help your TV run fairly smoother.
But software updates are different for different TV brands. Here’s a quick guide on updating your TV’s software.
Reason 7: Remote is Not Sending Any IR Signals
Okay, so this is how your remote works. When you click on a button, it sends infrared (IR) signals to your TV’s IR receiver. That’s how your TV follows your commands.
But something could be wrong with your remote. And as a result, IR signals are not being sent out.
Solution
It’s difficult to see the remote’s IR signals with a blind eye. But you should be able to see it through the camera lenses.
Hence, first, you need to get your camera out, be it a digital camera or your phone.
Next, point your remote towards your camera. Hold and press down the power button towards it. If you see flashes of coloured light, your remote is sending out IR signals.
But if you can’t see anything of the sort, then your remote isn’t sending out any IR signals. Replacing remote batteries can help fix this sometimes.
Otherwise, it might be time to get your remote replaced.
What to Do When None of the Fixes Work?
You’ve tried all the possible methods above, and nothing seems to work. Luckily, there’s one last thing you could try.
It’s hard resetting your TV. More commonly known as factory reset.
Before you do this, keep in mind that all your previous data will be removed. Also, remember to not use any functions on the TV while resetting. And do not switch your TV off during that time as well.
These apply for both the installation period and the restoration period. Doing these might mess your software up for good.
How to Factory Reset TV?
You can reset your TV without using the remote.
First, disconnect your TV from the internet. You don’t need any software updates to clash with this process.
Then, look for the ‘Reset’ button which you should find around the back of the TV. It should look like an indented hole.
Next, switch your TV on. Grab a pen and use its pointy end to press into the hole. Then, you have to hold down the button until the reset process is started.
But what if even a factory reset doesn’t work? Then it sounds like it’s time to call a technician. They should be able to figure out where the issue lies.
FAQs
Question: Why can’t I switch to a different channel on my TV?
Answer: The reason why you can’t switch to a different channel on your TV is probably a faulty remote. That is causing it to get stuck on a single channel. But it could also be the digital box being unresponsive. And it might even be subscription issues. You may have run out of subscriptions!
Question: What is causing my TV to randomly switch channels?
Answer: Your TV randomly switching channels sounds like a dysfunctional remote issue. Remotes generally emit infrared signals to the TV when you click on a button command. But a malfunction in the remote can send out odd signals. So you might think your TV is acting out, but it’s actually your remote!
Question: Does my wifi interfere with my remote’s IR signal?
Answer: No, your wifi does not interfere with your remote’s IR signal. This is because wifi has a different wavelength compared to that of infrared (IR). The same applies to any other light rays. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about your wifi when removing any obstacles that block IR signals to your TV.
Final Words
That’s it! That’s all the solutions I had to why your TV is slow to respond to remote. I hope I was able to help you resolve your issue!
Make sure to keep your remote clean so that buttons work fine when you’re using it!
Thanks for reading through till the end!