What To Do If Insignia TV Remote Not Working

It seems like only yesterday when I told you all, including my girlfriend, how to fix a slow Roku TV, but it looks like I have another smart TV issue to tackle. If you are a loyal user of Insignia smart TV, you must have faced the “Insignia smart TV remote not working” issue. This issue is quite common in all Insignia TVs, and many users have complained about it. However, there’s no need to worry! I have easy fixes available for you all!

If you find your Insignia TV remote not working, try taking out the batteries for 2 to 3 minutes and then putting them back in to see if it works. If not, you can reset the TV to re-establish a strong connection. Lastly, don’t forget to check the remote batteries. If you need to change them, do it.

Nothing is more annoying than sitting on the couch to binge-watch my favorite show, and my Insignia remote won’t work. It might not be the end of the world, but it sure feels like it, especially when it’s Monday tomorrow, and all I want to do is relax before the work week begins. So without further ado, let’s fix the “Insignia TV not responding to remote” issue.

Why Is My Insignia TV Remote Not Working?

Before I move on to the common fixes to the Insignia TV remote not working issue, let’s first discuss why your remote is not working with your TV.


When your Insignia TV can’t detect remote, multiple factors can lead to this issue. Thus, you should consider them when finding an effective and easy solution that doesn’t require spending a lot of money or calling a technician.

The following are the reasons why the Insignia TV remote might not be working:

  • There is dust gathering on your Insignia TV and remote sensor.
  • The connection isn’t stable, and the remote needs to be reconnected with the TV.
  • The remote batteries are old, dead, or disconnected.
  • Objects in front of the smart TV’s sensor can disrupt the signal or block its receptor.
  • The remote has been exposed to high heat, damaging the mechanics inside.
  • The remote has been dropped many times and is not working properly.
  • The TV isn’t connected to the remote and needs to be reset.

I have listed some standard troubleshooting methods that can help fix this issue. If not, you might need to call in a technician or buy a new remote for your Insignia smart TV.

8 Common Fixes For Insignia Smart TV Remote Not Working

If you are wondering “why my Insignia remote stopped working,” don’t fret! Try the following methods to finally be able to binge-watch your favorite TV show without any distractions.

Change the Batteries

A common and effective fix for your Insignia TV remote not working is changing the batteries. Often, the batteries are old and weak and cannot form a stable connection with the TV or send signals that are strong enough to be received by it. When this happens, you need to replace the
old batteries and use fresh ones.

My recommendation? Switch to alkaline batteries. These batteries, especially those produced by Duracell, will last you at least two years before you need to replace them.

Now, you should note that this simple method might not work every time, but it is recommended by Insignia TV manufacturers and the users’ community.

Ensure the TV Signal Receiver Isn’t Blocked

Sometimes, the solution involves rearranging a few pieces of décor or furniture to get the remote working. You must check if an object or item is blocking the TV’s signal receiver. If that’s the case, no matter what you do, the Insignia TV can’t detect remote until you remove these obstacles.

Before wasting your time and money on changing batteries or resetting the remote and TV, remove the objects between the TV and the remote. Moreover, ensure there is no dust on the TV sensors so they can detect the signals.

Reset the Insignia Remote

Reset the Insignia Remote

One of the most common fixes to the Insignia Fire TV remote not working issue is to do a simple remote reset. Often, this method works best for remotes or other small electronic devices and hardly takes 5 minutes.

To reset your remote:

  • Take the batteries out of the remote
  • Wait for 2 to 3 minutes
  • Put the batteries back in and see if that fixes the issue.

If not, move on to other common fixes.

Use a Third-Party Remote

If the entire remote not working wasn’t a big enough issue, many users have also complained about the “Insignia Fire TV remote home button not working.” For an issue with the remote’s button, I recommend using a universal remote with your Insignia TV and see if it resolves the issue.
To set up the universal remote, follow the steps below:

Turn on your Insignia TV and the universal remote you will use.
Then, tap on the Insignia TV button three times. An LED light will flash, indicating that the device is ready to be programmed.

Point the remote at your Insignia TV and click on the channel switches.

The remote will keep showing on and off signals. Press the up/down remote buttons to turn off the device.

Some of the most common universal remote codes for Insignia TVs are:
0103
0456
0189
0135
0133
0116
0167
0217
0029

Press the Insignia TV button to save the code once you’ve confirmed it. The LED light will blink twice to confirm that the code has been saved.

The universal remote is ready to use, and you can use it in place of the original Insignia Fire TV remote.

Re-Pair the Remote

If the Insignia Fire TV remote not working issue persists, I recommend re-pairing the remote. Sometimes, the remote and TV cannot form a strong connection, and re-pairing the remote might help resolve the issue.

To re-pair the Insignia TV remote, you can try any of the three methods mentioned below. Each method is suitable for a different smart TV.


For the Insignia Fire TV remote, press and hold the back button, left navigation button, and menu button for 30 seconds. The remote will reconnect to the TV.


If your Insignia Roku TV remote not working, re-pairing the remote might help. Point the remote at the TV and press the home button for 30 seconds to allow it to re-pair.


The enhanced Insignia remote comes with more functions. It has a re-pair button just below the batteries. Press and hold the button to reconnect the remote to the TV.

Power Cycle the Remote

Another effective method to fix the Insignia Fire TV remote not working issue is to power cycle the remote. This is usually done after checking the batteries, and if they have not worn out, follow the steps below to power cycle the remote.

  • Remove the batteries from the compartment.
  • Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds.
  • Next, press every button several times and insert the batteries.
  • Press different buttons on the remote and see whether it’s working.

Reset your Insignia Smart TV

Despite what you may think, your Insignia TV remote might not even be the culprit here. All smart TV remotes work the same way; they send infrared signals to the TV’s receiver, which, in turn, interprets them and performs the desired action.

It’s possible that your Insignia TV can’t detect remote because the receiver is unable to form a stable connection with the remote.

I recommend resetting the Insignia TV and seeing if that resolves the issue. To reset the TV, all you have to do is use the buttons on the side/back panel and follow the steps mentioned below:

  • From the main screen of the TV, go to “Settings.”
  • From settings, select the “system” option.
  • Select the Reset to Factory Defaults option, and that should reset your TV.

Remember that by choosing this option, all the data saved on your TV will be deleted, and the TV will revert to its default settings. Moreover, you can also download the Insignia Remote App to reset your smart TV.

Contact the Manufacturers

If you have tried all the above-mentioned methods and the issue persists, it’s best to chuck the old remote and get a new one. If you have recently purchased your Insignia TV, you know its warranty covers the smart TV and its accessories. Contact the manufacturers and have them change the remote to ensure no issues moving forward.

And that’s it! Your Insignia TV remote not working issue should be resolved with the methods mentioned above. If not, don’t worry. There are other fixes for different situations.

Other Issues Related To Insignia TV Remote

Insignia Fire TV Remote Not Pairing

If you are facing the Insignia Fire TV remote not pairing issues, I recommend the following solutions:

  • Start by trying to reset the Insignia TV and remote.
  • Reset the remote by pressing and holding the home button for 10 seconds.
  • You can also try unplugging the power adapter from the TV and wall outlet, waiting for 60 seconds, and then re-plugging them.

Insignia TV Remote Not Working Except Power Button

Insignia TV Remote Not Working Except Power Button

You can try re-pairing the remote or power cycling the remote to see if the insignia TV remote not working except power button issue resolves. Since resetting the remote requires the power button only, it shouldn’t be a problem.

An alternative method involves using the Insignia Remote smartphone app on your mobile. The app is available for iOS and Android devices and lets you operate the TV from your phone without wasting money on buying a new remote.

Insignia TV Remote Sensor Not Working

There are multiple things you can try to resolve the Insignia TV remote sensor not working issue, such as:

Wipe away the dirt and clean the Insignia TV signal receiver and remote sensors to ensure nothing is obstructing the signals to and from the TV and remote.

Maintain a clear line of sight and remove any obstacles or objects between the remote and TV sensors to ensure the signal isn’t disrupted.

Try power cycling the Insignia TV. For this, disconnect the TV’s power cord, hold the power key
for 1 minute, release the power key, and reconnect the power cord.

Insignia TV Remote Volume Not Working

Try the following methods to get the volume to work once again:

First things first, check your TV’s volume settings. Go to the settings option from the main menu and see if the proper audio source is selected.


Try resetting the remote and TV to see if it reconnects and works.
Check the batteries and use fresh ones.

That’s all there is to it! Your Insignia TV remote volume not working issue should be resolved.

FAQs

Q1. What to do if my Insignia Roku TV remote not working?

Answer – Try resetting the remote to see if the issue is resolved. For Insignia Roku TV remote, press the home button for 30 seconds and release it to reconnect the remote and TV.

Q2. My Insignia TV remote suddenly stopped working. What to do?

Answer – Multiple factors lead to Insignia remote malfunctioning, such as old batteries, connection issues, dirty and blocked sensors, etc.

Final Words

I hope this article helps you tackle all issues related to Insignia TV remote, so you finish Stranger Things season 4 without anyone spoiling it for you. Take care, until next time!

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