Did you just notice your Insignia TV remote is not pairing with the TV? Having a functioning remote control is essential for operating your Insignia TV conveniently.
However, encountering issues with the remote pairing can be frustrating and hinder your ability to enjoy your TV viewing experience.
Having trouble pairing your Insignia TV remote? You’re not alone.
Many users have also encountered difficulties when trying to pair their Insignia TV remote with their television, as the remote may refuse to work. But fret not, have got a proven fix to that.
Your Insignia TV remote that refuses to pair with the TV can likely be caused by weak or dead batteries, interference from obstruction to the TV, incompatible remote control, faulty remote control, and software or firmware glitches.
For whatever the reason might be, fixing this is a simple task, and doesn’t require any expertise.
In this post, I will address the likely causes that prevent your Insignia TV remote from pairing successfully with your television.
Additionally, you will learn about a set of proven troubleshooting steps that can effectively resolve the pairing issue in no time.
Why is My Insignia TV Remote Not Working
The Insignia TV remote is an essential device that comes bundled with Insignia televisions, serving as an integral part of the overall TV experience.
Since its purpose is to provide a convenient and user-friendly means of controlling the TV’s from a distance.
Dealing with not pairing remote control can be the most annoying experience you’ll be having with the Insignia TV.
There are several reasons that may cause your Insignia TV remote not to pair successfully with your television.
Either the remote is broken entirely from repeated drops or it has incurred significant damage from being dropped multiple times.
Handling the remote control with wet hands all the time can also lead to damage to its motherboard, potentially causing it to malfunction or become completely non-functional.
Here are common causes that can prevent your Insignia TV remote from pairing.
Common Causes of Insignia TV Remote Not Pairing
Weak or Dead Remote Batteries
When your Insignia TV remote battery has become weak over time, maybe you haven’t replaced it at all since purchase, the device may refuse to pair with the television successfully.
The remote requires a sufficient power supply to establish a connection with the television.
If the batteries are unable to provide the necessary power, it may probably result in the Insignia TV remote not pairing.
Using Incorrect Remote Code
When attempting to pair an Insignia TV remote, using the incorrect remote code can be a common reason for unsuccessful pairing.
The remote code is a unique series of numbers or alphanumeric characters that establishes a connection between the remote and the TV.
You will be prompted to input this particular code whenever you are trying to pair the remote with the TV.
Using the wrong code or a previously programmed code for a different device can prevent successful pairing. The correct code is easily accessible from the TV manual or Insignia website.
Remote Signal Interference
Interferences from any obstruction between both devices (the remote control and the television) can probably lead to the Insignia TV remote not pairing problem you’re currently experiencing.
The pairing process can be easily affected by signal interferences in case you have stuff placed at the front of your TV, or a verse of flower placed on your center table.
This can often disrupt the pairing process between the Insignia TV remote and the television.
Understanding the common sources of interference that’s affecting the connection signal, and taking appropriate steps to minimize them can help resolve this issue instantly without hassle.
Faulty Remote Control
Almost every TV remote control, including that of Insignia is made up of a plastic casing – the outer shell of the remote control that provides protection for the internal components, and features buttons or keys for different functions. Any damage to the body can definitely affect the inner component.
A faulty remote control can be a common cause of Insignia TV remote not pairing with the television. Various issues, such as physical damage or malfunctioning buttons, can prevent successful pairing.
If you are experiencing difficulties with your Insignia remote control, checking the remote well-being is another thing to take note of.
Insignia TV Software or Firmware Issues
When your TV is running on a late or older software version, you may likely be facing the Insignia TV remote not pairing. TV software or firmware issues can also contribute to problems with remote pairing.
Manufacturer releases software and firmware updates periodically to keep their devices up-to-date, in order to avoid setbacks of its function.
Running an outdated or incompatible software/firmware can disrupt the communication between the remote and the TV.
How to Fix Insignia TV Remote Not Pairing
Check for Weak or Dead Remote Batteries
The first step in troubleshooting an Insignia TV remote not pairing issue is to check the batteries.
Since weak or dead batteries can relatively hinder the pairing process and prevent the remote from sending signals effectively.
You will want to check on the remote batteries to ensure that the batteries have sufficient power to establish a proper connection.
In case you’ve been using the device for some period of time without replacing the batteries.
You can actually decide to change the remote batteries with a new pair to rule out the possibility of the pairing process being affected by weak remote batteries.
Here are the appropriate steps you can follow to remove and replace your Insignia TV remote batteries.
Firstly, you will have to locate the battery compartment on the back of your Insignia TV remote. It’s usually covered with a small plastic latch that can be removed easily.
Open the battery compartment cover and take out the old batteries from the compartment. Make sure to handle them properly and dispose of them in accordance with local regulations.
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Now inspect the battery contacts in the compartment and on the batteries.
If you notice any corrosion or dirt buildup, gently clean them using a soft cloth or cotton swab to ensure you’re inserting the new batteries into a clean compartment and contacts.
Get a new high-quality battery that is compatible with your Insignia TV remote.
The remote uses triple A (AAA) battery, you can actually check out the Insignia TV or remote’s user manual for recommended battery types, or visit Insignia product page.
Insert the new batteries into the compartment, ensuring the correct polarity (+ and -) is observed.
Align the batteries according to the markings inside the compartment, then close the battery compartment. Now retry the pairing process to check if the problem has been fixed.
Here are some additional battery tips you can adapt to prolong your insignia TV remote battery life and optimize remote the performance:
- Remove the batteries from the remote if it won’t be used for an extended period.
- Avoid mixing old and new batteries or using batteries of different brands simultaneously.
- Keep spare batteries on hand to quickly replace depleted ones.
Ensure You’re Closer Enough to the TV
Dealing with the Insignia TV remote not pairing problem, distance plays a large role in the process since infrared connectivity provides a limited range of approximately 3 feet; not so long and prone to interferences from obstruction and distance.
Clearing off any obstacles blocking the signal is quite important while trying to fix the issue of Insignia TV remote not pairing.
Firstly identify and remove every physical obstructions that may likely be hindering the connection, such as furniture, plants, or decoration in order to improve the signal transmission.
However, if you have dust or dirt on the remote’s infrared sensor or LED, this can obstruct the signal strength and prevent the Insignia TV remote from pairing successfully.
It’s advisable to clean the remote control, paying special attention to the infrared sensor and LED area, using a soft, dry, or a microfiber cloth.
Another thing to do in this case is getting close enough to the Insignia TV.
With the remote pointed directly to the TV, try repairing your Insignia TV remote with the television to see if the pairing process is previously affected by the distance between both devices.
Restart and Re-Pair the Remote
Here in this part, you’ll need to restart the Insignia TV remote and make it start afresh.
After replacing the old batteries with new pairs, did the remote still refuses to pair successfully with the TV?
In most cases, restarting and re-pairing the remote also works out for rectifying the issue of Insignia TV remote not pairing.
Doing this is quite easy, you’ll start by ensuring that the remote has fresh batteries. After replacing the old with new, then move to the next step.
Take out the remote battery and wait for like 2 seconds. For effective power cycle, you will want to power drain the remote control entirely before starting it up again.
During the waiting time, press some keys on the remote to drain it remaining power.
Afterward, return the batteries, placing it in an appropriate manner, then close the battery compartment.
The next thing to do is to locate the pairing button on the remote then press and hold for some seconds till you see a prompt on the TV screen.
Now follow the appropriate pairing process to see the outcome after restarting your Insignia TV remote. Additionally, test the remote by pressing various buttons to ensure they are working correctly.
Check if the TV responds to the commands from the remote.
If the remote is functioning as expected, that mean you have successfully fix the issue of Insignia TV remote not pairing and you’re now able to re-paired it with your television.
Try a Different Pairing Code
Sometimes, when trying to establish a connection between the TV and the remote, using incorrect pairing code can lead to unsuccessful connection, as you may not be unable to pair the Insignia TV remote with the television successfully.
Paying a closer attention to the code you’re inputting to pair both devices is quite necessary, so far that using incorrect one can lead to Insignia TV remote not pairing. Finding the correct code is relatively easy, you can simply resort to the TV manual.
Pick up your Insignia TV user manual that is shipped with the device, and look up for the correct pairing codes that can be used for pairing the remote efficiently with the TV.
It often contains a list of remote codes specific to your TV model. Look for the section related to remote control setup or programming as well.
Another thing to do on such instances is to access the online code database for your product.
Insignia provides an online code database on their official website for anyone that is in need of the code, maybe your manual doesn’t contain such information, or it has been replaced.
Visit the Insignia support page and search for the remote code database.
Here you’ll need to enter your TV model number or select your TV model from the provided options.
The database should provide you with the corresponding remote codes that work best with your TV model.
Check for the TV Software and Firmware Update
Another possible fix for resolving issues with an Insignia TV remote not pairing is to ensure that your TV’s software or firmware is up to date.
Manufacturers often release software updates to fix bugs and improve device performance.
You can only be able to perform system update on your TV if your TV remote work by chance or it always work for some time before it stop working again.
To avoid such problem in future times, it’s advisable to keep everything up-to-date. Here’s how you can check for available updates on your Insignia TV.
For an Insignia TV running on Roku software;
- From the left bar, scroll and select Settings.
- Then navigate and select System option.
- Now look for System Update option and click on it.
- Click on Check now to scan for any update.
- The TV will now check for available updates.
- If any updates are found, follow the on-screen prompts to download and install them. Be patient as this process may take some time.
For an Insignia TV running Fire OS;
- Navigate to the gear icon at the upper right corner of your screen.
- Click on it to access the TV Settings.
- Scroll way down and Select My Fire TV.
- Select the first option which is About.
- Scroll down till you reach Check for update.
- Click on it while your TV will scan and check for any available update.
- If any is found, follow the screen prompt to update your TV successfully.
For other Insignia TV with the basic operating system, you can always visit the product page on Insignia website to download a firmware update and a manual which will definitely guide you on how to install the update into your TV manually.
Tips: Before updating, make sure your TV is connected to the internet. Either connect it via Ethernet cable or go to the TV’s network settings to connect it to your Wi-Fi network.
After the update is complete, the TV will restart automatically which may take some time to boot down, and you should be able to use your Insignia TV remote to pair with the TV.
How to Check and Update Insignia TV
Reset the TV and Remote to Factory Settings
Here is the last resort you can adapt if all else didn’t work in your case.
Before deciding if you’ll need a new TV remote or you’ll have reach our to the Insignia product support for assistance, you’ll want to reset your Insignia TV to confirm that the pairing issue isn’t from the TV.
On before that, power cycle TV if the remote will work for a while in which you’ll use to reset the TV.
Power cycling the TV involves disconnecting the TV entirely from it power source, and removing every remaining power from it components before turning it on again.
To do this; disconnect the TV from the power source and leave it unplugged for several seconds.
During the waiting time, you can get closer to TV and press the power button to power drain it entirely.
Then plug the TV back and turn it on. Now try to re-pair the TV remote if the issue has been fixed.
I’m case it’s the other way around, you can then try out restoring it factory settings.
If your Insignia TV model possess a quick reset button, you can access that easily and reset your TV without the need of a TV remote. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to access the device settings;
- Navigate to the System or Setup section within the settings menu.
- Look for the Reset or Factory Reset option and select it.
- Confirm your selection if prompted.
- The TV will begin the reset process, which may take a few moments. Once the process is complete, the TV will restart.
Contact Insignia Support for Assistance
If you have tried all the troubleshooting steps mentioned earlier and your Insignia TV remote is still not pairing with your TV, it may be time to seek assistance from Insignia Support.
They have a dedicated team of professionals who can help you resolve any issues you are experiencing with your remote.
To contact Insignia Support, follow these steps:
- Visit the Insignia website.
- Locate the Support section.
- Select your product and model.
- Explore troubleshooting resources, if that doesn’t contain new things, you can seek an audience with their agent.
- Provide them with necessary information and previous steps you’ve taken.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, experiencing difficulties with your Insignia TV remote not pairing can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the issue and regain control over your television.
By following the outlined steps in this article, you have learned how to address common causes of pairing problems, such as battery issues, line of sight obstructions, signal interference, outdated firmware, and more.
Finally, it’s worth considering alternative options, such as pairing multiple remotes with your Insignia TV or using a universal remote as a workaround.
The Insignia TV, being one of the most popular smart TVs, is widely utilized by many users; however, like any electronic device, it can experience unexpected breakdowns.
In case you’re having issue with your Insignia TV that’s not turning on, you can check out my detailed guide on it.
Why Is Your Insignia TV Not Turning On – Here’s What to Do
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset my Insignia TV remote?
To reset your Insignia TV remote, you’ll firstly need to remove the batteries: Take out the batteries from the back of the remote.
This will ensure a complete power cycle, then wait for about 10 – 15 seconds. Reinsert the batteries: Put the batteries back into the remote, ensuring they are correctly aligned.
Aim at the TV and test: Point the remote towards your Insignia TV and press any button to check if it is working properly.
If the remote is functioning correctly, it has been successfully reset and already paired with your Insignia TV successfully.
Why is my Insignia remote flashing red?
The red flashing light on your Insignia remote indicates that there might be an issue with the remote’s battery or connectivity.
The flashing red light typically suggests low battery power. Try replacing the batteries with fresh ones and see if the issue resolves.
If the problem persists even after replacing the batteries, there might be a connection problem between the remote and the TV.
In that case, you can try re-pairing the remote with the TV by following the instructions in the user manual or contacting Insignia Support for further assistance.
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