LG TV Remote Not Working

remote input jack on LG tv

Last night we found that our TV remote stopped working.  Also the Dish remote for the TV also didn’t work, meaning, it was in the TV not the actual TV remote.  However, I did replace the battery and looked to see that the invisible light on the front of it was working by holding my Droid up to it and doing a selfie with the camera.  The invisible ray that comes out is visible to see digitally but not to the naked eye.  I also took out the batteries and pushed each button for 3 seconds, didn’t help.  And I rebooted the TV by unplugging and plugging.  None of these helped.

However I found this article that gave me the answer.  There is a “Remote Control In” jack on the back of TV’s for external wired remotes if you needed one. If an external remote is plugged in, the IR Sensor (internal remote sensor) turns off. If this “remote in” jack is blocked with dust, dirt, etc, then the TV thinks you have an external remote plugged in.   Sure enough I found the jack, blew in there and ran a 3.5mm (headphone jack) plug-in and out several times and now it works.  The dust was hardly even visible, that s how sensitive it is.  Anyway, this problem has been haunting me for 12 hours and finally its fixed.  So glad.

IMG_20160131_094807585

See Remote Control In jack

Contacts:
Posted by: Geoff on October 12, 2014
Tags:

25 Comments so far:

  1. Dee says:
    November 3, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    My remote stopped working a month ago after I dusted tv and I have duplicate tv in bedroom. I tried that remote also and realized I’m going to probably have to get tv worked on. This is the first blog I checked and it worked. My remote is working again. Thank you. You have saved me a time and money.

  2. Wally Lewis says:
    December 13, 2015 at 8:05 am

    My remote has not worked for months! I tried this and it WORKED!!!! Thanks you so much! Wally Lewis

  3. D Lose says:
    December 24, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    Thank you. Christmas Eve. Thought I would be buying a tv at the worst time. This fix worked. I placed scotch tape over the jack opening. Merry Christmas!

  4. aes says:
    January 31, 2016 at 9:42 am

    Hi everyone,
    my remote control is working but “WEAK”?

    When starting the TV the remote control working distance is only about 1m.
    After a few minutes the distance gradually increases up to 2-3m, but all the time the angle is very narrow.
    (I don’t find any audio blug in my TV set?)

    Any hints ?

    • Geoff says:
      January 31, 2016 at 10:07 am

      Well it doesn’t sound like the fix I have described here, however, I did add a photo of the back of the tv showing the jack I am talking about. Is yours and LG? Did you check that the batteries are fresh? thats all I can think of.

      • aes says:
        January 31, 2016 at 3:01 pm

        Thanks a lot.
        No ext remote control connector in my TV. It is model LG 42Lh7020.

        The batteries have been replaced, but no help.
        Also I wonder how such an issue could depend on those batteries. I mean, starting the TV fine, short range in the beginning and increasing gradually…
        The reason must be in the TV?

      • aes says:
        January 31, 2016 at 3:01 pm

        Thanks a lot.
        No ext remote control connector in my TV. It is model LG 42Lh7020.

        The batteries have been replaced, but no help.
        Also I wonder how such an issue could depend on those batteries. I mean, starting the TV fine, short range in the beginning and increasing gradually…
        The reason must be in the TV?

      • Thomas says:
        February 4, 2017 at 11:38 am

        Thank you so much!
        I had the very same problem, and I knew the source could not be the remote control as such:
        I would normally use a universal Logitech remote for TV, sat decoder, home theater etc., but my wife prefers the original LG remote. The problem occurred in the very same way using either remote.
        Like “aes”, I do not have the same model you have. Mine, too, has no jack for external remotes.
        BUT: I found an unused dirty USB IN socket, cleaned it with a toothbrush (no worries, not the one I am using for my actual teeth), and I am all set again.

        Thanks again!

  5. popich says:
    February 23, 2016 at 12:10 pm

    http://www.alexfix.net – lg magic motion remote control repair guide

  6. Del says:
    March 18, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    Thanks for the advice on the remote not working on my LG. I plugged a jack in and out of the back of my tv and now it works. It was driving me crazy.

  7. Greg Olsen says:
    April 15, 2016 at 8:11 am

    I had same problem with 65″ OLED curved screen. My cleaning woman was dusting around the TV and it turned on. We couldn’t turn it off so I unplugged it. Will try this when I get home

  8. A.D.A says:
    August 19, 2016 at 12:30 am

    I have the same trouble, my tv is LG LED LW 45 series.
    My remote control doesn’t work. I’ve already trying pressing buttons for 3sec and change the battery it didn’t work. And might guessing this bcs of dust since i rarely using the tv. And trying searching the remote control plug but my tv doesn’t have it. Any guess for this problem. Thankyou

  9. Andrew M says:
    December 20, 2016 at 8:37 am

    Holy. Cow! Worked for me too. Thank you so much for this post. Bought a house with this tv mounted in our bedroom, but the remote wouldn’t work. Plugged a jack into the “remote in”, unplugged it, and the remote works like a charm. Thanks again.

  10. Calvin says:
    January 12, 2017 at 2:01 pm

    My remote was working on and off then suddenly stopped working all together. Started looking at TVs in the stores then Goggled “lg tv remote not working tv works fine”, this came up and BINGO. You saved me $900! Thanks so much.

  11. Abi says:
    January 28, 2017 at 10:52 am

    My LG TV doesn’t have the ‘remote in’ jack. Any ideas?

  12. Terri Worthington says:
    February 24, 2017 at 10:18 am

    TV model no:50PA6500 remote model: AKB73615312. Teenager has played with Peel smart remote app. As a result our remote is no longer doing what it should this wasn’t an instant thing… remote just one day started activating functions unrelated to the button pressed. I have removed batteries for 5mins (and put new set of batteries in). Have removed batteries & pushed all buttons for 3sec ea. I have also pressed the green & yellow buttons (no light flashing that I could see with naked eye) then selected 981 according to Google Searches. The remote has had a protector on it, so no build up on the buttons, and free of baby dribble. Remote hasn’t been damaged or dropped. all things that should be done. Right now vol up=menu. vol down :off no other buttons seem to work. Please help!
    Have just unplugged the TV now, cannot seem to find a remote in jack- bit at 5am not a great deal I can see lol. I will plug the TV back in when the house starts to stir… is there anything else I can try?

    • Geoff says:
      February 24, 2017 at 11:19 am

      Terry, I really only know the one cure that I stated on the blog. However, you may read thru the other comments and maybe get some clues. Keep looking for the remote jack input hole, use a flash lite, its tiny. It also sounds like you have done your research and tried most of the other solutions. Worst case contact LG or whoever makes the Tv and get a replacement. Shouldn’t cost much.

  13. Ramon Bowman says:
    March 4, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    Thanks you for this info! This corrected my problem too! Wouldn’t have guessed this to be the solution if it weren’t for your post.

  14. saman says:
    April 3, 2017 at 9:52 pm

    hi
    i have lg 55hu603v TV but i have the problem with remote controller.when i push rolling wheel button a massage appear telling REMOT CONTROLLER IS NOT REGISTER after pushing OK tv getting registering controller but after 10 seconds this massage apear “Failure to register remot controller”.
    actually i changed the batteries for several times but this prosses repeat again and no result.
    some main buttons work like volum buttons,program buttons,ON/OFF button,Mute,the setting button works but when choosing a mode i cant go throw and continue and again registeration massage appear.
    please help me i confused.
    thnx alot

    • Geoff says:
      April 4, 2017 at 9:05 am

      Sorry, I only know of this fix that I have posted here. You should contact LG about this issue.

  15. Jon says:
    October 7, 2017 at 11:57 am

    Life saver here!!! Thanks, was literally almost about to go get a new TV!

  16. Tony says:
    November 1, 2017 at 5:36 am

    I was away and during that time there was a power cut. On my return the standby light was not working and the on off switch didnt work either Any suggest tons what I should do or is the whole think kaput? It is an LG TV

    • Geoff says:
      November 1, 2017 at 7:23 am

      Try plugging into another outlet that you are sure works. Otherwise it sounds like something inside the tv was blown by a surge. You need a surge protector especially if you are having power issues on a regular basis.