How to Program a GE Universal Remote Control

The 30-second test

Before you punch a code, check two things. Point your phone camera at the front of the GE remote and press Power. A live remote shows a faint purple flash. No flash means the IR LED is dead — swap both batteries and test again.

Then look at the TV home screen. Purple Roku tiles mean a GE remote will never work. Hisense R6, R7, and R8 sets pair over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. They ignore infrared. If that is your set, skip to Fix 1 or see Hisense Roku TV remote not working.

What you see	What to do
Purple Roku tiles on the home screen	Skip the GE remote. Use Wi-Fi control.
Camera test shows no purple flash	Fit fresh batteries, then retest.
VIDAA or Android Hisense, IR flash works	Go to Method 1, then enter a code.
No listed code turns the TV off	Run auto-search in Method 3.

Purple Roku tiles, or no time for codes? The free HiRemote app pairs over the same Wi-Fi as the TV. Open it, pick your Hisense model, and follow the pairing steps. For a Hisense Roku TV, the browser remote also works — type the IP from Settings > Network > About.

Method 1: Find the CL version on the GE remote

Flip the remote over, or pop the battery cover. Look for a small CL3, CL4, CL5, or CL6 mark. Some prints say v5 instead of CL5. That mark picks which code list the remote actually stores.

I treat an unmarked remote as CL4 and work down that row. The GE 33709 I use shows the mark under the cover. A code from the wrong version is why people say none of the codes work. Write the mark down before you start Method 2.

When this fails: no CL mark and no booklet. Start with 0671 anyway, then run auto-search if Power never responds.

Method 2: Program the GE universal remote control with a code

Turn the TV on. Stand a few feet in front of it. Then enter one code at a time.

1. Press and hold SETUP until the red light stays lit.
2. Press the TV device key.
3. Type a 4-digit code from the row that matches your CL version.
4. Press Power. If the TV switches off, press SETUP once to lock the code.
5. Turn the TV back on and test Volume, Mute, and Input. Do not stop at Power.

If nothing happens, repeat with the next code. These Hisense codes are the same set we list in the Hisense TV remote codes guide.

GE remote version	Hisense codes to try, in order
CL6 and CL5	6161, 1651, 6251, 6171, 2081, 5331, 2211, 0001, 0671, 4391
CL4	6161, 1651, 6171, 2081, 5331, 2211, 0001, 0671, 4391
CL3	2081, 5331, 2211, 4671, 0671, 3671, 4381, 4391

Start with 0671 if you are unsure of the version. That code sits in every GE row from CL3 to CL6. GE remotes use 4-digit TV codes, not the 5-digit lists that cable boxes use.

When this fails: the TV is a Hisense Roku model, the IR window is blocked, or the code is from the wrong CL row. Do not keep guessing random 5-digit numbers.

Method 3: Run GE auto code search

Use this when every listed code fails and the camera test still shows a purple flash. Auto-search walks the remote through its library. Jasco, the licensed maker of GE remotes, publishes the path on its auto code search page.

1. Turn the TV on.
2. Hold SETUP until the red light stays lit.
3. Press the TV key.
4. Press Power once every few seconds. Watch the screen, not the remote.
5. When the TV turns off, stop. Press SETUP once to save that code.

This can take several minutes of tapping. It is easy to overshoot the blink. If Power works but Volume does not, keep searching. You landed on a partial match.

When this fails: a Roku Hisense still ignores the whole library. Auto-search cannot invent Bluetooth pairing. Stop and use Fix 1.

Code list exhausted and the TV still ignores the GE clicker? HiRemote talks to the Hisense over Wi-Fi, so a dead IR window stops mattering. Download it free (4.4 from 1,600+ ratings), pick the model, and pair on the same network. Roku Hisense owners can use the browser remote the same way.

Fix 1: When the GE remote still does nothing

When both code entry and auto-search fail, I check these in order. A Hisense Roku TV is the usual dead end, not a bad remote.

• Confirm it is not a Roku set. Purple tiles and a Roku logo mean no GE code will ever stick.
• Fit two fresh batteries. A weak IR LED can flash up close and die from the couch.
• Clear the IR window. Wipe the dark window on the front bezel. Move a soundbar or frame that sits in front of it.
• Unplug the TV for 30 seconds. If the original Hisense remote is also dead after that, the TV is the problem.
• Switch to a phone remote. Put the iPhone on the same Wi-Fi as the TV. Open HiRemote, pick the Hisense model, and follow the pairing steps.

HiRemote is listed as Remote for Hisense Smart TV. It is free to download. It supports VIDAA, Roku TV, Google TV, and Fire TV Edition Hisense sets. It is not an official Hisense product. The TV must be on the same local Wi-Fi. Very old VIDAA builds (VIDAA 3.0 or earlier) do not expose the network control path.

Need the original Hisense clicker instead of a GE unit? See how to program a Hisense remote.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I program a GE universal remote control?

You program a GE universal remote control by holding SETUP, pressing TV, entering a 4-digit code, and tapping Power. If the TV turns off, press SETUP once to save. No luck? Repeat with the next code for your CL version. You can also run auto-search, which walks the remote through its library. Hisense Roku TVs ignore this whole process.

What is the GE universal remote code for a Hisense TV?

The GE code to try first on a Hisense TV is 0671. That code appears in every GE version from CL3 to CL6. If 0671 does nothing, try 2081, 5331, 2211, or 4391 next. Enter one code at a time and press Power after each. Hisense Roku TVs take no GE code at all. The full row for your CL version is in the table above.

How do I program a GE remote without the code?

Use GE auto code search. Turn the TV on, hold SETUP until the light stays lit, press TV, then tap Power every few seconds. When the TV switches off, press SETUP to save. Jasco documents this path on its auto code search page. The walk can take several minutes. Stop the moment the TV blinks off or you will overshoot.

Why is my GE universal remote control not working?

A GE remote often fails because the TV is a Roku model that ignores infrared. Other causes are a dead IR LED, weak batteries, a blocked IR window, or a code from the wrong CL version. Run the phone-camera test first. If you see no purple flash, replace both batteries. If the TV is a Hisense Roku set, switch to a Wi-Fi remote.

Can a GE universal remote control a Roku TV?

No. A GE universal remote cannot control a Roku TV, including Hisense R6, R7, and R8 sets. Those TVs pair remotes over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and ignore IR codes. Use the original Roku remote, the HiRemote app, or the in-browser remote. Programming more GE codes will not change this. A replacement IR clicker will not either.

Where do I find the codes for my GE remote?

Match the CL mark on the back of your GE remote to the Hisense table above. Keep the printed booklet if it came in the box. For other TV brands, use Jasco's site at byjasco.com and the remote's own list. GE remotes use 4-digit TV codes. Five-digit lists belong to cable-box remotes such as Spectrum or DirecTV.

Related guides

• Universal Remote Codes for Hisense TV (3, 4, and 5-Digit by Brand)
• Universal Remote Control: How to Set One Up for Any TV
• How to Program a Hisense Remote (Universal, Original, or Phone)
• How to Set Up a Universal Remote for Hisense Roku TV
• How to Use a Hisense TV Without the Remote (5 Working Methods)