Table of contents(15)+
- 01The 30-second test: is it the remote or the TV?
- 02Fix 1: Reset the batteries and clear the sensor
- 03Fix 2: Re-pair a Bluetooth Hisense remote (VIDAA)
- 04Method 3: Control your Hisense TV from your phone (free)
- 05Method 4: Use the buttons on the TV itself
- 06Which way to control your Hisense TV is best?
- 07Fix 5: Replace a lost or broken Hisense remote
- 08Frequently Asked Questions
- 09How do I reset my Hisense TV remote?
- 10Why is my Hisense remote not working?
- 11Can I use my phone as a Hisense remote control?
- 12How do I pair a new remote to my Hisense TV?
- 13What universal remote works with a Hisense TV?
- 14Do all Hisense remotes use Bluetooth?
- 15Related guides
Most Hisense remote control problems come down to three things: flat batteries, a dropped Bluetooth pairing, or the TV's sensor being blocked. Swap the batteries, re-pair the remote, or control the TV free from your phone. If the remote is lost or broken, a phone app or universal remote gets you going today.
I run a Hisense U7K in the lounge and keep an older ERF3I69H remote as a backup. Nine times out of ten, a "dead" remote is just flat AAA batteries or a Bluetooth remote that lost its pairing after a power cut. The one real limitation: an infrared remote needs a clear line to the sensor at the bottom of the panel. Block it and nothing happens.
The 30-second test: is it the remote or the TV?
Before you fix anything, find out what's actually broken. Point your remote at your phone's camera and press any button. You're checking the small bulb at the front of the remote.
- See a flashing light on your phone screen? The remote sends a signal—the fault is likely the TV or its sensor.
- No light at all? The remote is dead. Start with fresh batteries.
- Got a Bluetooth voice remote with a mic button? The camera test won't work—skip to Fix 2.
Don't want to troubleshoot at all? You don't have to wait for a fix. The HiRemote app turns your iPhone into a full Hisense remote over Wi-Fi. If yours is a Hisense Roku TV, open our browser remote and start pressing buttons right now—no install needed.
Fix 1: Reset the batteries and clear the sensor
Flat or loose batteries cause most unresponsive Hisense remotes. This fix takes under a minute and costs nothing.
- Open the battery door and swap in two fresh AAA batteries. Don't mix old and new.
- Press every button once with the batteries out—this drains stuck charge.
- Wipe the front of the remote and the bottom-front strip of the TV, where the receiver sits.
- Move anything blocking the line between remote and TV—soundbars are common culprits.
When it won't help: if new batteries change nothing and the camera test shows no light, the remote's emitter has failed. Skip to Fix 5.
Fix 2: Re-pair a Bluetooth Hisense remote (VIDAA)
Bluetooth voice remotes on VIDAA and Google TV models can lose their pairing after an update or power cut. Re-pairing usually brings them back in seconds.
- Hold the remote within a metre of the TV.
- Press and hold the pairing combo—on many VIDAA remotes that's Back + Home together for about 5 seconds.
- Watch for the remote's LED to blink, then wait for the TV to confirm on screen.
The exact button combo varies by model and remote. If Back + Home does nothing, check our Hisense remote pairing guide for your platform. An infrared remote has no pairing step—if yours has no mic button, go back to Fix 1.
Method 3: Control your Hisense TV from your phone (free)
You can control a Hisense TV from your phone for free, with no original remote at all. Hisense's own RemoteNOW app and our HiRemote app both work over Wi-Fi.
- Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Install RemoteNOW (Hisense's official free app) or HiRemote from the App Store.
- Open the app—it finds your TV automatically. Accept the pairing prompt on the TV.
- You now have power, volume, navigation, and a keyboard for logins.
On a Hisense Roku TV, you can skip the app entirely and use our browser remote from any laptop. The one catch for every phone option: it needs Wi-Fi. If your network is down, use the TV's own buttons next, or a universal remote.
Method 4: Use the buttons on the TV itself
Every Hisense TV has physical controls, so you're never fully stuck. The button is usually a single joystick or a small cluster, not a full set.
- Look on the bottom-centre, bottom-right, or back-right of the panel.
- A joystick handles power (press), volume (up/down), and inputs (left/right).
- On cluster models, a single button cycles menus with repeated presses.
The limitation: the TV button can't type or open a specific app. It's enough to turn the TV on, change source, or reach settings—then switch to a phone app for everything else. For a full walkthrough, see turning on a Hisense TV without the remote.
Which way to control your Hisense TV is best?
Here's how the five options compare, so you can pick by situation instead of guessing.
| Method | Cost | Needs Wi-Fi? | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared remote | Free (you own it) | No | Everyday use, no network |
| Bluetooth voice remote | Free (you own it) | No | Voice search on VIDAA / Google TV |
| Phone app (HiRemote / RemoteNOW) | Free | Yes (same network) | Remote lost or broken |
| Browser remote | Free | Yes | Hisense Roku TV, no app install |
| Universal remote | Paid | No | Permanent hardware replacement |
Still waiting on a replacement? You don't have to sit in front of a blank screen. The HiRemote app gives you volume, navigation, and power from your iPhone over Wi-Fi—free. On a Hisense Roku TV, our browser remote does the same from any laptop.
Fix 5: Replace a lost or broken Hisense remote
If the remote is gone or truly dead, you have three replacement routes—from free to paid. Pick by how permanent you want the fix to be.
- Phone app (free): RemoteNOW or HiRemote covers you today—see Method 3.
- Universal remote (paid): GE, One For All, and RCA remotes support Hisense with a setup code. Codes vary by remote brand, so check our Hisense remote codes list.
- Genuine replacement (paid): order a model-matched remote through Hisense Australia support. Match the model code printed on your old remote.
If you've simply misplaced it, work through the lost-remote checklist first—it's often wedged down the couch, and a phone app bridges the gap in the meantime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset my Hisense TV remote?
Pull out the batteries, then press and hold the power button on the remote for about 10 seconds to drain leftover charge. Reinsert fresh AAA batteries and test. For a Bluetooth VIDAA remote, also re-pair it by holding the pairing combo until the LED blinks. This clears most stuck-button and unresponsive faults.
Why is my Hisense remote not working?
Flat batteries are the most common cause, followed by a blocked infrared sensor or a dropped Bluetooth pairing. Test the emitter with your phone camera—press a button and look for a flashing light. No flash means the remote is dead; a flash means the fault sits with the TV or its sensor.
Can I use my phone as a Hisense remote control?
Yes. Hisense's free RemoteNOW app controls VIDAA and Google TV models over the same Wi-Fi network. Our HiRemote app does the same with a simpler layout, and Hisense Roku TV owners can use a browser remote with no install. All three replace a lost or broken remote within minutes.
How do I pair a new remote to my Hisense TV?
An infrared Hisense remote needs no pairing—just insert batteries and point it at the TV. A Bluetooth voice remote pairs by holding a button combo, often Back + Home, for about 5 seconds until the LED blinks and the TV confirms. The exact buttons vary by model and remote.
What universal remote works with a Hisense TV?
Most major universal remotes work with Hisense, including GE, One For All, Logitech Harmony, and RCA. Enter the setup code for your remote's brand, or use its auto-search mode to cycle through codes until the TV responds. Codes differ by remote brand, so check the list that came with yours.
Do all Hisense remotes use Bluetooth?
No. Basic Hisense remotes use infrared and need a clear line of sight to the TV's sensor. Voice remotes on VIDAA and Google TV models use Bluetooth, which works without pointing but must be paired first. Look for a microphone or voice button—that usually signals a Bluetooth remote.
