Table of contents(14)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Pair a Hisense TV remote (Bluetooth and Roku models)
- 03Roku-model Hisense remotes
- 04Method 2: Fix a Hisense remote that stopped working
- 05Method 3: Use your phone as a Hisense TV remote
- 06Method 4: Replace a lost or broken remote (free and paid)
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08How do I pair my Hisense TV remote?
- 09Why is my Hisense TV remote not working?
- 10Can I use my phone as a Hisense TV remote?
- 11What batteries does a Hisense TV remote use?
- 12Where is the pairing button on a Hisense remote?
- 13How do I reset a Hisense TV remote?
- 14Related guides
I've set up and un-bricked a lot of Hisense sets — a VIDAA A6 in the living room, a Roku model in the bedroom, and a Google TV U6 my brother swears at every week. The remotes look almost identical, but they pair and fail in different ways. The battery-compartment model number (mine reads EN2BE27) tells you which playbook you're on. Below is what actually works, free options first.
The 30-second test
Before anything else, learn which remote you're holding. Look for a small microphone hole near the top and a tiny status LED. If it has both, it's a Bluetooth or voice remote that needs pairing. If it has neither, it's a basic IR remote that never pairs — it just needs good batteries and a clear line of sight.
Now point the remote's tip at your phone's front camera and press any button. On an older phone you'll see a faint purple flash, which means the remote is sending a signal. No flash on one phone isn't proof it's dead — many newer phones filter infrared — so try a second phone before you give up on it.
Need to control the TV right now? If the remote's dead and you can't wait for batteries, our browser remote works from any phone or laptop on the same Wi-Fi — nothing to install. For a permanent backup, the HiRemote app keeps a full button layout on your phone. Both are covered in Method 3.
Method 1: Pair a Hisense TV remote (Bluetooth and Roku models)
IR remotes don't pair — if yours has no LED or mic, skip to Method 2. Bluetooth and voice remotes on VIDAA and Google TV sets pair the same way. Stand about three feet from the TV with fresh AAA batteries in, and turn the TV on using the power button on the set itself if the remote can't do it.
- Hold the Back and Home buttons together for about three seconds. On voice models, hold Back and the mic/voice button instead.
- The remote's LED blinks when it enters pairing mode.
- Wait for the on-screen "Remote paired" message. If nothing shows, release, wait five seconds, and try once more.
When it won't work: pairing needs the TV powered on and the remote within Bluetooth range, roughly 15 feet. If the remote has no LED at all, it's IR — pairing does nothing, and your fix is in Method 2.
Roku-model Hisense remotes
Hisense Roku TVs pair differently. Open the battery door and look for a small pairing button inside. With the TV on, hold that button for three to five seconds until the LED flashes, then wait about 30 seconds for the on-screen pairing bar. If there's no pairing button, you have a simple IR remote — power-cycle the TV (unplug 30 seconds) and it should respond. Roku's own pairing help covers edge cases by remote type.
| Hisense OS | Remote type | How to pair |
|---|---|---|
| VIDAA | Bluetooth / voice | Hold Back + Home for 3 seconds |
| Google TV | Bluetooth / voice | Hold Back + Home for 3 seconds |
| Roku TV | RF remote | Pairing button inside battery bay |
| Any older set | IR | No pairing — just add batteries |
Method 2: Fix a Hisense remote that stopped working
Work these in order — the fastest and most common fixes are first. Most "dead" remotes come back to life at step one or three.
- Swap the batteries, even ones that look new. Use a known-good pair. Weak batteries are the number-one cause of a flaky remote.
- Reseat and clean. Pop the batteries out, wipe the metal contacts, and press every button a few times to free any that are stuck.
- Power-cycle the TV. Unplug it at the wall for 60 seconds, then plug it back in. This resets the TV's IR and Bluetooth receiver.
- Clear the line of sight. For IR remotes, a soundbar, a sticker, or anything covering the front sensor blocks the signal. Point straight at the lower panel.
- Re-pair Bluetooth remotes using Method 1 if the LED lights but nothing happens.
When it won't work: if the remote controls another Hisense TV but not yours, the problem is your TV's receiver, not the remote. A power-cycle or, as a last resort, a factory reset is your next step. For the full walkthrough, see our 7 free fixes for a Hisense remote that isn't working.
Method 3: Use your phone as a Hisense TV remote
When the remote's gone or dead, your phone can take over — no infrared needed — as long as the TV is already on your Wi-Fi. You have three honest options, and they don't all cover the same TVs.
- RemoteNOW (official, VIDAA). Hisense's own app. Install it, join the same Wi-Fi as the TV, open it, pick your set, and enter the code shown on screen. Full button layout and keyboard. It only sees VIDAA TVs, not Roku models. Grab it from Hisense support.
- HiRemote (our app). HiRemote works across Hisense VIDAA and Google TV sets. Install it, join the same Wi-Fi, tap your TV, and you get power, volume, a D-pad, and app shortcuts. It also keeps a text keyboard for logins — much faster than pecking letters with a D-pad.
- Browser remote (no install). For Hisense Roku TVs, open our browser remote on any device on the same network. Nothing to install; it talks to the TV over its local Roku network control.
The honest catch: all three need the TV already connected to Wi-Fi with network control turned on (look under Settings for a "mobile app" or "control by mobile apps" toggle — on Roku it's under System > Advanced system settings). If your TV never made it onto Wi-Fi, you'll need a physical remote or the set's own buttons first. Our guide to connecting a Hisense TV to Wi-Fi without the remote covers that.
Prefer a phone over hunting for a new remote? HiRemote mirrors the whole Hisense layout — power, volume, D-pad, and app shortcuts — and pairs over your home Wi-Fi in under a minute. For a one-off, open the browser remote instead. Neither needs the physical remote to set up, as long as the TV's already online.
Method 4: Replace a lost or broken remote (free and paid)
Free replacements are the phone options in Method 3 — nothing to buy, nothing to wait for. If you'd rather hold a real remote, you have two paid routes.
- OEM replacement. Find the model number inside the battery compartment (for example EN2BE27 or ERF3I69H) and search it on Amazon or a Hisense parts store. Genuine replacements usually run £8–£20. Buying the exact model means zero setup — it just works out of the box.
- Universal remote. A One-For-All or GE universal with Hisense codes covers the basics. Enter the Hisense code (our universal remote codes for Hisense list has them), and you'll get power, volume, and channel.
When it won't work: a universal remote can't launch smart apps or use voice on most Hisense sets. It's fine for a spare bedroom TV, frustrating on a main one you stream from.
| Option | Cost | Setup | Voice / app buttons | Works if TV is offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiRemote app | Free | ~1 min | Yes (app shortcuts) | No — needs Wi-Fi |
| Browser remote | Free | None | Limited | No — needs Wi-Fi |
| RemoteNOW (official) | Free | ~1 min | Yes | No — needs Wi-Fi |
| OEM replacement | £8–£20 | None | Yes | Yes (IR/RF) |
| Universal remote | £5–£15 | Code entry | No | Yes (IR) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pair my Hisense TV remote?
Hold the Back and Home buttons together for about three seconds until the remote's LED blinks, then wait for the on-screen "paired" message. That covers VIDAA and Google TV Bluetooth remotes. Roku-model Hisense remotes use a pairing button inside the battery compartment instead. Older IR remotes don't pair — they work the moment you add batteries.
Why is my Hisense TV remote not working?
Weak batteries are the most common reason, so swap them first even if they look new. Next, unplug the TV for 60 seconds to reset its receiver, and make sure nothing blocks the front IR sensor. If the remote works on another TV but not yours, the TV's receiver is the problem, not the remote.
Can I use my phone as a Hisense TV remote?
Yes. If your Hisense TV is on Wi-Fi, a phone app replaces the remote completely. VIDAA sets use the official RemoteNOW app or HiRemote; Hisense Roku TVs work with a browser remote or the Roku app. All of them need the phone and TV on the same network, and the TV must already be connected to Wi-Fi.
What batteries does a Hisense TV remote use?
Almost every Hisense remote takes two AAA batteries. Voice and Bluetooth models drain them faster than basic IR remotes because of the always-listening mic and wireless radio. If buttons work only sometimes, replace both batteries as a pair — mixing an old and a new one causes exactly that flaky behavior.
Where is the pairing button on a Hisense remote?
On Hisense Roku TV remotes, the pairing button sits inside the battery compartment, usually just below the batteries. Hold it for three to five seconds with the TV on until the LED flashes. VIDAA and Google TV remotes have no separate pairing button — you pair them by holding Back and Home together instead.
How do I reset a Hisense TV remote?
Pull out the batteries, then press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds to drain any residual charge. Put fresh batteries back in and, for Bluetooth models, re-pair by holding Back and Home. This clears stuck signals and fixes most remotes that light up but don't control the TV.
