Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Identify your Magnavox universal remote
- 03Method 2: Program the Magnavox universal remote with a code
- 04Method 3: Run Magnavox code search without a number
- 05Fix 1: When the Magnavox universal remote still does nothing
- 06Frequently Asked Questions
- 07How do I program a Magnavox universal remote?
- 08What is the Magnavox universal remote code for a Hisense TV?
- 09How do I program a Magnavox remote without the code?
- 10Why is my Magnavox universal remote not working?
- 11Can a Magnavox universal remote control a Roku TV?
- 12Does a Magnavox universal remote use 3-digit or 4-digit codes?
- 13Related guides
A Magnavox universal remote is an infrared clicker you program with a 4-digit TV code. Hold SETUP until the light stays on, press TV, type the code, then press Power. If the TV turns off, tap SETUP once to lock it. Hisense Roku TVs may take power and volume, but not the purple home grid.
I keep a 3-device Magnavox clicker next to the GE 33709. On my Hisense A6, which runs VIDAA, SETUP plus a Philips-tab code shut the set off. The same remote raised volume on my daughter's Hisense R6. It never opened the purple Roku tiles.
The 30-second test
Flip the remote over. Look for SETUP or CODE SEARCH. That mark is what makes it a Magnavox universal remote, not a leftover TV clicker.
Point your phone camera at the front of the remote and press Power. A live IR LED shows a faint purple flash. No flash means the batteries are dead. Swap both cells and test again.
Then look at the TV home screen. Purple Roku tiles mean IR may still do power and volume. It will not drive Home, OK, or Netflix. VIDAA or Google TV Hisense sets are the ones that take a full code.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| SETUP or CODE SEARCH on the remote | You have a real Magnavox universal. Go to Method 1. |
| No SETUP, only Magnavox TV keys | This is an OEM TV remote, not a universal. |
| Purple Roku tiles on the home screen | IR may do power and volume. Skip it for the home grid. |
| Camera test shows no purple flash | Fit fresh batteries, then retest. |
Need Home, Netflix, or a real keyboard instead of power and volume? The HiRemote app (App Store name: Remote for Hisense Smart TV) pairs over Wi-Fi. It is free to download and rated 4.4 from 1,680+ US ratings. On a Hisense Roku TV, the in-browser remote talks to the set with no install.
Method 1: Identify your Magnavox universal remote
Pop the battery cover. Read the model line on the sticker. Cheap US packs are usually 3-device or 4-device remotes. The device keys are TV, DVD, and CBL or SAT.
Find SETUP or CODE SEARCH before you type anything. Some packs print the word Setup in tiny type under a red key. Others label the key Code Search. That key starts programming. Without it, you are not holding a universal.
Write the model down. Magnavox shares a library family with Philips remotes, but each clicker stores its own table. A code from a GE booklet will not map. Our Hisense TV remote codes tracker has a Philips tab for Hisense sets. Use that tab plus the paper booklet in the blister card.
When this fails: no SETUP, no CODE SEARCH, and no booklet. Stop guessing numbers. You may be holding the original Magnavox TV remote. See how to program a Hisense remote if the TV itself is a Hisense.
Method 2: Program the Magnavox universal remote with a code
Turn the TV on. Stand a few feet in front of it. Enter one code at a time. Test Power after each code.
- Press and hold SETUP until the light stays lit. If your remote says CODE SEARCH, hold that key instead.
- Press the TV device key. The light should blink once and stay on.
- Type a 4-digit code from your booklet, or from the Philips tab on the Hisense codes tracker.
- The light turns off when the remote accepts the code.
- Aim at the TV and press Power.
- If the TV switches off, press SETUP once to lock the code.
- Turn the TV back on. Test Volume, Mute, and Input. Do not stop at Power.
If nothing happens, repeat from SETUP with the next code. The first hit is often a partial match. Power without volume means you stored the wrong number. Keep going.
Write the working code on a scrap of tape. Magnavox remotes forget it when batteries sit dead for weeks. We do not reprint a fake Magnavox booklet here. GE numbers such as 0671 belong to GE remotes only.
When this fails: the TV is a Hisense Roku model and you need the purple grid, the IR window is blocked, or the code is from the wrong brand's list. Do not punch random 5-digit cable codes into a Magnavox TV key.
Method 3: Run Magnavox code search without a number
Use this when every listed code fails and the camera test still shows a flash. Code search walks the remote through its own library. Official Magnavox support lives on magnavox.com. Keep the printed card if you still have it.
- Turn the TV on by hand. Use the set's power button if you need to.
- Hold SETUP or CODE SEARCH until the light stays on.
- Press TV.
- Point at the TV. Press CH+ or Power once every few seconds. Watch the screen, not the remote.
- When the TV turns off, stop. Press SETUP once to save that code.
- Turn the TV on and test Volume, Mute, and Input.
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.
Follow your booklet if it says to tap Power once per code. Some Magnavox packs use CH+ instead. Use the key the card names. Do not mix GE's ten-code batches into a Magnavox search. That flow is Jasco's, not Magnavox.
When this fails: a Roku Hisense still will not give you Home or apps. Code search cannot invent Bluetooth pairing. A dead LED also wastes the whole walk. Run the camera test again before you start over.
Ran the booklet and code search with no clean match? Open the HiRemote app, put the iPhone on the same Wi-Fi as the Hisense, pick your model from the compatibility list, and follow the pairing steps. For a Hisense Roku TV, type the TV's IP from Settings → Network → About into the browser remote. Both skip infrared codes.
Fix 1: When the Magnavox universal remote still does nothing
When both code entry and code search fail, I check these in order. A Hisense Roku home grid is the usual dead end, not a bad remote.
- Confirm the job. Power and volume are the Magnavox IR job. Home and apps are not. See how to set up a universal remote for Hisense Roku TV if you need the purple grid.
- 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.
- Aim at the TV, not a cable box. A TV code will not drive a Spectrum receiver.
- Unplug the TV for 30 seconds. If the original 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. Select your Hisense model from the compatibility list. 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. Compatible lines in the listing include VIDAA U6, U7, U8, and U9, Android TV A6, A7, H8, H9, and H10, and Roku R6, R7, and R8. It is not an official Hisense product. The TV must stay on the same local Wi-Fi. Very old VIDAA builds (VIDAA 3.0 or earlier) do not expose the network control path. The browser remote is Roku-only. It will not control VIDAA or Google TV from a web page.
I'd rather use the phone for daily watching. The Magnavox clicker stays in the drawer for power outages. The honest limit: it will not clone a Bluetooth voice remote.
| Method | Needs a code? | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Manual 4-digit entry | Yes | You have SETUP or CODE SEARCH and a booklet or the Philips tab |
| Magnavox code search | No | Listed codes fail, or you lost the card |
| HiRemote or browser remote | No | You need apps, a keyboard, or Roku navigation |
| Original TV remote | No | You still have the OEM clicker and only need pairing |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I program a Magnavox universal remote?
You program a Magnavox universal remote by holding SETUP, pressing TV, entering a 4-digit code, and tapping Power. If the TV turns off, press SETUP once to save. No booklet? Use code search: SETUP, then TV, then CH+ or Power until the TV reacts. Lock that hit with SETUP. Hisense Roku TVs may take power and volume from this. They will not give you the purple home grid.
What is the Magnavox universal remote code for a Hisense TV?
There is no single Magnavox code for a Hisense TV. The number lives in that remote's own library, not in a GE or RCA list. Use the paper booklet first. For Hisense sets, open the Philips tab on our Hisense TV remote codes tracker and try those numbers one at a time. We do not invent a Magnavox booklet table. Hisense Roku TVs may ignore everything but power and volume.
How do I program a Magnavox remote without the code?
Use Magnavox code search. Turn the TV on, hold SETUP or CODE SEARCH until the light stays on, press TV, then tap CH+ or Power every few seconds. When the TV switches off, press SETUP to save. Follow the blister card if it names a different search key. The walk can take several minutes. Stop the moment the TV blinks off or you will overshoot.
Why is my Magnavox universal remote not working?
A Magnavox universal remote often fails because the job is a Roku home grid, not a dead clicker. Other causes are a dead IR LED, weak batteries, a blocked IR window, or a code from the wrong brand's list. Run the phone-camera test first. If you see no purple flash, replace both batteries. If Power works and Volume does not, you stored a partial match.
Can a Magnavox universal remote control a Roku TV?
Yes for basic TV keys, after you program a TV code. Expect power, volume, and mute first. Do not expect the purple Roku home grid, OK, or app shortcuts from a generic IR remote. For that grid, use the HiRemote app or the free browser remote on the same Wi-Fi. Many people think the Magnavox remote failed when it only ever covered basic keys.
Does a Magnavox universal remote use 3-digit or 4-digit codes?
Most US Magnavox universal remotes ask for a 4-digit TV code. Older packs sometimes want three digits. Enter the length the remote asks for. Do not pad a 4-digit field with a cable-box 5-digit list. Those lists belong to Spectrum, Xfinity, and DirecTV remotes. If the light never turns off after four digits, you are on the wrong key or the wrong remote.
