How to Set Up a Universal Fjernkontroll for Any TV

The 30-second test

Before you buy or reprogram anything, answer one question: is your Hisense (or other) TV a smart set on your home Wi-Fi?

• Yes — Hisense smart TV on Wi-Fi — your iPhone can be the remote over the network. No IR codes. No line of sight.
• No — older IR-only set — you need a physical universal fjernkontroll and a brand code.
• Mixed (TV + soundbar + disc player) — a physical universal remote still wins for one-hand control.

If your Hisense TV is already online, HiRemote turns your iPhone into a full remote over Wi-Fi. Prefer no install on a Hisense Roku TV? Use the free online Roku remote in a browser.

Method 1: Program with your TV's brand codes

This is the classic path for a universal fjernkontroll. Every remote ships with a code list, and makers publish the same lists online.

• Find your brand in the booklet or a maker's code finder such as One For All setup codes.
• On most GE-style remotes, press and hold Setup until the LED stays lit. Other brands use a similar Program or Magic key — check the booklet.
• Press the device key you want (usually TV).
• Enter the 3-, 4-, or 5-digit code. The LED usually blinks when the remote accepts it.
• Point at the TV and press Power. If the screen turns off, test volume and the menu next.

When it won't work: Hisense often lists several codes. The first may only kill power. Keep the next code on the list until menu and volume respond. Wrong device key (DVD instead of TV) is a common miss.

Method 2: Run an auto-search code scan

Use this when the printed list fails or you do not know the brand. The remote walks its library until one code sticks.

• Turn the TV on with the side power button if you have no working remote.
• On most GE-style remotes, hold Setup until the LED stays lit, then press TV. Follow your booklet if the labels differ.
• Point at the TV and press Power once per code. Go slowly.
• Stop the moment the TV switches off.
• Press Setup (or the lock key your booklet names) once to save that code.

Honest limit: a full scan can take several minutes. If you rush past the right code, you restart. Some cheap remotes only store a thin code set and never find newer Hisense panels.

Method 3: Use HiRemote on your iPhone

Modern Hisense smart TVs do not need IR at all. If the TV sits on the same Wi-Fi as your phone, HiRemote (Remote for Hisense Smart TV on the App Store) sends network commands the same way a working remote does over Wi-Fi.

• Connect the TV and iPhone to the same Wi-Fi. Guest networks usually block discovery.
• Download HiRemote and open it. Free to install; an optional annual plan unlocks unlimited touchpad and playback controls.
• Select your specific Hisense TV model from the compatibility list in the app.
• Follow the pairing instructions on screen until the D-pad responds.
• Use power, volume, channel keys, app shortcuts, and the phone keyboard for Netflix or YouTube logins.

Not sure which OS your set runs? Start at Which Hisense TV do you have? before you pair. VIDAA owners can also skim the Hisense VIDAA remote guide for the Mobile Phone Remote Control toggle.

When it won't work: the TV must be a supported Hisense smart model on local Wi-Fi. An IR-only older set, a soundbar, or a Blu-ray player still needs a physical universal fjernkontroll. HiRemote is an independent app, not an official Hisense product.

Method 4: Teach the remote with learning mode

Some universal remotes can copy button signals from the original remote. Use this when codes fail but the old remote still works for a few keys.

• Put the universal remote in learning or teach mode (check its booklet — labels differ).
• Press the key on the universal remote you want to fill, then press the matching key on the original.
• Point the original remote at the universal remote, nose to nose, a few centimeters apart.
• Repeat for Power, Volume, Input, and Home.

When it won't work: learning needs a live original remote and IR line of sight between the two. Bluetooth voice remotes on newer U7K / U8K sets often will not teach IR keys. If the original is gone, skip to Method 2 or Method 3.

Universal fjernkontroll options compared

Option	Best for	Needs Wi-Fi?	Controls soundbar too?	Main limit
Physical universal remote + brand codes	Any IR TV	No	Often yes	Wrong code = partial control
Auto-search / learning mode	Unknown brand or odd codes	No	Depends on remote	Slow scan; learning needs original
HiRemote iPhone app	Hisense smart TVs	Yes	No	Hisense only; LAN required
Browser Roku remote	Hisense Roku TV	Yes	No	Roku OS only; no VIDAA / Fire

Pick the row that matches your living room, not the flashiest product. A cheap IR remote still beats an app when the TV never joined Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a universal fjernkontroll?

A universal fjernkontroll is a single remote programmed to control more than one device, usually by infrared brand codes. You enter a code for the TV, then optional codes for a soundbar or player. Smart-TV phone apps are a different path: they talk over Wi-Fi instead of IR, so they do not replace a multi-device plastic remote for every box in the room.

How do I program a universal remote for a Hisense TV?

Put the remote in programming mode, press TV, enter a Hisense code from the booklet, then test Power and Volume. If that code only half-works, try the next Hisense entry or run auto-search. For a Hisense smart TV on Wi-Fi, skip codes and pair HiRemote on the same network instead.

Does a universal fjernkontroll work without the original remote?

Yes — code entry and auto-search only need power on the TV and the universal remote itself. Learning mode is the exception: it copies IR from a working original. If both remotes are dead on a Hisense smart TV, use the side power button, join Wi-Fi if you can, then open HiRemote.

Can I use my iPhone as a universal fjernkontroll?

Yes for Hisense smart TVs on your Wi-Fi — that is what HiRemote is built for, including VIDAA, Roku TV, Android TV models, and the Fire TV Edition path on our site guides. An iPhone will not replace a classic IR universal remote for a non-smart set or for three unrelated IR devices at once.

Why does my universal remote only change power, not volume?

You likely locked a near-match code that maps Power but not the volume IR commands. Clear the device key, enter the next Hisense (or brand) code, and retest Volume and Mute. Auto-search often lands on a fuller match than the first booklet code.

Is there a free universal remote for Hisense Roku TV in a browser?

Yes — Hisense Roku TVs speak Roku's local control protocol, so the online Roku remote works from a phone browser with the TV's IP address and no app install. VIDAA and Fire TV Edition sets need the HiRemote app instead; they do not expose the same browser control.

Related guides

• Which Hisense TV do you have? — spot VIDAA, Roku, Google TV, or Fire TV in two steps
• Hisense VIDAA remote — phone pairing and Mobile Phone Remote Control
• Hisense Roku TV remote — browser remote plus app path
• Hisense Fire TV remote — Wi-Fi control for Fire TV Edition sets
• Hisense TV quick answers — short replies to the top remote questions