GE Universal Remote Not Working – How To Fix?

Do you have a GE universal remote but it is not working somehow that’s why you are searching GE universal remote not working.

Don’t worry my friend I am here with you a few months back i also faced this situation with my GE universal remote.

After a lot of deep research, I found the solution to this problem.

In this article today I am sharing all my methods that helped me a lot to solve this problem.

So if your GE universal remote is not working just stick with me till the end of this article and you will find the solution to this problem.

In this article, I have talked about the main reasons why your GE universal remote is not working.

After that, I have also mentioned the fixes of those problems.

So let’s deep dive and learn how to fix a not working GE universal remote.

GE Universal Remote Problems

We all know that the GE universal remote is one of the best remotes when we talk about universal remotes.

But like every other electronic device, the GE universal remote has some problems with it too.

These problems are generally related to the functionality of the remote.

Some common problems people face related to GE universal remote are-

• GE universal remote menu button not working
• GE universal remote backlight not working
• GE universal remote volume not working
• GE universal remote arrows not working
• GE universal remote codes not working
• GE universal remote input button not working
• GE universal remote back button not working

This is the list of problems that people generally face while using or operating a GE universal remote.

In this article, I have mentioned different ways by which you can solve all of these problems easily.

Why my GE Universal Remote is Not Working

Before moving to the solution on how to fix GE universal remote,

Let us talk about the issues and the root cause of why your GE universal remote is not working.

I have mentioned several issues below in this article let’s talk about them one by one.

Battery Issue

It is the most common issue when we talk about a remote not working.

And this can also be a possible reason for your not working GE universal remote.

Because batteries are one of the important components that are required to run a remote control.

And without properly charged batteries a remote would not be able to work properly.

Programming Issue

This can be another possible reason why your GE universal remote is not working.

Because without proper programming a universal remote can’t completely operate with your device.

This type of error arises because the user has made any kind of mistake during the programming process.

And that’s why your GE universal remote is not working properly with your device.

GE Universal Remote is in Shift Mode

If your GE universal remote is in shift mode then it could be another possible reason for GE universal not working.

For the users who don’t know about the shift mode let me tell you.

The shift mode refers to the feature that allows the universal remote to control multiple devices using a single set of buttons.

So if your universal remote is in shift mode it is the most possible reason that’s why your remote is not working.

Signal Interference Issue

The signal interference issue could also be a possible reason for your not working GE universal remote.

The signal interference means that there is a thing in the room that may be affecting your remote signals.

And your remote signals can’t able to reach properly to your connected device.

Or your device is unable to catch the remote signals due to that interference.

It is a very common problem in places where multiple electronic devices operate on almost the same frequency band.

GE Universal Remote Issue

This type of issue arises due to any malfunction in the remote.

This means that your universal remote has some kind of manufacturing defect in it.

For example- Any component issue or board issue.

This type of issue is very common in electric equipment.

So if your remote control has any manufacturing defect in it then the remote would not be able to work properly with your device.

And it could be a possible reason that’s why your GE universal remote is not working.

Wrong Code Issue

The wrong code could be another possible reason for your not working GE universal remote.

Every universal remote has a different set of codes according to their CL number for different brand devices

For example, The CL4 version remote has a different set of codes for Samsung TV and LG TV.

Similarly, the CL5 version remote has a different set of codes for these two TV brands.

So every version of the remote has a different set of codes for different devices.

If your remote is not working with your device it is very possible that the code you have entered is not compatible with your device.

That’s why your remote is not working with your device.

How to Fix a Not Working GE Universal Remote

So your wait is over now my friend after reading the above-listed issues you may know

“why the GE universal remote is not working?”

Now let’s talk about all the possible solutions to these issues and how to fix them.

Check Remote Batteries

Let’s first tackle the most common problem of not working remote which is dead or discharged batteries.

Open the battery compartment of your remote and check whether the inserted batteries have sufficient charge or not.

If they are in use for too long I suggest you to replace them and get a new pair of batteries.

I personally recommend you to replace both of the batteries rather than a single one.

If you already have new batteries in your remote then check whether they are properly inserted or not.

Also check that the batteries are inserted in the correct poles (positive +ve, negative -ve)

Place the batteries correctly and now try to use your remote.

If it is still not working properly then try other methods mentioned in this article.

Pro Tip: Don’t leave the battery compartment empty for a long period of time because it may cause all the saved programmed settings of the remote will be lost.

Fix the Wrong Code Issue

As I mentioned earlier in this article every remote control has a different set of codes according to their Cl number for different devices.

The CL4 version remote has a different code list for a TV brand.

The CL5 version remote has a different code list for a TV brand.

If you program a universal remote for a device using the wrong code the chances are very high that the didn’t work properly with that device.

So you need to find the correct codes for your device according to your universal remote.

For this firstly you need to find out the CL number of your remote.

• Open your remote battery compartment.
• Remove the inserted batteries and see on the label there.
• There must be a code like CL4, CL5 ,CL3, CL6

Now you know the Cl number of your universal remote you just need to find out the right pair of codes for your device.

I have listed below the code finder for different versions of remotes.

You just need to select the CL number according to your remote.

To find the GE remote codes Follow the steps mentioned below.

Step 1– First go the Google and search for JASCO GE codes the click on the first link.

Step 2– Then scroll down just a little and click on “Look CL_ codes” according to your remote CL number.

Step 3– Then choose your device from the device category.

Step 4– Then select the brand of your device from the available list.

Step 5– A list of compatible codes according to your device will appear.

After finding the right code you can simply reset and reprogram the GE universal remote.

If you are unable to find out the right code you can still reset and reprogram your universal remote

By following the steps mentioned below.

Reset and Re-Program the GE Universal Remote

A universal is not a pre-programmed remote which means you can simply program it with any device of your choice.

You need to enter the 4-digit code according to the model of the remote to program the universal remote with the device of your choice.

If your GE remote is not programmed with your device then it won’t be able to control your device.

And if you are sure that you have programmed the remote with the device there is a very high possibility.

That your data may get erased due to any error like battery drainage, faulty code entry, etc.

Or you have made a mistake while programming the remote with the device.

To solve this programming issue and other issues that arise due to wrong programming.

You can simply reset the remote and re-program it again.

To reset your GE universal remote you can follow these simple steps-

• Take your GE universal remote and press and hold the Setup button until the red light turns ON.
• Then press and release the mute button.
• Then press and release 0
• Now the red light will blink twice.
• Your remote is now reset to the factory setting.

If these steps don’t work you can try another steps mentioned below

To reset your GE universal remote you can follow these another steps

• Press and hold the Setup button until the RED light stays ON.
• Now press the Rewind button four times.
• The RED LED will blink twice.
• Your remote is now reset to the factory setting

Now after that, you can easily Re-program your GE universal remote with or without codes.

To reprogram your GE universal remote you can use two methods

1. Manual Code Method
2. Auto-programming Method

Manual Code Method(Recommended)

1. First, turn on the device that needs to be programmed.
2. Take your GE universal remote and press and hold the setup button until the RED LED turns on.
3. Now Press the TV button on your universal remote control.
4. Then enter the 4-digit GE universal remote code for your device by using the number pad of the remote.
5. After entering the code the RED LED should turn off. If it doesn’t turn off then try the next code mentioned in the table.
6. Repeat this step until the RED LED light turns off.
7. After the LED light turns off point your remote toward the TV and press the Power off button.
8. Now turn on your TV and test whether all the remote buttons working or not.

Auto-program Method

1. First turn on the device needs to be programmed.
2. Now take your remote and press the setup/search button until the RED LED lights turn ON.
3. Now press the TV button on your remote.
4. Wait for the RED LED to FLASH once.
5. Now point your remote toward the TV and press and hold the power button.
6. Keep pressing the power button in every 5 seconds until your  TV turns off.
7. After your TV is turned off now turn it on again manually.
8. Then point your remote toward the TV and press and hold the volume UP(+) button.
9. Keep pressing it until the device is turned off.
10. After it turns off press the TV button on the remote to confirm the code.
11. Now turn on the TV and test whether all the remote buttons are working.

Remove the Remote from Shift Mode

If your GE universal remote is in shift mode then it could also be a possible reason for your not working universal remote.

You can follow the simple steps mentioned below to Remove your GE universal remote from the shift mode.

• Take your universal remote and press and release the Shift/setup button.
• and while the RED LED light blinks
• Now use the arrow key of your remote.

If you have an old model GE universal remote then there will be no shift/setup button.

So in this case you need to re-program the universal remote.

To re-program the GE universal remote you can follow the steps I have mentioned earlier in this article.

If this method didn’t work with your remote you can check out all the other methods mentioned in this article.

Solve the Signal Interference Issue

The signal interference issue is also one of the most common issues when we talk about a non-working GE universal remote.

This means there is something or any electronic device in the room that is disturbing the signals of the GE universal remote.

And your device is unable to receive the signals from the remote control.

Some common examples of devices that can disturb your remote signal are-

Fluorescent Lights

Some types of fluorescent lights can emit electromagnetic waves that possibly can affect your remote signals.

To solve this issue related to fluorescent lights what you can do is first turn off the lights and check whether the remote is working now or not,

If the remote is working now then you can change the lights of the room to the normal lights.

Or you can turn off those lights whenever you want to use your universal remote.

Other Remote Control

If there is any other type of remote control or any other type of universal remote present near your remote or your device.

It could be a possible reason why your remote control is not working.

Because sometimes the signals of one remote can interact with the signals of another remote control.

To solve this issue

First, you need to check if is there another remote present in the room or near our device.

If there is any remote you can simply remove it from the room and place it anywhere else.

Infrared Devices

Other types of devices in the room that use the inferred signals to operate like security systems etc.

Can also affect your universal remote signals.

To solve this issue what you can do is change the placement of devices in a way that the signals of one device can’t disturb the signals of another device.

Electronic Devices

Electronic devices like routers, cordless phones, and other wireless equipment

Sometimes emits electromagnetic interference that may affect your universal remote signals.

And led to a non-working remote control.

In this case,

You can remove any disturbing device and place it somewhere else where it can’t be able to affect your universal remote signals.

Electronic Appliances

Some electronic appliances like Air conditioners and Refrigerators

Sometimes emits electromagnetic interference that can affect your universal remote.

To solve this issue related to electronic appliances you can change the position of these devices.

And then reset and reprogram your GE universal remote by following the steps I have mentioned earlier in this article.

GE Universal Remote Issue

The reason behind this type of issue is

• You may receive a faulty product.
• Your product is somehow damaged

In both of the above cases, you can’t solve this issue on your own

What you can do is-

Check whether the product is under warranty or not if it is under warranty then you can just simply replace it with a new one.

And if the warranty period is over then you can take it to any nearby electronics service center and get your remote repaired by them.

If your universal remote is too old you can just simply change it and buy a new one from the offline or online stores.

Some Other Possible Reasons why your GE Universal Remote is not Working

Let’s talk about some other possible reasons why your GE universal remote is not working.

All of these reasons are based on my personal experience and there is a very high possibility,

That one of these reasons is also responsible for your not working remote control.

Let’s talk about all of those possible reasons.

Direct Sunlight

Yes, you heard it right sunlight,

Especially the direct sunlight hitting the remote sensor or the infrared (IR) receiver on the controlled device, can interfere with signals.

And may result a not working remote.

To solve this issue what you can do is reduce the exposure of sun in the room.

You can use blinds or curtains in the room to reduce the sun exposure.

Any type of physical obstruction that comes between the remote and the device can also be a possible reason for your not working universal remote.

Because any type of physical obstruction and weaken or block the remote signal.

And your device may not be able to receive the signals from the remote control.

Obstructions like- Furniture, Any decorative item, etc.

To solve this issue ensure that there is no physical obstruction between the device and the remote.

And If there is any type of obstruction you can simply remove it from there and place it somewhere else.

Reflective Surfaces

Yes, a reflective surface can also be a possible reason for your not working universal remote.

Because highly reflective surfaces or polished furniture can also scatter and weaken the remote signals.

To solve this issue what you can do is

• You can minimize the impact of the reflective surface by repositioning the remote or by adjusting the angle of the controlled device.

IR Sensor

The IR sensor or infrared sensor is a type of sensor that sends out the signals using the Infrared light.

Without this sensor, you can’t able to operate any device with your remote.

We can not see this infrared light with our eyes because infrared light has a longer wavelength and less visibility than normal light.

But by using a device like a camera or a smartphone you can easily see that infrared light.

So if your remote IR sensor is not working properly or somehow it got damaged,

Then you can’t be able to operate your device with that universal remote.

You can simply check whether your universal remote IR sensor working or not.

Just follow the steps I have mentioned below.

• Take your remote and point it toward the smartphone camera.
• Now open your smartphone camera and start pressing the different keys of the remote.
• If you can see the Purple light flashing from the LED each time you press the remote keys
• You can confirm that there is no issue with your remote sensor.
• And your remote IR sensor is perfectly fine.

As you can see in the image below the IR sensor of this remote is perfectly fine.

Your remote sensor should also look like this if it is also fine.

But if you can’t able to see any flashing LED light after pressing the different keys of the remote.

Then my friend your IR sensor is damaged.

And I recommend that if your remote is under the warranty period then just simply replace it and buy a new one.

If the warranty period is over then I suggest that rather than repairing or soldering a new IR sensor you can buy a new one from the stores.

Because Replacing an IR sensor is a very typical process,

But if you know how to do it and you have the required tools like a new IR sensor, soldering tools, etc.

In your home then the choice is yours you can replace it or buy a new one.

Button Mat

Using a Remote control for a very long time results in the keys may become faulty and not being able to work properly.

And the conductive electric paint on the circuit board may wear off.

Due to this, the electric signals can’t be properly delivered to the remote circuit board when pressing the keys.

This is the main reason behind the problems like

• GE universal remote menu button not working
• GE universal remote volume button not working
• GE universal remote input button not working
• GE universal remote channel button not working etc.

There are two solutions for this problem which are-

Solution 1– Re-apply the electric paint on the button mat

To re-apply the button mat you can follow the steps mentioned below

• Take your remote and open the back side of your remote.
• Now Detach the circuit board, button mat, etc. from the remote.
• Take some rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth and gently clean the circuit board.
• Now take the button mat and flip it to the other side(The back side of the button mat).
• where you can see the black dot pads over the buttons.
• Now take the required amount of electric paint and apply it over the black dot pads.
• You can buy the electric paint from the nearby store or Amazon.
• Make sure that there is no excess electric paint present over the black dot pads.
• Now just simply dry it off.
• After drying the electric paint re-assemble the remote back.
• Now your universal remote is ready to use just program it again and use it with your device.

Solution 2–Buy a new universal remote

The second solution to this problem is to buy a new universal remote.

Since you have been using this remote for a very long period of time.

So rather than applying the electric paint you can consider buying a new GE universal remote.

The new version remote comes with the latest features and warranty period.

So that you don’t need to think about the remote problems for a long period of time.

I have shared both the solution to this problem with you.

You can choose a solution according to your choice.

FAQ

Why did my GE Universal Remote Stop Working?

Your GE universal remote may stop working because you have been using the batteries for a long period of time.

How to Reset GE Universal Remote?

You can reset the GE universal remote by reading this article or the instructions manual

Why is my Remote not Working Even with New Batteries?

You need to check are the batteries placed correctly according to their terminal +ve and -ve.

How do I know if My Universal Remote is Working?

Just point the remote toward the device and press any keys if the device functions then your remote is working.

Conclusion

In today’s article, I have shared a complete solution guide on GE universal remote not working.

In this article, I have shared different issues their root cause and their fixes, and all my leanings.

I hope every user will get benefit from this article and will be able to solve their GE universal remote not working issue.

Feel free to share your feedback about the article.

If you have any queries or suggestions related to this article you can comment below.

Thank you