Google TV remote not working

The remote on a Google TV or Android TV set is normally a Bluetooth remote with a few infrared keys. This page covers Sony, TCL, Hisense and Philips sets, and Google TV streamers. If it has gone quiet, the fix is usually pairing or power.

Why these remotes stop working

The batteries are weak. Bluetooth remotes can still light up and fail to link.
The Bluetooth pairing was lost after an update or a long spell without use.
The remote was never paired, which is the case with a replacement.

Re-pair the remote

The menu on the TV is the same on most Google TV and Android TV sets:

Google TV: Settings, Remotes and Accessories, Pair remote or accessory.
Android TV: Settings, Remotes and Accessories, Add accessory.

Put the remote into pairing mode. How varies by maker, and the on-screen message tells you. For the remote on a Chromecast with Google TV, hold Back and Home together for about three seconds until the light blinks. Check your TV's manual for a Sony, TCL, Hisense or Philips remote.

The remote also needs to be near the TV. If the pairing menu is out of reach because the remote does not work, you need another way to navigate, such as the options below.

Get around without the remote

A USB or Bluetooth keyboard or mouse. These sets run Android, which accepts a keyboard and a mouse. A USB keyboard's arrow keys and Enter work like a D-pad on most sets.
The Google TV app on your phone has a remote. The phone and TV need to be on the same Wi‑Fi.
The TV's own button. Usually a power button only, though some sets add a few controls.
HDMI-CEC from a console or box, which can wake the TV and pass on basic controls.

Where Tuned fits

Tuned is a free remote for iPhone and Android. It works with Google TV and Android TV sets, and TVs from Sony, TCL, Philips and Hisense that run them, with no Google account. Pair it with a 6-character code on the TV.

The TV must be on, and on the same Wi‑Fi as your phone.
Once paired, Tuned remembers the TV. If it still has the pairing, no code is needed.

Tuned does not pair the TV's own Bluetooth remote. It runs next to it. More in the Google TV and Android TV guide.

Questions about a Google TV remote that has stopped working

How do I pair a new Google TV remote?

Open Settings, Remotes and Accessories on the TV, choose to pair or add an accessory, then put the remote into pairing mode. For a Chromecast with Google TV remote, hold Back and Home together for about three seconds.

Is a TCL or Sony remote different from a Google TV one?

The TV's system is the same. The remote's pairing keys can differ by maker, so check its manual.

Can my phone replace the remote entirely?

For almost everything, yes. Tuned has power, volume, the D-pad, apps and typing. The TV has to be on first.