The fix for a google tv remote that is not working

As a company, Google likes to dip its hand in every tech-related market. And it doesn’t like being second (or third-best).

So when Google introduced Chromecast in 2013 and entered the smart TV market, many thought that it would blow away the competition right away. This didn’t happen, however, as the casting device was very limited when compared to what the competitors had to offer.

Finally, in 2020, Google launched Google TV and introduced Chromecast with Google TV and was able to better compete with other streaming devices thanks to more features and functions.

Unfortunately, this also means that there is a higher chance of your Google TV remote not working, so if you are experiencing this, we have the fix!

Google tv remote not working?

If you’re facing the Google TV remote not working issue, you can:

  1. Remove the batteries from the remote. Press and hold the Home button. While holding the Home button, reinsert the batteries. Hold the button while the LED light is solid.
  2. Recharge the batteries (if you have rechargeable batteries).
  3. Replace the batteries (if they’re dead).
  4. Reset the remote.
  5. Pair the remote with Chromecast manually.
  6. Set up the buttons on the remote again.
  7. Soft reset Chromecast.
  8. Hard reset Chromecast.
  9. Restart Google TV.

If the Google TV remote issues continue, keep reading for further instructions.

What is Google Chromecast?

Chromecast with Google TV
Chromecast with Google TV

Google Chromecast is basically a dongle that you can connect to your TV via the HDMI port in the back, allowing you to turn your regular TV into a smart TV.

The first Chromecast was launched by Google in 2013 (Chromecast 1), followed by Chromecast 2 in 2015, Chromecast Ultra in 2016, Chromecast 3 in 2018 and finally, Chromecast with Google TV in 2020.

What is google tv?

Google TV is an interface for Android TV that also includes Google Assistant and Google Knowledge Graph and is powered by Google’s machine learning.

It’s not a stand-alone operating system but more of an extra interface layer on Android TV that is meant to make Android TV more user-friendly and add more functions.

Google TV works with a variety of devices, including Chromecast with Google TV, Sony’s Bravia XBR TVs and TCL TVs. The app is available for iOS, of course, Android.

Why is the chromecast remote not working?

Google TV remote
Google TV remote

Before you can solve a problem, you need to find out what causes it. When it comes to the Google TV remote not working, it can boil down to one of these issues:

Connection problems

This is a common problem with all remote devices, especially when they’re a little older.

Basically, when you first buy the TV and its remote, you are able to switch channels and turn the volume up or down while sitting anywhere opposite the TV.

However, as the remote gets older or its batteries begin to die out, you have to get closer and closer to the TV for it to function properly.

Dead (or dying) batteries

All factors being normal(ish), meaning normal use, moderate climate, etc., the batteries in your remote should last for about 3 to 6 months. After this time period, you will probably notice that the remote is not performing as well as it did with fresh batteries.

However, if you are not using the remote for a prolonged period of time, the batteries may start to leak, so that’s another thing to consider.

Pairing issues

Chromecast disconnecting is a relatively common problem (and we have a solution for that as well).

If your Chromecast remote begins disconnecting, it probably means that you haven’t paired it with your smart TV correctly.

Software bug

So you changed the batteries, and the Chromecast remote is still not working. It’s not even responding.

If the remote keeps disconnecting, this could also be a problem with faulty pairing, or it could also be a more complex software issue.

System error

Speaking of software issues, Chromecast is not immune to occasional system errors either, which may cause your Google TV remote to not work.

The buttons are not working

If you have to really smash those buttons in order to make the remote do anything you want, the problem can either be with: a) some buttons not being properly paired with the smart TV or b) the buttons getting a little loose from wear-and-tear and overuse.

Okay, now that we know some of the main reasons why your Google TV remote is not working, let’s take a look at how to fix this problem step-by-step.

Step-by-step solution to fix a Chromecast remote

Depending on the problem you have, you may need a different solution (that’s why it was important to first identify the problem). Luckily for you, we have a step-by-step solution for each possible Chromecast remote not working scenario.

Let’s take a look:

Remove the Batteries and Put Them Back in the Remote

Chromecast LED indicators
Chromecast LED indicators

Not sure what it is, but there’s something quite satisfying in casually throwing the TV remote to the other person from one end of the room to the other. 

Of course, if that other person has butter fingers, they may drop the remote (or your aim needs to improve).

Unfortunately, if you keep abusing your TV remote like this, at the very least, the batteries in it might move out of position and cause the Chromecast remote to stop responding.

The good news is that this is really easy to fix. All you need to do is open the battery lid at the back of your remote, remove the batteries and then put them back in.

Recharge the Batteries

batteries
Rechargeable batteries

As we said earlier, the batteries in your remote should last for about 3-6 months. Then it’s usually time to replace the batteries.

However, that’s only for disposable batteries. You can also use rechargeable batteries, and since these can last for up to 5 years and offer up to 500 charge cycles, that’s a lot of reduced waste and money saved on batteries in the long run.

If you are using rechargeable batteries, you can remove them, plug them in for a few hours to recharge (typically between 1 and 4 hours) and then put them back in the remote.

Replace the Batteries

If removing and putting back the batteries and recharging them didn’t work (you have disposable ones), it’s probably time to replace your old batteries with new ones.

And no, we don’t mean taking out used batteries from another remote or the ones that have been sitting in your drawer since last year; we mean getting fresh, new, still-unpacked batteries.

Reset the Remote

Another thing you can try if the Chromecast remote is not working is to factory reset it.

To do this:

  • First, remove the batteries from the remote.
  • Next, press and hold the Home button on the remote.
  • While still holding the Home button, put the batteries back into the remote.
  • Hold the button until the light on the remote begins blinking. This will indicate that the factory reset was successful.
  • Release the button and try the remote again.

Pair the Remote with Chromecast Manually

If your Google TV remote is not responding, keeps disconnecting, or the buttons on it are not working, you may need to re-pair it.

Your Chromecast device and remote should pair automatically via Bluetooth when the Chromecast is on, but on occasion, something will prevent this, like dead batteries, for instance.

In that case, you will have to manually re-pair the two.

Here’s how:

  • Find the button on the back of your Chromecast device and press it. This will open the device’s pairing mode.
  • Press and hold the Back and Home buttons on your remote at the same time until you see the LED light located at the bottom of the remote blinking.
  • Once the LED starts blinking, press the Home button on the remote, and it should pair with Chromecast.

Set Up the Buttons on the Remote Again

Sometimes, even if you pair the remote with Chromecast, you will still find that some buttons are not working on your remote.

This could be the power button, volume control, source input, etc.

In that case, what you need to do is set up those buttons again.

Here’s how to do that:

  • Go to the Google TV Home Screen
  • Click the Avatar icon, which is located in the top-right corner
  • Go to Settings (the gear icon in the top-right corner)
  • Navigate through Settings by scrolling down until you find Remote Accessories
  • Select Set Up Remote Buttons
  • Select your device (Chromecast)
  • Click Setup buttons

Soft Reset Chromecast (Reboot)

If replacing the batteries or re-pairing the remote didn’t work, you may need to reset Chromecast.

There are two ways to do this, soft reset and hard reset, and we recommend (like with all other devices) trying the soft reset or a reboot first.

To soft reset Chromecast:

  • While the Chromecast is plugged into the HDMI port in your TV, unplug the power cable from it.
  • Wait for about a minute or so.
  • Plug the cable back into Chromecast.
  • Wait for the device to find the remote (it should do this automatically, if not, see above how to pair them).
  • Press a few buttons on the remote to make sure it is working.
  • Finally, follow the setup process on the screen.

Also, check out this article if you’ve been wondering how to turn off Chromecast since it has no power button.

Restart Google TV

Finally, another solution you can try is to restart your Google TV.

To do this, you will have to:

  • On the Google TV Home Screen, locate your profile icon at the top-right corner.
  • Select Settings.
  • Go to System.
  • Select Restart.
  • Wait for the restart process to complete, and try the remote again to see if it is working.

Hard Reset Chromecast (Factory Reset)

If the soft reset option didn’t work, you can try the hard or factory reset. Before you do this, keep in mind this will mean that you will have to go through the initial setup from the beginning. 

So, if you’re brave enough to do it, here are the steps:

  • First, find the reset button on your Chromecast device. Depending on the model/generation of Chromecast you have, the way the restart button will work might be different.

For example, on Chromecast 1st Generation, you’ll need to hold down the button for around 25 seconds until it begins blinking red; on 2nd, 3rd and Ultra, it will blink orange, while on Chromecast with Google TV, it will blink yellow.

  • No matter the color, keep holding the button until it turns white, and then you can release it. This will reset the Chromecast and start the setup process again, so you’ll have to go through it again.

Conclusion

The Google TV Remote not working is not a problem unique to Chromecast. Other devices, like Firestick and Roku TV, may also experience the same. For those, check the linked articles for solutions.

This article, hopefully, helped you solve the Chromecast remote not working problem. To summarize, you can:

  1. Remove the batteries from the remote and put them back in
  2. Recharge the batteries
  3. Replace the old batteries with new ones
  4. Factory reset the remote
  5. Set up the buttons on the remote again
  6. Pair the TV remote with Chromecast manually
  7. Soft reset Chromecast
  8. Hard reset Chromecast
  9. Restart Google TV from Settings

Let us know in the comments below which of these troubleshooting steps worked for you.

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About Melissa

Hey! I'm Mel, I write the occasional article for Spacehop, amongst other things. I love meeting new people and chatting, so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

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