Trying to program your RCA universal remote control can be confusing. We’ve been there—and now we’ll walk you through the process from start to finish.
There are a few different procedures you can follow, depending on whether your remote has a Code Search button or you have a device code for the gear you want to pair with your remote.
Best TV Service Providers for 2024
DISH Network gets our Editor’s Choice award for its channel count, reliability, industry-leading equipment, parental controls, and transparent pricing. DIRECTV is best for sports, Verizon Fios has the best value, Spectrum is the cheapest traditional TV provider, YouTube TV is best for live TV streaming, and Max is best for on-demand streaming.
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* ENTERTAINMENT—w/ 24-mo. agmt. AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. is extra and applies. CHOICE, ULTIMATE, and PREMIER—w/ 24-mo. agmt. AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. and Regional Sports Fee up to $13.99/mo. are extra & apply.
If your RCA universal remote has a Code Search button
If your remote has a Code Search button, the easiest way to pair devices is by directly entering the device codes.
- Find the device code for the equipment you want to control. You can find this code in your remote’s manual or use the RCA remote code finder.
- Power on the equipment you want to pair.
- Press and hold the Code Search button on the remote.
- While still holding the Code Search Button, press the button on the universal remote that matches the equipment you’re pairing (e.g. if it’s a sweet new smart TV, press the key for TV). The light on the remote will blink once and then stay steady.
- Enter the device remote code from step 1. The light on the remote should turn off.
- Test the remote. Try several different functions to make sure everything works. If it is, congrats! If not, proceed to the next set of instructions.
Pro tip: All operations are performed on the universal remote you’re programming. No need to touch any other remotes or devices, except to power them on.
If a code doesn’t work, or you were unable to find one for your device, you can also use the Code Search button to run through all possible RCA universal remote codes until you find one that works.
- Power on the equipment you want to pair.
- Press and hold the Code Search button on the universal remote control until the light turns on.
- While still holding the Code Search Button, press the button on the universal remote that matches the equipment you’re pairing (e.g. if it’s a DVR, press the button for DVR). The light on the remote should blink once and then stay steady.
- Press the power button on the universal remote to send the next code to the equipment. Keep doing this until the equipment turns off. This means you’ve found the right remote code. If the indicator light blinks four times when pressing the power button, you’ve gone through all available remote codes and the remote likely doesn’t work with your equipment.
- Press the Enter button on the universal remote to save the code.
- Test the remote to make sure everything works. If so, you’re good to go. If not, repeat the process.
If your RCA universal remote does not have a Code Search button
If your remote control doesn’t have the Code Search button, the programming process looks a little different:
- Power on the equipment you want to control.
- Press and hold the button on the universal remote that matches the device you’re pairing (e.g. if it’s a DVD player, press the DVD button). The light on the remote will blink once and then stay steady.
- While still holding the device button, press and hold the power button on the universal remote until the light turns off and on (about three seconds).
- Release the power and device buttons. The power button light should stay on to indicate you’re in pairing mode. If it doesn’t, repeat steps 2 and 3.
- Press the power button on the universal remote to scan through the available remote codes. When your equipment turns off, you’ve found the correct universal remote code. If the remote’s indicator light blinks four times, it means you’ve gone through the entire list and the remote likely won’t work for your equipment.
- Press the Stop button on the universal remote to save the remote code.
- Test the remote’s functions to make sure everything works.
This looks like a lot, but it’s actually not too bad. Once you’ve got the remote working with one device, like your TV, just repeat the same process for the other equipment in your home theater setup. Eventually, you’ll have one mighty, multifunctional godstick (that’s couch potato for “universal remote”).
How to program an RCA universal remote FAQ
Where can I purchase an RCA universal remote control?
You can get one pretty much anywhere that sells basic electronics, like drugstores, Walmart, Family Dollar, or Amazon. Oh, and we almost forgot—one of the best parts about these remotes is the price. Sometimes you can even find a four-device universal remote for less than $10.00.
Whether you’re drowning in a sea of remotes or just trying to replace an old one, a universal remote is a great bet. Follow these steps to get up and running with yours today.
How do I reprogram an RCA universal remote control?
If you need to reprogram you RCA universal remote to work with a new TV (congrats!), follow the same procedures outlined in this article—just use the code that goes with the make and model of your new TV. You can find RCA universal remote codes here.
What do I do if my power button is working, but other buttons aren’t?
There are two possibilities:
- You used the wrong remote code. In this case, you can try the process again with a different RCA universal remote code.
- Your equipment isn’t fully compatible with the universal remote. This can sometimes happen with pieces of equipment that have a lot of specialized functions. In this case, the only thing you can really do is try a different universal remote.
Methodology
Our experts tested out RCA’s universal remotes and broke down what you need to know most about the setup process. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
CableTV.com Senior Staff Writer Randy Harward’s music and entertainment scribbles has appeared in HARP, Guitar World, Blurt, Salt Lake City Weekly, Salt Lake Magazine, and dozens of other publications since 1998. He watches tons of horror films for work (and also for fun). Randy also enjoys other movies, books, burritos, disc golf, guitars, tarantulas, and cats.
Related Posts
