How to Repair the Infrared Remote Control of a Television (by Capitan Farloc)

Has your TV remote stopped working? Before you throw it away, try taking a look inside — it’s often just a loose contact, some corrosion, or a simple fix. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to open, check, and repair a typical infrared TV remote, even if you’re not an electronics expert!

The television remote control is quite a delicate accessory but, by its nature, it is also prone to all kinds of mishandling. It might fall, gather dust, be left exposed to sunlight, or even get wet, which can eventually cause it to stop working.
The electronics are almost entirely housed in a single chip, so if that is damaged, it’s neither easy nor worthwhile to repair it.
However, malfunctions are often caused by more straightforward and easily fixable issues. Let’s see how to proceed with diagnosis and possible repair.

How to check if it works

The remote control operates using "infrared" signals modulated by one or two LED diodes located at the front. Infrared refers to a light source with a frequency below the visible range of the human eye. This is why, even when pressing the buttons, nothing can be seen, not even in complete darkness.
To check if the remote control emits any signals, you’ll need to use a camera or, more simply, the camera function on your smartphone, as camera sensors (and video camera sensors) are also sensitive to these light frequencies. By pressing the buttons, you’ll be able to see if any signal is being emitted, as the LEDs will light up and flash rapidly.

Cleaning the battery contacts

The first step, of course, is to replace the batteries. Even if they were recently replaced, they might be defective, or the remote could have had something resting on its buttons, keeping it powered on—perhaps overnight—leading to drained batteries.
If the LEDs don’t emit any signals but shaking the remote or adjusting the batteries slightly makes it work again, the battery contacts may have oxidised. In this case, you’ll need to scrape the surface of the contacts inside the battery compartment using a piece of sandpaper or a nail file.

Opening the remote control

If the issue persists, the LEDs never light up, or only some buttons are faulty while others work fine, then we’ll need to open the remote control to inspect its interior. First, we’ll need to locate the screws (if any) that hold the remote’s casing closed. One is usually found inside the battery compartment.

Sometimes, a single screw is enough to secure the remote control, while other times there might be an additional one, typically located at the top. In my case, the second screw was hidden beneath an adhesive label, and by feeling the surface, I could detect the hole underneath. A cutter was enough to lift part of the label, providing access to unscrew it.
It’s worth noting that screws aren’t always present. In some cases, the two shell halves are held together solely by snap-in clips or, in the worst-case scenario, they might be glued together.

Using a pick

Once all screws have been removed (and make sure to double-check for any remaining ones if the casing doesn’t open easily), if the shell still won’t open, you’ll need to use a “pick.”
This tool, typically used to play the guitar, is now included in mobile phone repair kits and is used to open plastic casings by releasing the locking clips without breaking them.
To use it, insert the pick into the gap between the two shell halves (find the best spot to position it) and then slide it along the entire perimeter of the casing. Gradually, this will unlock all the clips, allowing you to open the remote control.

Care must be taken when opening the remote control, as in some cases, the buttons are individually separated. If they fall out once opened, it will be challenging to put them all back in their original positions.
It may be helpful, therefore, to take a photo of the upper part of the remote before opening it. If such a situation arises, the photo will allow you to see the original position of each button and replace them accordingly.
However, most modern remote controls have a single rubber piece with raised buttons, meaning it can only be positioned in its original orientation.

How to check if the infrared LEDs are working

The infrared light source consists of one or two transparent LEDs; when there are two, they are placed in parallel to enhance their effectiveness. If the test conducted using a camera or smartphone confirms that no light is emitted at all, the component itself may be burnt out.

To check if the LED diodes are functioning correctly, you’ll need to desolder them and test them with a multimeter set to resistance measurement, with a 2000 Ohm (2k Ohm) scale.
The procedure involves verifying that, when placing the probes on the two terminals in one direction, the multimeter reads a very high resistance. Reversing the probes should show a resistance lower than 2000 Ohms.
If the LEDs are damaged, they must be replaced, ensuring that their polarity is correctly aligned during installation.

Checking the battery contact solder joints

Another fairly common malfunction occurs when one of the battery contacts becomes detached from the circuit board. Such an issue will prevent power from reaching the remote control, leaving it non-functional.
You can check for this type of fault either using a multimeter (by verifying the electrical connection between the two parts) or visually. Try moving the terminal and see if it shifts within the solder joint. If it does, the solder has come loose and needs to be redone.

Malfunction of one or more buttons

Another situation arises when the issue is limited to one or more specific buttons. For instance, in my case, all buttons worked perfectly except for the power button, which required significant force to operate, and I had to adjust the pressure from side to side to make it work.
I focused on the faulty button and observed that both the inside of the button and the part of the circuit board where the button acts were wet—humidity had managed to seep in.

First attempt – cleaning the contacts

Using a cotton swab and some alcohol, I thoroughly cleaned both the circuit board and the inside of the button, allowing everything to dry completely. Without fully reassembling the remote, I placed the circuit board onto the lower shell (so I could insert the batteries into their compartment to power the remote) and positioned the button assembly on top of the circuit board.
This allowed me to test the button and observe that, although slightly improved, it still wasn’t functioning properly. It became evident that, likely due to the moisture that had entered, the underside of the button—coated with a conductive substance—had deteriorated, impairing its proper function.

Second attempt – the aluminium foil

To restore the functionality of the broken button, I took a piece of aluminium foil, the kind commonly used in the kitchen for food storage, and cut out a small disc matching the size of the button contact using nail scissors.
Using a toothpick, I applied a bit of yellow adhesive (the type typically used for leather, rubber, wood, etc., often seen in shoemaking) onto the button. With spring tweezers, I carefully placed the aluminium disc onto the adhesive.
After letting the glue dry, I tested the button again, and it worked perfectly. Finally, I reassembled everything, and… the issue was resolved.

I hope this article has been helpful.

Thank you!
Luciano (Capitan Farloc)