Spectrum TV is a premium cable TV service that lets you access live and on-demand shows, movies, and TV series. You can watch content from Spectrum through a cable TV box, the Spectrum app, or its website. However, Spectrum subscribers have experienced issues with the Spectrum remote not working with cable box.
This happens when the cable box not responding to remote and is inoperable. Hence, you’ll need to reset your Spectrum remote to solve this issue. In this guide, we’ll show you how to reset Spectrum remote using various methods.
Read on to know more.
Table of Contents
Signs Your Spectrum Remote is Not Working
Here are a few signs you can look out for when your Spectrum remote is not working with the cable TV box:
- The LED light on Spectrum remote is not flashing
- A red light is repeatedly flashing on the Spectrum remote
- Channel and volume buttons on the remote are not working, or only the channel buttons are working
- Slow response from the cable box
How to Fix Spectrum Cable Box Not Responding to Remote
Before resetting Spectrum remote, you’ll need to try replacing its batteries first. Your cable box might be having a hard time receiving commands from your Spectrum remote due to weak signals caused by dying batteries. Try replacing them first and check if the issue is fixed.
Also, avoid any obstructions that might be blocking the remote’s signals. Items with aluminum and copper can effectively reflect RF signals from your remote, so keep objects with these materials away from your cable box.
If your Spectrum remote is still not working despite changing its batteries, and there are no obstructions, try out the fixes below. Review each fix and see which solves the Spectrum remote not working issue on your Spectrum TV.
Fix #1: Power Cycle Your Spectrum Cable Box
The cable box might not respond to your Spectrum remote due to a bug or a glitch. In this case, power cycling your Spectrum cable box might be effective in solving the Spectrum remote not working issue.
To power cycle your Spectrum cable box, follow these steps:
- Unplug the power adapter of your Spectrum cable box and remove all connected cables.
- Wait for 5 minutes to drain the power. Then, also remove the batteries on your Spectrum remote and press and hold the Power button for a few seconds.
- Plug all the cable connections back into the cable box. Place the batteries back on your Spectrum remote and try turning on the cable box. See if it responds.
Fix #2: Switch From Cable Box to TV
Since Spectrum remotes are versatile devices, you can also use them to control your TV. However, all commands will go through the Spectrum cable box by default. This makes it challenging to control aspects of your TV, such as the volume.
To switch from controlling the cable box to your TV, proceed to the steps below:
- With your TV and the cable box on, press and hold the CBL and the OK/SEL buttons simultaneously for a few seconds, then release them.
- You will now see the CBL button become illuminated with solid red light. Next, press the Volume Down button. The CBL button will now start flashing.
- Select the TV button on the remote. Now, all commands will be transmitted to your TV instead of the cable box.
Note: To switch back to controlling the cable box, follow step one and press the Volume Up button instead of Volume Down.
Fix #3: Enable TV Control on Your Spectrum Remote
After switching from controlling the cable box to your TV, some of its buttons still might not work. This is because you’ll need to enable TV control first to link your Spectrum remote to your TV fully.
To enable TV control using your Spectrum remote, follow these steps:
- Select the Menu button on the remote and go to Settings & Support.
- Choose Support and select Remote Control > Connect Remote to TV.
- Select Connect to TV and choose your TV brand on the list. Select View All to see the complete TV brand list if you cannot see it.
- Follow the rest of the on-screen instructions.
After finishing these steps, you can now fully control your TV using your Spectrum remote.
Fix #4: Reset Your Spectrum Remote
If the fixes above were ineffective, your last resort is to reset your Spectrum remote. This puts all programmed remote settings to their defaults, requiring you to program your Spectrum remote again to your cable box from scratch.
To reset your Spectrum remote, do the following:
- Press and hold the TV button on the remote. Then, press the OK/SEL button for one second—the DVD and AUX buttons will begin to flash, and the TV button will remain lit.
- Press and hold the Delete button for three seconds. The TV button will now flash and turn off.
- Your remote will now reset to its factory defaults.
To pair your remote back to the set top box with the RF2IR converter, proceed to the steps below:
- Remove the RF2IF converter from the set top box.
- Press and hold the Find button on the Spectrum remote while re-inserting the RF2IR converter back into the set top box.
- Then, release the Find button. This will now delete the old pairing code stored on the device.
- Point your Spectrum remote close to the set top box and press any button. Your remote will now be automatically paired to the RF2IR converter.
- Next, press the Find button. You can now use your Spectrum remote to control your cable box.
Final Thoughts
A Spectrum remote control is essential when using its cable box, which gives you access to various cable TV channels. However, some or all of the buttons on your Spectrum remote might not work, or the cable box is slow to respond to its commands.
Hopefully, this guide helps you to fix your Spectrum remote when it’s not working with your cable box and the steps on how to reset your Spectrum remote. If these fixes were ineffective, try contacting Spectrum Support for further help.