A universal remote control is used to consolidate multiple remotes in to a single one that can operate various audio-visual equipment of different brands, such as TVs, sound systems, and streaming devices. But to make it work, we need to program the remote to control our devices.

This article explains how to program a universal remote control using 6 different methods namely direct code entry, auto code search, manual code search, brand code search, programming via IR learning, and programming via PC. Out of these methods, some high-end remotes support all of them while some older ones don’t. So let’s check them one by one.

1. Direct Code Entry

It is the easiest and fastest way to program a universal remote. However, you need to know the exact remote code which is to be entered. Usually codes are supplied as code lists or may be available at the end of user manuals when you buy a remote. Below are the general steps to perform direct code entry.

1. Switch on the device you want to control.
2. Press and hold the appropriate button (e.g. Setup button) on your remote. The LED indicators may turn on.
3. While holding the button, enter the code for the brand of your device. If there are multiple code, start with the first one.
4. If the power button lights up and stays on, your code is valid.
5. If the power button blinks a few times, then the code you entered is invalid. So try the next code until one works properly.
6. Test the buttons of the remote and check if they are controlling the respective functions properly. If everything works fine, note down the code for future reference.

2. Auto Code Search

To program a universal remote without codes, most remotes utilize a feature called “auto-programming” or “auto code search,” where you simply press and hold the setup button, then repeatedly press the power button on the remote until your device turns off, indicating the remote has found the correct code for your device; once found, you can save the code and start using the remote.

Here are the general steps:

1. Power on your TV or other device you wish to control.
2. Press the corresponding device button on your remote.
3. Press the Power button and device button simultaneously. The LED will turn off and turn back on again.
4. Release both the buttons.
5. Press the Play button and wait for a few seconds and check if your device turns off. If yes, it has found the correct code. If not, press the Play button again and wait for a few seconds. Repeat it until your device turn off.
6. After your device turned off, press the Reverse button on the remote every two seconds until your device turn on again.
7. Finally press the Stop button to store the code.
8. Test other buttons of the remote to verify its working.

3. Manual Code Search

In manual code search, instead of the remote automatically scans through the complete codes stored on it, you can let the remote scan each code one by one. This process take much more time that auto code search as there will be hundreds of codes stored in the remote. Below are the likely steps to perform brand code search on most universal remotes. On some remotes you may have to individually go through more than 250 codes.

1. Turn on the device you want to operate with the remote.
2. Press and hold the device button and power button simultaneously until the remote’s LED lights up.
3. Aim the remote at your device and press the power button on the remote and wait for two seconds.
4. If your device turns off, you have found the right code. Then press Stop to lock in the code.
5. If your device didn’t turn off, press the power button again and wait for two seconds until your find a code that works.
6. Once done, check the functionality of the other buttons too.

4. Brand Code Search

Unlike auto code search and manual code search, you can narrow down the number of codes to a specific brand. In this code search, you can specify your particular brand though a single digit brand code provided by the remote manufacturer and let your remote scan through the codes of that brand only. This method come in handy if you know the brand code. Let check how the brand code search is performed.

1. Turn on your device.
2. Find the brand code of your brand from the user manual of the remote.
3. Press and hold the device button and while holding them press the power button.
4. Release the power and device buttons.
5. Now, enter the brand code. The LED of the device button should remain on.
6. Press and release the Power button repeatedly until the device turn off.

5. Programming Via IR Learning

IR (Infrared) learning is the process of copying infrared light beams from original remote to a universal remote control so that the later can send the exact signal by its own. This way, required functions from multiple original device remotes can be learned by a universal remote. Once the required functions are learned then you will need the universal remote only. This facilitates the control of multiple device from a single remote control.

Note that all universal remotes support this programming option – only the newer models of different brands comes with this feature.

Here are the general IR learning steps:

1. Activate the learning mode on your universal remote. If there is no dedicated button for learning, then refer to the user manual to find which button serve the function.
2. Press a button on the universal remote to which you want to save the signal of the required function.
3. Press the corresponding button on the original device remote.
4. Repeat the steps for each function you wish to learn on your universal remote.

The IR learning is an effective method for programming especially if you don’t have the remote codes, or if the code search methods fails.

6. Programming Via PC

Programming using a PC is an advanced method and only high-end universal remotes like Logitech Harmony, Sofabaton, etc. supports this. In this method, you plug the remote directly to a PC and a dedicated software for programming do all the task. The control codes are directly fetched from their large and regularly updated database and programmed to your device through the software.

The typical steps are as follows:

1. Plug your remote to the PC and open the software.
2. Select or enter the remote’s model number. Some brands may detect your remote autmatically.
3. Choose the types of devices and brands you need to operate.
4. Then click the program button.

So these are the six different methods to program a universal remote to control your devices. Not all methods works with all remote brands. The direct code and auto code search methods works on most of the remotes whether old or new.

The instructions or programming steps we have given for each method are general. For the exact steps, you need to refer to the user manual of your particular model.