- Start by searching in common places where the remote is most likely to be found, such as the couch crevices, under the bed, or near the TV, and don’t overlook areas like your pockets or bathroom where the remote could be accidentally placed.
- Utilize technological solutions like the “Find My Remote” feature available in some TV models or attach a tracking device to the remote to locate it easily
This article is your ally in the hunt for the elusive TV remote, providing strategies that are simple yet effective, ensuring you’ll never be at a loss again. As you absorb these tips, prepare to reunite with your remote in no time.
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1. Scour the Common Spots
Before resorting to technical measures, manually search the most obvious places.
Start with your hand. As nonsensical as it may sound, some people search for things they could be holding in their hands.
The forgetfulness is akin to the tendency to search the entire house for eyeglasses plopped onto the person’s head like a crown.
Look between the crevices of your couch, behind the settee, under your bed, behind your TV, etc.
If you can turn the couch over or move it, go ahead.
Check all drawers or spots where the remote goes after you’re done watching TV.
Most lost TV remotes are found near the TV. Therefore, ensure your TV’s surroundings are thoroughly checked.
Check your pant pockets. You may like carrying the remote and your smartphone with you wherever you are in your house.
2. Search the Unlikely Spots
If you didn’t find the remote in the likeliest spots, pivot your focus to other areas.
Search the bookshelf if you have one. Perhaps, you absentmindedly kept the remote there while taking out or depositing a book.
Check underneath magazines, blankets, clothes, or any item that could go atop and potentially hide the remote.
Look behind and underneath all furniture. If the task entails moving the stuff, go ahead. Maybe your kid or pet accidentally slid the device under those fixtures.
If the room has an attached bathroom, check the washroom too. It seems like the weirdest spot to look for a lost remote, but maybe the device is in the bathroom cabinet.
Also, inspect your fridge. Perhaps you left your remote in there while grabbing some food.
3. Look Outside the Room
If you always keep the TV remote on hand, you could have carried it to other places in your house.
For instance, if you were holding the remote when heading to the kitchen to make coffee, you may have left it on the counter while trying to pour the concoction or deposited it in the cabinet when looking to grab some coffee beans.
Maybe you got a phone call and left the remote in the kitchen or any other place in the house.
Or maybe you had to get to the door to receive a package. While excitedly unpacking the item, you could have momentarily set the remote aside.
4. Let Other People Know the TV Remote Is Lost
If your solo search efforts don’t bear fruit, let your family or roommates know you’ve lost the remote.
They could help find the remote or communicate when they last saw the device. If they were using the TV a few hours ago, their inputs would come in handy.
Or maybe you have this habit of losing things, and people hid the stray remote as a prank to teach you a lesson.
Also, others in the house may have misplaced the remote and could have kept it in some unusual place. Or your kid could be hiding the remote and enjoying seeing you going restless over it.
Check your child’s toy box. It could have been hidden there or somewhere in your kid’s room.
5. Use the “Find My Remote” Function
Some TVs and remotes have a built-in “find the remote” feature.
For instance, this Sony Bravia with Google TV (2022) comes with a “finder” function that helps locate the TV’s remote when you say, “OK, Google, find my remote.” You may also press a button on the TV’s side to activate the feature.
When you say those magic words or press the button, the remote should ring, making it easier to locate the missed remote.
Hisense is another brand that offers the feature on its A6H Series 4K Google TV. The TV’s remote has a tracker built-in which helps trace it when misplaced.
Amazon offers Alexa Voice Remote Pro with a remote finder function for those whose Fire TV remotes go missing often.
To find the remote, speak into your phone’s Alexa app or an Echo device. You may not employ your voice and use the “Remote Finder” key in your Fire TV app instead.
The Amazon remote is compatible with the Fire TV Cube, Fire Stick Lite, 4K Max, and smart televisions with built-in Fire TV OS.
Roku’s Voice Remote Pro also has the “lost remote finder” functionality. The remote comes bundled with the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus and Roku Ultra and can also be bought separately.
How to Avoid Losing Your Remote
If you tend to lose your TV remote frequently and spend hours trying to find it, here are a few things you could do to prevent it.
- Set a designated place for your remote. The TV stand or table is not where the remote should rest, but the drawer is. If you want the remote in sight while nestled, use a remote control holder like this Joywell Couch Remote Control Holder . Look at the SITHON Remote Control Holder for a solid and sturdy accessory.
- Attach a hook-and-loop fastener, like a Velcro strip, to the remote’s back and the back of your TV. When not watching TV, attach the remote to the TV’s rear or any place the fastening strip is installed.
- Keep a universal remote handy so that you don’t lose remote communication with your TV when the actual TV remote is lost. Use the replacement device while the search for the actual remote is on.Universal remotes work with all TV brands or TVs from only a specific brand. For instance, the Angrox Universal Remote Control only works with Samsung smart TVs. The Pairtty Universal TV Remote , on the other hand, pairs with all brands of TVs.
- Attach a tracker to the remote if you like complex solutions for a simple problem or have lost multiple remotes. The device, like this Tile Sticker Small Bluetooth Tracker , sticks to your remote and is linked to your smartphone or smart home device. The next time you lose your remote, summon the device using a smartphone app.
DIY Remote Control Holder
If you’re someone who enjoys a hands-on approach and desires an affordable and personalized solution for your remote control holder, a DIY alternative is the perfect choice for you.
By taking matters into your own hands, you can avoid spending a fortune on expensive or generic options while ensuring your remote controls are always within reach and neatly organized.
Cardboard Remote Control Holder
If you’re faced with a surplus of cardboard waste and are looking for a practical and eco-friendly way to repurpose it, why not consider crafting a handmade remote control holder?
This helps you make the most of your resources and provides a convenient storage solution for your remotes. With just a few simple steps involving measuring, cutting, and gluing, you can transform cardboard into a functional holder.
To get started, gather the following easily accessible materials to create your very own cardboard remote control holder:
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Glue gun
- Glue mixed with water
- Napkins
- Brushes
- Acrylic paint
Here are 2 straightforward, step-by-step instructions accompanied by clear visuals to guide you through crafting your very own DIY remote holder using cardboard.
This first video tutorial provides a beginner-friendly approach, ensuring simplicity and ease as you create a practical and efficient cardboard remote holder.
While the structure of the remote control holder in the second video closely resembles the first one, this DIY tutorial takes it a step further by offering some creative decoration ideas using clay and paper cutouts.
Fabric Remote Control Holder
Instead of the traditional box design, fabric remote holders often come in the form of convenient options like armchair caddies or hanging pocket organizers.
When creating a DIY remote control holder using fabric, there’s no need to paint for decoration since the fabric itself is already patterned, but the process of making one may require a bit more time and effort.
If you’re considering DIYing a remote holder using fabric, here are the main materials you’ll need to prepare:
- Fabric of your choice
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Scissors
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Tailor chalk or fabric chalk pencil
- Sewing pins or clips
- Optional: additional decorative elements like buttons or ribbons to enhance the design
The first design boasts 3 compartments and a strap, which help you easily place it on your headboard or the side of your bed. You can create this convenient holder to keep your remotes organized and within reach in around 30 minutes.
In the second video, you’ll discover another design with 3 compartments but in the form of an armchair caddy. This solution also includes an elastic hoop that offers extra space for a smaller remote or can be personally adjusted to hold your note-taking pen.
The following armchair caddy features a thoughtfully designed layout with 4 rows of pockets, providing convenient storage for your remote holders, smartphones, reading glasses, notes and pens, as well as your tablets, books, newspaper, or magazines.
If you’re seeking a shorter armchair caddy design that still provides ample storage for your remote holders, digital devices, and newspapers, this fourth tutorial is a fantastic option to consider. It also offers guidance on measuring the length of the holder to ensure a perfect fit for your specific armchair.
Each instructional video above showcases a unique design with specific measurements and decorative options.
Feel free to select the design that resonates with you the most, or get creative by incorporating your favorite features from each tutorial.
You can even customize the measurements to create a remote control holder that is uniquely tailored to your preferences and personal style.
FAQs
Can I Use My Streaming Device Remote as TV Remote?
Yes, you can use your streaming stick remote as a TV remote, but to an extent. For instance, you can power your TV on and off with most Fire Stick or Roku remotes.
If your TV is non-smart, you cannot control the non-smart aspects of your TV with the streaming device’s remote.
If the TV is set to cable TV, you’ll be unable to change channels, TV volume, etc., with just the streaming stick’s remote.
Conclusion
If you’re sure that the TV remote is misplaced somewhere in your room, finding it should be easier as the device shouldn’t have traveled very far.
But if someone took the remote out to another room or floor, locating the misplaced remote can be tricky since the real estate to check has increased.
And if the misplaced remote is outside your house, things will get even more problematic. You may have lost the remote for good.
But don’t fret over a lost, non-recoverable remote, for there’s always a replacement remote to the rescue.
You can also use your smartphone as your TV remote if it has an IR blaster.
If it does, download any TV remote on your phone and control your TV, Blu-ray player, set-top box, audio equipment, or any device that takes IR signals.
Some smart TVs also have remote control apps on Android and iOS phones.
Catherine Tramell has been covering technology as a freelance writer for over a decade. She has been writing for Pointer Clicker for over a year, further expanding her expertise as a tech columnist. Catherine likes spending time with her family and friends and her pastimes are reading books and news articles.