How to Program an RCA Universal Remote

Last Updated: March 9, 2022

Are you tired of juggling three or four different remotes just to control your home theater setup? With a universal remote, you can combine a lot of the functionality of your remotes into one. Universal remotes are typically programmed in two different ways: either by entering a code directly or by searching for the code. See Step 1 below to learn how to do both.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Remotes Without "Code Search" Button

Using Brand Code Search

1
Turn on the device you want to control. Brand Code Search only supports older TV, DVD, VCR, and satellite/cable boxes. It does not support stereos, DVRs, and HDTVs; you will need to use another method in this article in order to connect those devices.
- You will need the Brand Code from the RCA Brand Code list. This list is included in the remote's documentation and a searchable database is available on the RCA Support site.^{[1]
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2
Press and hold the button on the remote that corresponds with the device. For example, if you are programming the remote for your TV, press and hold the "TV" button. If the device you are trying to control is not labeled on the remote, press the "Aux" (Auxiliary) button.
- After a few moments, the Power button will light up and stay lit. Continue holding the device button.
- Make sure to keep the remote pointed at the device.
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3
Press and hold the Power button while continuing to hold the device button. The Power button light will turn off. Continue to hold both keys for about three more seconds. The Power button light will turn back on.
4
Release both buttons. The Power button light should stay lit after releasing both buttons. If the Power button light does not stay on, start these steps over again and ensure that you are holding the buttons at the right times.
5
Enter the Brand Code. After releasing both buttons and checking the the Power button light is still on, enter the Brand Code using the number pad on the remote. Make sure that you are pointing the remote at the device the entire time.
- If you enter the code correctly, the Power button light will blink once and then stay lit.
- If you enter the code incorrectly, the Power button light will blink four times and then turn off. If this happens, you will need to start the process over. Ensure that you are entering the correct code for your device's brand, and that the device supports Brand Code Search.
6
Press the Power button to cycle through codes. Every time the Power button is pressed, the next code in the brand's sequence is sent to the device. The Power button will blink each time a code is sent. Continue pressing the button until the device turns off. This means that you have found the correct code.
- If you cycle through the entire list, the Power button will blink four times and then turn off. You will need to try another method in this article to program the remote.
7
Press and release the Stop ■ button. This will save the code in the remote and assign it to the Device button you pressed earlier. If you don't press the Stop ■ button, the code will not be saved and you will need to start the process over.
8
Test out the remote. After saving the code, use the remote to try out various functions on the device. If you aren't able to control most of the functionality, try programming the remote using one of the other methods in this article. Sometimes different codes will give differing amounts of functionality.

Using Manual Code Search

1
Turn on the device that you want to control. This could be a TV, DVD or Bluray player, DVR, VCR, or stereo. The device must support the use of remotes in the first place (for example, many stereos don't support remotes).
- The amount of functionality you get out of the universal remote will vary from device to device.
2
Press and hold the button on the remote that corresponds with the device. For example, if you are programming the remote for your TV, press and hold the "TV" button. If the device you are trying to control is not labeled on the remote, press the "Aux" (Auxiliary) button.
- After a few moments, the Power button will light up and stay lit. Continue holding the device button.
- Make sure to keep the remote pointed at the device.
3
Press and hold the Power button while continuing to hold the device button. The Power button light will turn off. Continue to hold both keys for about three more seconds. The Power button light will turn back on.
4
Release both buttons. The Power button light should stay lit after releasing both buttons. If the Power button light does not stay on, start these steps over again and ensure that you are holding the buttons at the right times.
5
Press the Power button to cycle through codes. Every time the Power button is pressed, the next code in the entire code list is sent to the device. The Power button will blink each time a code is sent. Continue pressing the button until the device turns off. This means that you have found the correct code.
- Cycling through the full code list can take a significant amount of time. Depending on the remote, you may have to go through several hundred codes.
- If you cycle through the entire list, the Power button will blink four times and then turn off. You can try another method in this article to program the remote, but chances are the remote will not work with your device, as every possible code has been tried.
6
Press and release the Stop ■ button. This will save the code in the remote and assign it to the Device button you pressed earlier. If you don't press the Stop ■ button, the code will not be saved and you will need to start the process over.
7
Test out the remote. After saving the code, use the remote to try out various functions on the device. If you aren't able to control most of the functionality, try programming the remote using one of the other methods in this article. Sometimes different codes will give differing amounts of functionality.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Remotes With "Code Search" Button

Using Direct Code Entry

1
Turn on the device you want to control. If you know the exact code that you need to enter to control your device, this method will let you quickly enter it. You can find the exact codes by looking in the remote's documentation, or by using the database on the RCA support website.
- Some devices have multiple possible codes, so you may need to try this a few different times with each code until you find the one that works.
2
Press and hold the Code Search button. After a few moments, the light on the remote will turn on. Release the Code Search button.
3
Press the corresponding device button. For example, if you are programming the DVD, press the DVD button. The light on the remote will blink once and then remain lit.
4
Enter the code. Use the numeral pad the enter the code from the list. After entering the code, the light on the remote will turn off.
5
Test the remote. Point the remote at the device you want to control. Make sure that the device has been turned on manually. Test functions such as volume, channel, and power. If the device responds to the remote, then no further programming is required. If the device does not respond, then you will need to try another code for the brand.

Using Code Search

1
Turn on the device you want to control. You will need to have the device on so that the remote can cycle through all of the available codes. This can take a while longer than direct code entry, but is useful if you can't track down the list of codes.
2
Press and hold the Code Search button. After a few moments, the light on the remote will turn on. Release the Code Search button.
3
Press the corresponding device button. For example, if you are programming the DVD, press the DVD button. The light on the remote will blink once and then remain lit.
4
Press the Power button to cycle through codes. Every time the Power button is pressed, the next code in the entire code list is sent to the device. The indicator light on the remote will blink each time a code is sent. Continue pressing the button until the device turns off. This means that you have found the correct code.
- Cycling through the full code list can take a significant amount of time. Depending on the remote, you may have to go through several hundred codes.
- If you cycle through the entire list, the indicator light will blink four times and then turn off. You can try another method in this article to program the remote, but chances are the remote will not work with your device, as every possible code has been tried.
5
Press and release the Enter button. When the device turns off, press and release the Enter button on the remote to save the code. If you don't do this, the code will not be saved and you will have to start the process over.
6
Test the remote. Point the remote at the device you want to control. Make sure that the device has been turned on manually. Test functions such as volume, channel, and power. If the device responds to the remote, then no further programming is required.^{[2]
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Device Codes

Sample TV RCA Remote Codes

Sample DVD RCA Remote Codes

Sample VHS RCA Remote Codes

Sample Satellite Codes RCA Remote Codes

Sample Cable Box RCA Remote Codes

Community Q&A

Question

How do I add new channels to my remote?

Community Answer

In your setup menu you should have a setting for "cable," "antenna," etc. If it doesn't have an "add or remove channel" heading, then see if you can run a channel scan to set up all possible channels you are able to receive.
Question

What can I do if I've gone through all of the steps and my TV won't turn back on?

Community Answer

It could be that the switch module is faulty and will have to be replaced by a TV technician.
Question

Where can I get codes for my LG Blue Ray player?

Community Answer

You need to search for codes that works with the remote control you have. Different remote brands usually use different codes. You might consider looking on eBay for a used/new replacement factory remote for your LG player. While it might be pricier than a universal remote, a factory remote will provide fuller control over the entire player.