Nothing is more frustrating than an Xfinity remote that won’t change channels. If you have faced a similar situation, you know exactly what I am talking about.
If you are wondering why this happens and what can be done to fix the issue, you are at the right place. Your Xfinity remote won’t change channels because of physical damage, dead batteries, or probably due to connectivity issues. When such problems occur, you can deal with them easily. To fix an Xfinity remote that won’t change channels, you can check the connection of the remote, try reconnecting the remote, make sure that you are using the right remote model, change the battery, and finally contact customer support if nothing works.
Check out the rest of the article if you want an elaborate discussion of the causes and cure for your problem.
3 Reasons Xfinity Remote Won’t Change Channels and What You Can Do About Them
There can be a few significant factors why Xfinity Remote isn’t changing channels. Here, you will find a detailed description of the reasons and get the best solutions.
Reason 1: Connectivity Issues
The connection between the Xfinity remote and the set-top box must be completely stable for the remote to function properly. If the connection is interrupted for some reason, the remote won’t be able to change the channel.
Solution:
If you encounter a connectivity issue, there are a few things you can try out. Firstly, try resyncing the remote to the TV. Here’s how you can do it,
- Turn on the TV and make sure that there are active batteries in the TV remote
- Press the ‘Setup’ button on the TV remote for a few seconds
- Notice the LED light at the top of the remote and see if it’s changing the color from red to green
- Press the ‘Xfinity’ button on the remote
- Notice the LED on the remote flashing green color
- If you are using XR2 or XR5 remote, you may need to press the Xfinity button up to 5 times
- You will see a guide presented before you. Follow that guide and insert the code accordingly
- After you input the code correctly, your remote will be resynced with the TV
If you fail to resync the remote to the Xfinity set-top box, chances are you are not using the right model. There are different Xfinity remote models depending on the region. Contact Comcast to make sure your TV remote model is the appropriate one.
Once you have made sure that the model and connectivity are perfectly adjusted, see if other remote functions are working. If the problem only occurs when you try to switch between channels, then the remote itself is probably broken. In this situation, you can conclude that there aren’t any connectivity issues, and now you have to replace the remote with a new one.
Reason 2: Physical Damage
The physical damages are the most apparent reason why your Xfinity remote won’t change channels. Your remote button is probably stuck, the circuits are probably damaged, or the wiring can be broken as well.
Dust can also be a big culprit here. Dust and dirt can clog up the inside of the remote and affect the usual activity of the remote. In this situation, you will notice the remote fails to perform its usual tasks other than changing the channel.
Solution:
As you have probably guessed, the solution to physical damage demands you to perform some technical task. Here’s what you can do,
- Open up the remote using a screw or a pryer
- See if any dirt, dust, or any kind of liquid is clogged inside the remote
- Clean any kind of substances or obstructions stuck there
- If any button was stuck, push it upwards with light force
- Make sure the circuit board is not burned or broken. If it is, then replace the circuit board
- Make sure the wires are properly connected. If not, weld the wires
- Put everything back in
I know this sounds like a lot of work, and it actually is. So if you want to avoid these extra hassles, you can just buy a new remote and replace it with the old, broken one. Just remember to get the same model.
Reason 3: Battery Issues
Your Xfinity TV remote won’t obviously work if the batteries are dead. But how do you know if the batteries have died? The blinking red lights on the top of the remote flash 5 times to indicate a low battery.
Solution:
You have probably already guessed that the solution to this problem is replacing the battery with a new one. See if everything works properly after replacing the battery.
If dead batteries were the reason, everything should be fine by now.
Try all these solutions one by one and see if it does the work for you. Don’t worry if it doesn’t because there is another final solution.
What If Nothing Works?
Everything now should work perfectly after completing the whole checkup as mentioned above. But if you are out of luck, the problem can still remain.
However, you don’t have anything to worry about. If your remote seems completely fine, your set-top box is probably broken or damaged. Sure, you can try fixing the Xfinity box all by yourself, but that will be a nuisance you don’t want to overtake.
As your final resort, you can contact Xfinity customer support and get their help to solve your issue in this type of situation.
To contact the Xfinity customer care, you can either,
- Chat with Xfinity correspondent online on this website
- Call the Comcast Retention at 1-800-XFINITY and discuss your problem with them
Either way, you will get an elaborate and accurate solution. Following their instructions will surely enable you to use the remote properly.
Having an Xfinity remote that won’t change channels is irritating, but it’s nothing difficult to fix. May it be a battery issue or connectivity problem, after reading this article, nothing should bother you anymore. Just follow the discussion properly, and you will reach the solution you have been looking for.