As an owner of both a TV and LED lights, I found myself in a frustrating situation when my TV remote started controlling my LED lights. I was baffled by the sudden change and couldn’t figure out what was going on. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved the issue and other solutions I discovered along the way.
In this blog post, I’ll explain why my TV remote was controlling my LED lights and how to prevent it from happening again.
A TV remote can control or interfere with LED lights when the infrared signal from the TV remote is received by the LED lights sensor instead of, or at the same time as, the TV sensor. This can happen when the frequency used by the infrared receivers on both devices is the same.
| Tips for resolving TV remote and LED lights interference |
|---|
| Move the TV or the LED lights receiver to avoid direct line of sight |
| Cover the LED lights receiver sensor with electrical tape or cardboard |
| Place the LED lights receiver in a radio frequency shield box |
| Change the TV remote control frequency |
| Use a TV remote control app instead of a physical remote |
Table of Contents
Why Does A TV Remote Control LED Lights?
TV and LED light remotes send infrared signals from the remote to the device. These infrared signals are received by the device and interpreted to perform different functions. In the case of the TV remote, this will be to change the channel or the volume, etc. In the case of the LED lights, this will turn the lights on or off and change brightness or color.
The remote sends the infrared signal, and the device receives it and performs the ‘instruction.’
A TV remote can sometimes control LED lights if the infrared frequency the TV remote uses to control the TV is the same as the frequency used by the LED lights to control its functions.
The LED lights cannot distinguish which device or remote sent the signal, so it will simply ‘do as instructed.’ That’s why changing the volume on the TV using the TV remote can do something like turning your LED lights on or off.
When a TV remote controls LED lights, nothing is actually malfunctioning or doing anything it shouldn’t. The infrared transmitter on the TV remote control sends a signal, and the infrared receiver on the LED lights receives a signal and interprets it to change the function of the light. Both are doing exactly what they were designed to do!
This doesn’t stop it from being highly frustrating, nor is it a problem you can just ignore. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to stop your TV remote from controlling your LED lights.
How To Stop A TV Remote From Interfering With LED Lights
Some solutions to stop a TV remote from interfering with your LED lights are simple, and others are more complex. Still, at least one of the suggestions below should solve your problem and ease your frustration.
Try one of these five ways to stop a TV remote from controlling LED lights:
- Move the TV or LED lights receiver
- Cover the sensor on the LED lights receiver
- Place the LED lights receiver in a radio frequency shield box
- Change the TV remote control frequency
- Use a TV remote control app instead
Keep reading for full details on each of these below.
1. Move The TV Or LED Lights Receiver
The simplest solution is often the best!
Because infrared technology operates by line of sight, often the simplest solution is to move the TV or the LED lights receiver so that it is no longer in the same line of sight as the TV remote.
Sometimes just increasing the space between the two is enough to stop the TV remote from controlling the LED lights, while at other times, one will need to be moved to another part of the room.
This will often require a trial-and-error approach of moving one or the other until the TV remote stops controlling the LED lights. This is the least technical of the five options, so give this option your best effort as it will be simpler to do than the rest.
2. Cover The Sensor On The LED Lights Receiver
Because the functions of LED lights are often simpler and need to be changed less frequently, you may also consider covering the sensor on the LED lights receiver. A TV remote will typically be used a few times while the TV is on, while LED lights are often set up once and left.
This will stop the LED lights from receiving any infrared signals. Use a covering that is easy to remove, and always remember to remove the covering when you do want to change your LED light settings.
Use electrical tape, cardboard, or another covering to block the infrared signal. Locate the infrared receiver in the LED lights and cover it. Something that will stick to the receiver is better than something loose in case it is bumped off.
3. Place The LED Lights Receiver In A Radio Frequency Shield Box
Place LED lights receiver in a radio frequency shield box for a more permanent solution. There are different size boxes to meet your needs, but it is a sure-fire way of ensuring the LED lights receiver cannot receive any signals.
4. Change The TV Remote Control Frequency
If you cannot move the TV or the LED lights receiver and there is some reason you cannot cover the sensor on the LED lights receiver, you can reprogram the TV remote’s control frequency. This will put the TV and TV remote on a different frequency than the LED lights, so the TV remote will no longer be able to control the LED lights.
Note: This is the most technical option and will require knowledge of adjusting settings on your brand of TV. If you are not comfortable changing the settings on the TV, this may not be the option for you.
Consult your TV manual to check the following:
- The infrared frequency can be adjusted through the settings menus as not all TVs will allow this setting to be changed.
- What steps to follow to change the frequency and save the settings
If it is possible, follow the steps to change the infrared frequency.
5. Use A TV Remote Control App Instead
If all else fails, the best way to stop a TV remote controlling LED lights is to stop using the TV remote altogether and download a TV remote control app for your brand of TV. Because most of these work using the WiFi network, it will not interfere with the LED lights.
Strictly speaking, this is not a solution to the problem but rather a workaround. Whenever the TV remote control is used, it will still interfere with the LED lights. For a permanent fix to the problem, it would be best to use one of the above fixes.
Conclusion
A TV remote controlling LED lights is not uncommon, but it is highly frustrating. Nothing is malfunctioning when it does this, but it needs to be dealt with so that all the electronics in your house work as they should. Try any of the five recommended fixes to the problem to get you back to watching TV without the lights doing something unexpected!
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