A lot of users reported that the Sony Bravia remote sensor on their TV set is not working. This guide will show you what can you do about it before sending your TV set to the Sony authorized dealer for repairs.
Sony Bravia is a popular smart TV that is slick and supports many apps through its Android feature. The 4k processor X1 chip enhances clarity, colour, and contrast and displays pictures close to reality.
However, a few problems are common with the Bravia version and the IR sensor malfunction is one of them. Let’s find out how you can fix the remote sensor on your TV set.
Where Is TV Remote Sensor?
On many Sony Television sets, the infrared (IR) sensor is located underneath the bottom bezel of the TV screen. Although the sensor is usually located in the centre of the bottom bezel, it can be on the left or right corner on a few Sony Bravia TV sets. You can check your Sony TV instructional manual for the exact location of the IR sensor.
How Do I Know If My TV Sensor Is working?
Normally, you can check if your TV IR sensor is working with the help of the remote control that comes with it. The TV IR port receives commands via infrared light through the remote control. If the TV responds to the commands of the remote, it means that the IR sensor is working fine. Otherwise, you need to take a closer look at why the IR sensor is malfunctioning. If you are having issues with you your Sony Bravia Screen Mirroring issues, we have a helpful guide that can help you fix this issue.
How Do I Fix My TV Remote Sensor Not Working?
Let’s look at different reasons for the IR sensor to malfunction and how you can apply easy troubleshooting steps to try to solve the issue from your end.
Check TV Remote Control Operations
Sometimes, you need to press additional buttons on the remote control to execute commands to the Sony Bravia TV set. A few Sony Bravia remote controls have a separate TV function button. This button needs to be pressed first to get your remote control to work with the TV set.
Similarly, quite a few Bravia remote controls have a TV/VCR button and you need to select the TV option to find out if the remote control is executing command accurately.
Remove Obstructions
If an object is placed between the remote control and the Sony Bravia TV set, it can block the infrared signal path from the remote control. In this case, you may think that the IR sensor is not working on your TV set.
Therefore, make sure that you remove all obstructions in the path TV IR sensor and the remote control to rule out the possibility of a faulty TV IR sensor.
Furthermore, you also need to make sure that you are pointing the remote control directly to the Sony Bravia TV IR sensor. If the IR sensor is located on the left bottom side of the TV set and you are pointing it on the right bottom side, you may experience that the infrared sensor on the TV does not appear to be working.
Check The Remote Control Batteries
Sometimes, your Sony Bravia IR fails to respond to the remote control if its batteries are depleted. A lot of users think that their IR sensor is going bad rather than checking the remote control battery health.
Therefore, it is a great idea to put in a new pair of batteries in the remote control and see if the IR sensor on the TV responds to the remote control commands.
Furthermore, check the battery terminals and clean them properly if you find corrosion on them. We have prepared a separate guide for Sony Bravia’s remote control issues (please add a link after the article gets published) which can easily get solved if you use the steps given in our guide.
Use A Universal Remote
A faulty remote control can make you believe that the TV IR sensor is the culprit. To make sure that the fault does not originate from the remote control, test your Sony Bravia TV with a universal remote. Universal remotes are manufactured to work with most TV sets and need a manufacturer code to work with your TV.
If the universal remote fails to work with your TV, it can mean that the IR sensor is malfunctioning on your TV set. Otherwise, your existing remote could be the cause of your issue. You can change the faulty remote control to fix the issue quickly.
Clean IR Sensor
If all of the above fixes fail to work, you have to clean the IR sensor on your Sony Bravia TV. You can do it yourself or send the TV to the Sony dealership. To do this:
- Turn Off your Sony Bravia TV
- Use the flat screwdriver to remove the TV front grill
- Insert the tip of the screwdriver into the seam between the TV and the remote sensor
- Wiggle the tip to loosen the IR sensor from the TV set
- Pull the sensor out and unplug it from the TV connection port
- Dip a cotton bud in the alcohol solution and clean the end of the IR sensor’s connector
- Rub the connection port inside the TV as well with the alcohol dipped cotton bud
- Use compressed air to blow out the connection port inside your TV set
- Push the IR sensor back in and assemble the front grill
How Do You Reset a TV Sensor?
If your Sony Bravia sensor is not working, you can reset the Sony BraviaTV sensor by power resetting it. To do this:
- Turn off your Sony TV and unplug the power cord from the main power outlet
- Wait for one minute and plug the power cord back into the main power outlet
- Turn on the TV and use your remote to go to TV settings
- Select the System option and then select Reset
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide helped you fix the Sony Bravia sensor not working issue. A lot of users often think that their IR sensor has stopped working just to find out later that their remote control is malfunctioning. Therefore, we recommend that you start with the easy troubleshooting steps before attempting to do the complex fixes. However, you can always contact the Sony dealership in your country if none of the above fixes solves the IR sensor issue.
