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Xfinity Remote Won’t Change Channels but Volume Buttons Work: Fix It Easily!

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It can prove a very tiring experience having to operate with an Xfinity remote that has stopped functioning properly or only works impartially. Should you be experiencing such issues with your Xfinity remote, including the inability to change channels although the volume buttons are still working, then this is the perfect troubleshooting guide for you.

The guide has focused on a handful of potential issues that may be encountered when using an Xfinity remote, such as:

  • One or multiple buttons on the remote have stopped working
  • The remote light keeps flashing and the remote does not work properly
  • The Xfinity remote is struggling to work with a newly purchased TV
  • The Xfinity remote was dropped and as a result, is no longer working properly


You can finally breathe a deep sigh of relief, as the solutions provided below have been found to solve such issues with the Xfinity remote quickly and with ease. Simply work through the suggested troubleshooting steps below and your Xfinity remote will be back up and running in no time. Nobody wants frustrating technical issues to get in their way of watching their favorite movies and shows. 


Why Do Some Buttons on the Xfinity Remote Stop Working Whilst Others Work Fine?

The major known causes behind this issue with the Xfinity remote include:

  • Bad connectivity – Your Xfinity remote is not receiving a proper signal from the TV box or TV. In many cases, performing a factory reset or re-pairing the devices seems to resolve such an issue.
  • Physical damage – The remote’s hardware can often incur damage from being dropped. Unfortunately, a replacement remote is often required in order to resolve this.
  • Dirt – Remote buttons can often be affected by dirt and spillages that manage to get into the remote console and cause the buttons to become unresponsive. Issues have been caused by even the slightest amount of dirt or dust. Cleaning your remote to remove such unwanted matter may provide a solution to this issue.
  • Low power – Old batteries, or those of a lower quality, may certainly prevent the remote from functioning properly. A new set of high-quality batteries could help solve such an issue.  


6 Easy Solutions to Fix Xfinity Remote

We’ve carefully put together a list of six potential troubleshooting actions based on findings from Xfinity TV users who have previously reported issues surrounding their Xfinity remotes. We suggest that you work carefully through the list in numerical order, paying close attention to which of the suggested steps may have provided a positive outcome.


1) Factory Reset the Xfinity Remote

In many cases, Xfinity TV users found that performing a factory reset of the Xfinity remote will successfully resolve any existing remote issues. Experiencing power outages as well as dropping the remote can also sometimes result in connectivity errors.


To Factory Reset the Remote Without Setup Button (XR15):

  • Turn on your TV (this requires resetting the remote in front of the TV)
  • Hold buttons A and D on the remote until a green light turns on
  • Press the buttons 9 – 8 – 1 (exactly in that order). The remote light should flash blue twice
  • Hold the “Xfinity” and “i” buttons until a green light starts flashing
  • Enter the number you see on the TV
  • Follow further instructions provided by the TV
Follow the steps to reset Xfinity XR15 remote
Follow the steps to reset Xfinity XR15 remote / Image: Pigtou.com


If none of the on-screen TV codes work, try to pair a remote with the TV:

  • Turn on your TV
  • Hold buttons A and D on the remote until a green light turns on
  • Press the buttons 9 – 9 – 1 (exactly in that order)
  • Press the “Channel Up” button slowly until the TV turns off
  • Press the “OK” button located in the center of the remote


To Factory Reset Xfinity Remote with Setup Button (XR2):

  • Turn on your TV (This requires resetting the remote in front of the TV)
  • Hold the “Setup” button until light blinks twice
  • Press the buttons 9 – 8 – 7 (exactly in that order).
  • Hold the “Xfinity” and “Setup” buttons together
  • Enter the number you see on the TV
  • Follow further instructions provided by the TV
Follow the steps to reset Xfinity XR2 remote
Follow the steps to reset Xfinity XR2 remote / Image: Pigtou.com


If none of the on-screen TV codes work for the remote with the setup button, try to pair a remote with the TV:

  • Turn on your TV
  • Hold the “Setup” button until a green light turns on
  • Press the “A” button once – this clears all previous codes programmed
  • Hold the “Setup” button again until a green light turns on
  • Press the buttons 9 – 9 – 1 (exactly in that order)
  • Press the “Channel Up” button slowly until the TV turns off
  • Press the “Setup” button once and check if your remote works correctly.


2) Unstuck Remote Buttons

Over time, dirt and sticky liquids may find their way into the remote buttons. Should this affect even a single button’s ability to function, this can cause serious issues with the remote. To solve an issue such as a stuck remote button, perform the following:

  • Remove the back cover of the remote
  • Remove the batteries
  • Hold down the power button for 30 seconds
  • Start pressing all of the buttons, multiple times, really hard, for a minute or so (if one of the buttons is stuck, this can be causing an issue)
  • Put the batteries back on and check if the issue is resolved


3) Replace Batteries

Old or faulty batteries can certainly cause remote issues. Replace them with new, good-quality batteries and check if this has managed to solve the issue.

Replace Batteries on Xfinity remote
Replace batteries on Xfinity remote / Image: Pigtou.com


4) Reset Cable TV Box

Performing a reset process on your TV box can often solve Xfinity remote issues. Undergoing a reset will restore your TV to default factory settings.

  • Hold down the power button on the cable box for 15 seconds whilst the TV and cable box are both on
  • Wait for 10 minutes until its fully reset and check if your Xfinity TV remote now works properly
Hold a power button to reset Xfinity cable box
Hold a power button to reset Xfinity cable box / Image: Pigtou.com


5) Replace the Xfinity Remote and Cable TV Box at Your Local Xfinity Store

This is certainly one of the most surefire ways to resolve any issues with your Xfinity remote. Visit your local Xfinity store and request for them to replace the Xfinity remote and Cable TV box. They are usually able to replace the equipment on the same day and no prior bookings are required.


6) Buy a Replacement Remote

Should you still be experiencing issues with your Xfinity remote or you feel as though the above steps may take up too much of your time, you can purchase a new Xfinity remote on Amazon. Make sure to buy the exact same remote of original quality, when first purchased.


XR15 (without setup button):

XFinity Comcast XR15 Voice Control Remote for X1 Xi6 Xi5 XG2 (Backlight)


XR20 (with setup button):

Xfinity New COMCAST HDTV DVR Cable Remote Control XR2


Large numbers of Xfinity TV users have been able to resolve their remote issues for $10. A newly purchased remote should pair automatically. However, if it does not, please follow the steps in solution #1.

Pigtou.com is supported by its audience. When you buy through the links on our website, we may earn a small commission.
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Pigtou Editorial Team

A group of tech enthusiasts who find pleasure in troubleshooting and resolving various issues. When we're not engaged in writing, we typically enjoy playing table football or spending time with our office dog.
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