Universal remotes have revolutionized the way we control our home entertainment systems, making it easier to operate multiple devices with a single remote. Whether you have a TV, soundbar, DVD player, gaming console, or streaming box, the right universal remote can simplify your life. But what if you want to control even more devices with the same remote? Here are some clever universal remote hacks that can help you maximize your setup and control more devices with ease.
1. Check for Compatibility
Before diving into hacks, it’s important to ensure that your universal remote is compatible with the devices you want to control. Most universal remotes are designed to work with a wide range of products, including TVs, speakers, Blu-ray players, and gaming consoles, but some might be limited in their functionality.
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Universal Remote with Smart Home Integration: Some advanced universal remotes can be synced with smart home systems, allowing you to control lights, thermostats, and security systems. Make sure your remote supports smart devices if you want to control your entire home environment.
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Device Database: Universal remotes come with an internal database of device codes. The more comprehensive the database, the more devices you can control. Check your remote’s manual or product specs to see if it can control smart TVs, game consoles, soundbars, and streaming boxes.
2. Expand Your Control with Additional Codes
Many universal remotes can control more devices than you might think, but you may need to manually add codes for certain devices. Here’s how to expand your control:
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Find the Code List: Your remote’s manual should include a list of manufacturer codes for all supported devices. If you can’t find the manual, search online for your remote’s model and the device codes you need.
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Program Your Remote Manually: Once you’ve found the correct codes, manually program your remote. Usually, this involves pressing a combination of buttons (such as the “Code Search” button), entering the device’s code, and confirming that the device responds to the remote. If it doesn’t work, try different codes from the list until you find the right one.
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Code Search Feature: Some remotes come with an automatic code search function. This feature cycles through all available codes until it finds one that works with your device. It’s a great option if you don’t want to manually search for the right code.
3. Add Smart Devices to Your Universal Remote
If you’ve invested in smart home gadgets, you can control more than just your TV with your universal remote. Many modern universal remotes support integration with smart devices such as smart bulbs, thermostats, and even smart plugs.
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Smart Remote Control: Devices like the Logitech Harmony Elite allow you to control multiple smart home gadgets, including lights, thermostats, and speakers. These devices often connect to a home Wi-Fi network, allowing you to use a single remote for all your smart home gadgets.
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Voice Control: For an even more advanced setup, some universal remotes are compatible with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can use your voice to control your devices in addition to using the physical remote.
4. Use Macros to Control Multiple Devices Simultaneously
A macro is a series of commands or functions that your universal remote can execute with a single button press. This is perfect for those who want to streamline their setup and control multiple devices at once.
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Create Custom Macros: Some universal remotes allow you to program custom macros. For example, you can set a button to turn on your TV, soundbar, and streaming device with just one press. You can also create a “movie mode” macro that dims the lights and powers on your home theater system at once.
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Pre-Set Macros: Some high-end remotes come with pre-programmed macros for popular activities. For example, a “Watch Movie” button could turn on your TV, sound system, and Blu-ray player all at once, saving you time when setting up for a movie night.
5. Use Smartphone Apps as a Remote Control
Many modern universal remotes offer the ability to control devices using your smartphone, which can help you control even more devices without needing additional physical remotes. Here’s how to take advantage of this:
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Download the Companion App: Many universal remote brands, such as Logitech Harmony, have companion apps that allow you to control devices through your smartphone. These apps can also offer advanced functionality, such as voice control and more precise adjustments of your devices.
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Smartphone as a Universal Remote: If you don’t have a traditional universal remote, many smartphones can act as a remote control. Use apps like “AnyMote” or “Unified Remote” to control devices such as TVs, DVD players, and even air conditioning units, all from your phone.
6. Pair Your Remote with More Than One Device
Some universal remotes have multi-device control options, allowing you to control two or more of the same type of device. For example, you can control two different TVs, or two cable boxes, with the same remote.
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Multi-Device Functionality: To take full advantage of this, you’ll need to program each device separately, assigning them to different buttons on your remote. This is especially useful if you have a large home entertainment setup with multiple devices of the same type.
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Switching Between Devices: Once set up, you can easily switch between controlling different devices by pressing the corresponding buttons on your remote. For example, you could switch between controlling your living room TV and bedroom TV, all with one remote.
7. Consider Upgrading to a Smart Universal Remote
If you’re serious about controlling more devices, consider upgrading to a smart universal remote. These remotes offer more advanced features like:
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Integration with Smart Home Ecosystems: Many smart universal remotes integrate with systems like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, giving you voice control over your devices.
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Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity: High-end remotes, like the Logitech Harmony Elite, offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for easier control of a wide range of devices, including smart home gadgets.
Conclusion
With these hacks and tips, you can take your universal remote to the next level and control more devices than ever before. Whether you’re programming custom macros, adding smart devices to your setup, or using your smartphone as a remote, these strategies will streamline your home entertainment and smart home experience. A universal remote is an essential tool for any tech-savvy home, and with the right adjustments, it can give you full control over all your devices.
