The Siri Remote for the Apple TV has a tiny operating system like so many small devices. In some cases, you might need to reboot the remote control, something I had never considered before. This can happen particularly when using a Siri Remote (any generation) as an infrared transmitter after training it to mimic remote control features, such as power on/off and volume up/down.
I found in setting up a new Apple TV that the remote crashed a couple of times as I wrestled with IR programming. Every function worked except those related to infrared. A forced reboot solved this.
Here’s how to reset a Siri Remote when that happens:
- Hold down the TV/Control Center button and the volume down (-) button at the same time.
- Count to five and wait for the light on the front of your Apple TV to turn off and back on. (There’s no visual indicator on a Siri Remote.)
- Let go of the buttons. After about 5 to 10 seconds, you’ll see a Connection Lost message appear, showing that that Apple TV can’t communicate with the Siri Remote.
- After a few moments, the Siri Remote completes its restart, and a Connected message appears.
Your Siri Remote should now be able to function as expected.
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