An insignia universal remote can make controlling your home theater a breeze by consolidating multiple remotes into one device. Programming these popular and affordable remotes is thankfully a straightforward process.
In this comprehensive 2500+ word guide, you’ll learn multiple methods for programming insignia remotes, along with troubleshooting advice to get your remote working with your TV, audio equipment, streaming devices and everything else in your entertainment setup.
Why Choose an Insignia Universal Remote?
Insignia is Best Buy‘s flagship house brand, making quality electronics available at everyday affordable prices. Insignia universal remotes continue this commitment by stuffing advanced controls into an easy-to-use remote that only costs $15 on average.
Before diving into the detailed programming specifics, let‘s briefly go over the many great benefits insignia universal remotes offer:
- Consolidated Control – Use one remote for your TV, DVD/Blu-ray player, AV receiver, Roku, and other devices
- Intuitive Layout – Well-spaced and labelled buttons make navigating simple
- Minimal Button Clutter – Reduce overall physical remote quantity
- Outstanding Value – Advanced features for under $20!
- High Compatibility – IR transmitter works with nearly all major home theater brands
- 25-Foot Indoor Range – Control gear from anywhere in your living room
For controlling your essential home theater gear, insignia universal remotes deliver outstanding ease-of-use and value matched only by top players like Logitech Harmony.
But what really makes these remotes stand out is the extensive IR database with over 5,000+ device codes covering thousands of TV, audio, streaming and smart home equipment models. All accessible through the quick and painless programming processes covered next.
Manual Programming Method
Programming insignia remotes manually involves entering specific 5-digit IR/remote codes discovered for your exact devices. Here is the complete process broken down into simple steps:
Turn On Your Devices
Start by turning on the TV and any other devices you want to program. This allows you to instantly test if a code works.
Locate the Device Category Button
Find the button labeled for your equipment category – "TV", "Amp", "SAT/CBL" etc. You’ll be pressing this to put the remote into programming mode.
For example to program TV control, you would press and hold the button labeled "TV".
This tells the remote you want to pair codes from TV brands in its database.
Initiate Setup Mode
With the device button held down, press and hold the Setup or Program button simultaneously.
An LED indicator light will turn on, signalling the remote is ready for a brand‘s device code to be entered.
Input Device Code
Use the number pad on the remote to input a programming code for your equipment make & model. Insignia remotes accept 5-digit numeric codes.
So for an LG OLED TV, you would search this guide for LG TV codes and enter one of those.
Test Functions
With a code entered, point the insignia remote at your device and press the power function. Your TV should turn off or device power down.
Press power again and verify volume, channels and other controls operate as expected.
- If the code works, programming is complete! Enjoy your newly-configured universal remote.
- If the device fails to respond, repeat the process and input another valid code from the ones available for your brand. Or move onto the alternative programming method covered next.
And that‘s all there is to it! As long as you have the correct 5-digit equipment code, insignia remotes can typically be manually programmed in under a minute.
Now let‘s explore a method that removes the manual code lookup hassle…
Automatic Programming Method
If looking up infrared device codes sounds complicated, insignia remotes can program themselves automatically by cycling through 100,000s of built-in codes from the onboard database:
Turn Equipment On
As with manual programming, you need your devices powered on for insignia‘s clever auto-config feature to function.
Press and Hold Device Button
Decide which device you want to program – TV, DVD player etc. Press and HOLD the insignia remote button that matches. Example, for a Blu-ray player, hold down the BD/DVD button.
This tells the remote which category of gear to scan codes for during the automated setup.
Press Channel Up/Down
With the device button held down, start pressing either Channel Up or Down continuously.
The insignia remote will rapidly blast through IR device code combinations with each press, flashing a red LED each time.
Wait for Device Shutdown
Eventually the correct device code will transmit and turn off your equipment.
Immediately stop pressing Channel Up/Down when this happens. The remote has now paired itself with your device‘s brand and saved the working function code.
Verify Operation
Turn the equipment back on with the Power button and test volume, playback controls and other functions respond as expected to confirm complete programming.
That‘s it! Because insignia pulls from such an enormous built-in IR code library, letting the remote scan and match itself is an easy alternative to manual programming.
Programming Multiple Home Theater Devices
Once your insignia remote is controlling your TV or primary gear, repeat the programming procedures to add your other devices:
- Blu-ray/DVD/VHS combo
- Sound bar
- Streaming box
- Game console
- AV receiver
- Smart lights
And any other infrared controlled equipment in your home theater or smart home.
Press device category buttons like DVD or Receiver instead of TV before entering setup mode.
This tells the insignia remote which type of component you want to program next from its 100,000+ code database.
Within a few minutes, INSIGNIAUNIVERSALREMOTE can seamlessly consolidate control of ALL your entertainment gear!
Advanced Programmable Circuitry Inside Insignia Remotes – Image Courtesy BestBuy
Now that you understand the methods for teaching insignia remotes to control practically any device, let‘s cover some time-saving manual code references…
Manual Codes for Major TV Brands
Having the right 5-digit manual setup code for your television brand can speed up the programming process compared to automatic scanning.
Here are common insignia remote codes for top TV manufacturers:
| Brand | Codes |
|---|---|
| Insignia | 12049, 11780, 14487 |
| Samsung | 12051, 11632, 10578 |
| LG | 11840, 12731, 11860, 10017 |
| Sony | 10810, 14448, 14189 |
| Vizio | 11758, 13758, 12512 |
| TCL | 12434, 14398, 13183 |
| Sharp | 12360, 13394, 14507 |
| Hisense | 13519, 14618, 12183 |
| Toshiba | 10178, 10030 |
| Element | 12473, 13653, 11100 |
| Westinghouse | 11892, 11314 |
You can always try the automatic code scanning method if the above codes don‘t work immediately on your model. But having known good codes provides a great starting point.
And here are entry-level reference codes for other devices:
Component Codes for DVD, Audio, Streaming & More
| Device Type | Codes |
|---|---|
| DVD Player | 11892, 10178 |
| Blu-ray Player | 11670 |
| AV Receiver | 20677, 30498 |
| Roku Stick | 11659 |
| Apple TV | 11751 |
Having the right codes ready for ALL your gear makes programming a quick process!
Tips for Problems Programming Insignia Remotes
If your insignia universal remote isn‘t controlling devices correctly or responding after following the programming instructions, here are some tips to troubleshoot the issues:
Batteries Running Low
Replace batteries with fresh ones. Insufficient battery power can prevent successful code transmission.
Incorrect Code Entered
Try more codes from the lists or use the automatic code scanning method instead.
Too Far From Devices
Insignia remotes have a 25-foot indoor range. Move closer during programming and device operation.
Interference From Other Remotes
Other IR and Bluetooth devices can interfere with insignia remote signals. Power them off and re-attempt programming.
Quickly verifying these common troubleshooting fixes will help identify any reason the insignia remote is not functioning correctly.
What If New Equipment Doesn‘t Work?
Adding new TV or audio equipment can also cause previously programmed insignia remotes to stop working properly.
First retry programming using the new gear model codes from this guide with either manual or auto methods.
If problems persist, a factory reset will wipe old device pairings so the insignia remote can learn your configuration from scratch:
- Hold Setup + TV/Device buttons for 3 seconds
- Press 9 + 1 + 1 sequentially
- The remote will reset with confirmation LED flashes
Now you have a clean slate to reprogram based on new entertainment equipment using codes tailored specifically to each model, avoiding past device conflicts.
Customizing Button Layouts
Once properly set up, insignia remotes make juggling multiple entertainment devices effortless. But for easier everyday use, you can further customize the remote button arrangements.
For devices like your TV, Blu-ray player or AV receiver programmed to insignia buttons like TV, DVD and AUD, you can assign these to any other universal remote keys:
- Hold Setup + TV keys
- Press new function button to assign
- Confirm re-program by pressing same button again
This allows you to consolidate even more device functions into logical zones.
For example, assigning your TV power, volume and input keys to insignia DVD or AUD buttons essentially adds a second bank of TV controls optimized for convenience.
Consolidate Multiple Devices into Custom Button Banks for Easier Daily Use
With some creative button assignments as shown above, you can have dedicated zones on your insignia remote for TV, movie/streaming, audio and smart home equipment control at your fingertips!
How Does Insignia Compare to Elite Universal Remotes?
While extremely affordable and versatile in what entertainment gear insignia remotes can sync with through infrared codes, premium "prosumer" universal remotes from Logitech Harmony and others do offer additional high-end features.
Such upgrades come at a price – adding $100+ dollars over the typical $20 insignia model. But for home theater enthusiasts invested in fine-tuning their setup, elite remotes can provide enhanced one-touch macros, activity launchers, swappable faceplates and smartphone/voice assistant integration that might be worth the extra cost.
Insignia represents an outstanding balance of essential universal remote functionality without unnecessary complexity or expense. But media rooms demanding every bell and whistle may find harmony hub-based models a better solution.
For most homeowners however, insignia readily delivers simplified day-to-day entertainment gear control and consolidation that satisfies their smart home needs.
Wrapping Up
While inexpensive, insignia universal remotes consolidate commanding your TV, disc player, stereo system and other devices into one simple solution that minimizes button clutter.
Combined with the extensive device code compatibility and quick programming techniques covered here, insignia delivers outstanding home theater convenience.
Investing just a small amount of initial setup time to code your insignia remote to work with your gear pays back every single day in family room bliss minus juggling piles of individual component remotes.
So grab an insignia universal remote and use this 2500+ word, deeply detailed guide to get fully set up! Your entire home theater and smart household will be unified under comprehensive yet simple fingertip-friendly control in no time.
