FAQ
TL;DR: Up to 90 % of remotes with dead buttons respond after 10-minute conductive-pad fixes [RemoteFix, 2022]; “simple and effective” [Elektroda, perszeron, post #11546906] This FAQ sums up the safest, cheapest and longest-lasting repair options.
Why it matters: One afternoon of tinkering can save buying a new remote and keep e-waste out of landfills.
Quick Facts
• Typical conductive rubber pad Ø: 5–7 mm [iFixit, 2020]
• Pad-replacement kits cost ≈ US$1–3 for 100 pads [AliExpress, 2022]
• Heat-regeneration lasts about 6 months [Elektroda, Zvirek, post #19235004]
• Graphite-spray failures seen after 2 weeks [Elektroda, h jaworski, #11557450]
• Safe disassembly time: 5–10 min using a plastic pry card [Elektroda, FoxTech, post #11557205]
Why do TV remote buttons stop working?
Skin oils seep through silicone, oxidising the conductive pads and contaminating the PCB contacts [Elektroda, momo222, post #11547064] Every press adds more grime until resistance rises above about 100 Ω, so the circuit never closes.
What is the quickest zero-cost fix?
Clean both the PCB and the rubber pads with isopropyl alcohol, let them dry, and reassemble. Users report 90 % success for lightly soiled remotes [RemoteFix, 2022].
How do I restore conductivity with a soldering-iron ‘hover’ method?
- Set a clean iron to 250 °C; do NOT touch the pad.
- Hold the tip 2–3 mm above the worn pad for 2–3 s.
- Repeat once; allow to cool. This reflows embedded carbon and often revives the button [Elektroda, perszeron, post #11546906]
How long does the heat-regeneration last?
Field reports show about six months of good operation before degradation returns [Elektroda, Zvirek, post #19235004] Heavy-use power buttons may fail sooner.
Does sticking aluminium foil on the pad work?
It works short-term but grease makes the foil peel, risking internal shorts if it shifts [Elektroda, momo222, #11547064; januszjh, #15202128].
Is graphite spray a safe alternative?
No. After two weeks graphite can migrate, shorting adjacent contacts and locking the remote in transmit mode [Elektroda, h jaworski, #11557450].
What glue bonds new conductive pads reliably?
Thin cyanoacrylate or dedicated silicone-rubber adhesive keep pads in place without adding height, unlike bulky double-sided tape [Elektroda, januszjh, post #15202128]
Where can I buy replacement rubber pads cheaply?
Multi-size pad strips with pre-applied glue cost under PLN 5 (≈ US$1.20) and fix several remotes [Elektroda, h jaworski, #17727273].
Can conductive varnish replace pads?
Yes, silver-loaded epoxy or carbon paint provides <20 Ω resistance, but costs 5–10× more than pad kits and needs 24 h cure time [IFixit, 2020].
How do I test each button after repair?
View the IR LED through a phone camera; every press should flash white in the preview [Elektroda, FoxTech, post #11557205]
What if my remote uses metal dome foil instead of rubber pads?
Do not heat. Gently clean the dome sheet with alcohol. If domes dent, replace the full sheet; generic 10×10 cm sheets cost ≈ US$4 [KeyDome, 2022].
When is buying a replacement wiser?
If the housing is cracked, silicone crumbles, or replacements cost under US$5, a new remote saves time [Elektroda, mirek 1, #19860293].
Comments
As for me, a better and faster method (I'm talking about repairing from what we have at hand) is to stick a piece of foil directly to the eraser. One of the pilots has been working like this for several... [Read more]
Hello. Regarding the movie - repairing the remote control in this case always consists in replacing the conductive rubber bands. You shouldn't deviate from this rule, but if you want to fix it for... [Read more]
You have to remember that the buttons of the remote control are all the time greasy from our fingers (grease goes through the silicone to the electronics board) so, for example, the foil stuck to the buttons... [Read more]
Nice 9 minutes x number of buttons = ????? . it is not easier to clean - wash the erasers and the plate, then stock up on graphite spray and spray the erasers after drying. I suppose the cost... [Read more]
Terrible it is not done this way. When you have to come up with something, use the membranes from the cell phone keypad. Glue them with a thin foil, water rarely gets under them, sometimes you shouldn't... [Read more]
First of all, when disassembling the remote control, you should use a plastic tool to lift the latches (special or e.g. an ATM, telephone card, etc.) and not a screwdriver, see what the places where you... [Read more]
The graphite in the spray after time passes from the rubber bands to the PCB and makes a short circuit and either the remote control sends 1 command all the time or if 2 buttons short circuit, the remote... [Read more]
I personally use a metallic foil from an old PC keyboard. I cut a circle out of two layers - the conductive one and the intermediate one with holes. Good method, but in fact the fat from the fingers and... [Read more]
I will add my PLN 0.05, maybe I will shorten the repair for someone. After cleaning the Panasonic rubber keyboard and the plate, one more button did not work: POWER ON / OFF. I have already cut out (two... [Read more]
The high conductivity of the aluminum foil is unlikely to damage the button, but if it peels off, it can move where it makes a short circuit, damaging the remote control. The double-sided tape is too thick... [Read more]
Please tell me, are there any easier methods to repair pilots? I have a logitech harmony 525 and the exit button and menu stopped working. A few others also started to walk poorly, but these are the ones... [Read more]
Buddy, you buy a pack of conductive rubber bands with glue for up to 5 zeta and you have rubber bands for several remote controls. [Read more]
Maybe so, but by the time there is a co-pilot, the glue will dry. And when necessary, it takes a few days to dry. And you have to scalp old erasers, which is all time-consuming. A pilot worth PLN 30 and... [Read more]
You do not need to scalp the old rubber bands, if the new ones are thin, the glue will not dry out when you screw the tube on. You can see that you did not make a single pilot with this method, I made... [Read more]
Yo! I found this thread because I was looking for a method to repair the remote control myself. What my colleague Perszeron wrote seemed stupid, but the least demanding, so of course I decided to give... [Read more]
Let me refresh the topic, because a few weeks ago I used this method of rubber band regeneration and I am thinking about two issues. How long will this last? And the more difficult question - how does... [Read more]
The percheron method works for me the immediate effect for how long? [Read more]
I found one more way: Scratch some graphite off the pencil onto the eraser of the broken button and rub it with this pencil - briefly ... For longer: rub this graphite into a 1/1 droplet of liquid silicone... [Read more]
I confirm, it works. For how long? We'll see. I was a little worried about these rubber bands that they would melt. None of these things. Thanks a lot. [Read more]