How to program a dish network remote control

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When looking for cable providers, Dish Network TV is one of the best options for you to consider, thanks to the vast number of channels that they offer for you to choose from.

However, another thing that makes Dish TV such a good investment is its universal remote.

The Dish Universal Remote controls your Dish network receiver and the other devices in the home theatre setup like your TV and soundbar.

Like with any other universal remote, your remote has to be programmed and paired to the required devices before being used.

However, unlike other universal remotes, you do not need to enter a code to program the remote, thus making the process easier.

After doing some extensive research by going through user manuals, community forums, and online articles, I was able to compile everything you need to know about programming your Dish remote without a code into this article.

To program newer models of Dish remotes without a code, you can use the Pairing Wizard from the Settings menu. You will have to use the Power Scan method for older models, which fires off device codes until one of them works. To pair the Dish remote with a Joey or Hopper DVR, all you need to do is use the SAT button.

Which Model Dish Remote Do You Have?

Before you can begin programming your remote, it is important first to understand which model you own. 

This is important because the pairing method varies between older models like the 20.0 and 21.0 series and newer models like the 40.0, 50.0, 52.0, and 54.0.

If you are unsure about which model you own, you can look up the different remote models on the MyDISH website and visually compare your remote to the one on your screen.

Familiarizing Yourself with Your Dish Remote

Once you know which model you own, you need to familiarize yourself with the buttons on your remote.

In this article, we will look at the buttons on the Dish remote model 54.0 moving from top to bottom and right to left.

Most of the other models will also follow similar layouts and have almost the same buttons on them that serve the same function.

Power: A standard power button, like any other, can be used to power on and off your Dish receiver, as well as other devices like your TV and soundbar.

Home: Displays content that is live on your On Demand or DVR.

Options: This allows you to view additional options, if any, in the current menu.

Back: Lets you go back to the menu. Pressing and holding this button takes you back to Live TV.

Skip backwards: This lets you go back 10 seconds. Press and hold if you want to rewind further.

Recall: Lets you view the channels you watched recently.

Diamond Button: This is a customizable button that you can program as you desire.

Voice Button: Press and hold this button to use the voice search feature.

Info: Displays details about the program you are currently watching. Pressing and holding this button in most menus will display a few quick tips.

Skip Forward: This lets you skip ahead about 30 seconds. Press and hold if you want to fast-forward.

Channel Up and Down: This Lets you change channels and also navigate through the menus.

Double Diamond Button: Another customizable button like the diamond button.

Programming a Dish remote is quite simple and can be done within a few minutes.

For newer models like the 40.0, 50.0, 52.0, and 54.0, all you need to do is to access the Power Wizard from the Remote Control option under Settings.

The remote will pair automatically, thanks to the pairing wizard and all you need to do is simply follow the instructions on your screen.

For older models like the 20.0 or the 21.0 series, the remote will perform a ‘Power Scan’.

It will keep sending out devices until one of them eventually works.

Programming Newer Models of Dish Remotes Without Code

To program remotes like the 40.0, 50.0, 52.0, and 54.0, follow these steps:

1. Press the Home button on your Dish remote twice. With remote model 40.0, you can press the Menu button once as it does not have a Home button.
2. Go to ‘Settings’ and select ‘Remote Control’ from the menu displayed on your screen.
3. Select the device that you want to pair your Dish remote to.
4. Select the ‘Pairing Wizard’ option from the menu.
5. Select the correct brand of the device that you are trying to connect to your Dish remote.
6. The pairing wizard will now proceed to try a few different device codes on the device you wish to pair with. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen, which may involve pressing either the Volume or Power buttons to test if the pairing worked.
7. If the pairing was successful, select ‘Finish’ on the screen. If not, select ‘Try Next Code’ and repeat until successful. 

Programming Older Models of Dish Remotes Without Code

To program older remotes like the 20.0 or 21.0 series, follow these steps:

1. Point your Dish remote at the device you wish to pair with.
2. Press and hold either the DVD, TV or AUX button depending on what kind of device you want to pair with.
3. After about 10 seconds, all four ‘Mode buttons’ will light up. At this point, release the button that you were holding, and it will start blinking.
4. Press the Power button on your remote. The blinking will become steady, indicating that the remote is ready for further programming.
5. Press the Up directional button on your remote to send out the first code.
6. Keep pressing this button every few seconds until your device turns off. If the device turns off, it means you have found the right code.
7. Press the pound (#) button to save the code. The Mode button will flash several times to indicate that the code has been saved.

How to Pair Dish Remote With a Joey or Hopper DVR

In most cases, the installation team that sets up your top boxes and DVR will also make sure that your remote is paired to them.

However, in some rare cases, you may find that your Dish remote is not paired to your Joey or Hopper DVR.

In that case, you can follow these steps to pair the remote by yourself:

1. Press the System Info button on the front face of the Joey or Hopper.
2. Next, press the SAT button on your remote.
3. After this, press either the Cancel or Back button. If the system info screen disappears from the TV, it indicates that your Dish remote was successfully paired to the DVR. 

Final Thoughts

If, however, you are having trouble pairing your Dish remote to your devices, try replacing the batteries in the remote. If your batteries don’t have enough juice, your remote might struggle to send the appropriate signals required to pair it.

If that doesn’t work, you can try resetting your remote and your receiver before attempting the pairing process once again.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my TV code?

You can find the TV codes to pair with your Dish remote in your remote’s user manual.

Why does my Dish remote not control volume?

Your Dish remote will not be able to control volume if it has not been paired to your TV or soundbar device. You can pair it either by following the steps detailed in the article above or using the device-specific code.

How do I program my Dish remote to my soundbar?

To program your Dish remote to your soundbar, press the Home button on your remote twice.

Select ‘Settings’, then go to ‘Remote Control’, choose ‘Auxiliary Device’, and select ‘Audio Accessory’.

Select the pairing wizard and follow the instructions on your screen to pair your Dish remote.

How do I reset my Dish remote control?

To reset your Dish remote, press the Set button on the remote. After this, press the Sys info button on the front face of the receiver before pressing the Sat button again.

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