Cox Remote Not Working With Cable Box? – Working Solutions

Why is the Cox remote not working with cable box? Well, you’ve just found the answer!

Not being able to control your Cox receiver using the remote control means no streaming until further notice.

To adequately address the issue and restore the functionality of the Cox remote control, let’s investigate the details further and provide you with the top-tier solutions methods.

If the Cox remote control is not working with the cable box, hard reset the device by removing the batteries. Next, check for underlying physical or wireless interference, and in case nothing else helps, factory reset the receiver.

There is much more to the depths, so let’s get started!

Why Cox Remote Stopped Working With Cable Box?

To pinpoint the exact cause for the sudden malfunction of the Cox remote, it is necessary to review all of the underlying factors.

If you’ve already replaced the batteries, but the remote doesn’t seem to communicate with the receiver, digging deep into the causes is mandatory.

Let’s review all of the possible causes for a Cox remote malfunction:

Cox Contour Remote Not Working with Cable Box?

There is little difference between a standard Cox remote control and a Contour-type Cox remote.

The main differential factors are related to multiple buttons on the Contour remote that do not match the buttons on the primary remote. The functionality causes are identical. 

If a Cox Contour remote suddenly stops working, it’s likely a WiFi issue.

There is a type of Cox Contour remote that uses RF technology to communicate with the TV receiver.

Hence, the remote doesn’t have to be pointed toward the TV box at all times, and the TV box must be constantly connected to Wi-Fi for the remote to work.

Note: We recommend identifying the communication type of your remote!

Cox Remote Not Working with Cable Box – Easy Solutions!

1. Unplug the TV Box from the Power

The Cox TV box may have encountered a temporal functionality problem and cannot receive the communication signals sent by the remote control.

You should unplug the device and perform a power cycle to address non-lasting issues with the receiver.

Follow these instructions to power cycle the Cox TV box:

1. Unplug the Cox TV box from the power supply.
2. Disconnect the power adapter from the TV box.
3. Wait for 60 seconds while the box is unplugged.
4. Next, reconnect the power cable of the TV box.
5. Then, wait for the Cox receiver to turn on and test.

It may take up to 30 seconds after the power cycle until the Cox TV box turns on and is ready.

Make sure that the remote control is nearby and that you’re prepared to test the functionality of all buttons, including the “power” button.

Note: Always attempt to change the volume or power on/off the Cox TV receiver when testing the remote.

2. Check the Remote-to-TV Line of Sight

For the Cox remote control to communicate correctly with the receiver, the path between the devices must be free of obstructions.

All Cox receivers and, therefore, remote controls use IR signals to communicate with each other, which can be easily blocked or obstructed.

Verify that there are no solid obstructions between the remote and the receiver, such as furniture or other large objects.

Addressing  Wireless Signal Interference!

Another type of interference that you should be aware of, aside from the physical obstructions, is wireless interference.

External factors quickly impact the infrared signal, and as far as the RF (radio frequency), they’re much more instances of interference in our homes.

Here are some examples of wireless signal interference:

• Bluetooth devices, wireless speakers, soundbars.
• Microwaves and any RF transmitter device nearby.
• Other IR receivers or nearby WiFi transmissions.

So, you must ensure none of the devices/appliances listed above are in a 5-meter range from the Cox receiver.

Once the path is clear of obstructions and potential devices that could interfere with the IR signal, test the Cox remote control while standing right in front of the receiver.

Tip: Also, clean the Cox remote’s frontal “eye” (IR blaster) and the one on the receiver!

3. Hard Reset the Cox Remote

A standard troubleshooting solution for any malfunctioning remote is to “hard reset” the remote control.

The hard reset is a simple discharging process achieved by ejecting the batteries out of the remote control and then pressing buttons to discharge the current entirely.

Follow these instructions to reset any type of Cox remote control:

1. First, open the battery compartment cover of the remote.
2. Once the batteries are exposed, eject both of the AA units.
3. Hold the “power” button on the Cox remote for 10 seconds.
4. Individually press and hold each other button for 2 seconds.
5. Re-insert the batteries of the remote into the compartment.
6. Close the battery compartment cover and test the remote.

Replace the Batteries!

If the hard reset didn’t seem to restore the functionality of the remote in any way, then perhaps the batteries are already worn out.

So, insert a brand-new set of two AA batteries into the remote control and check if that will restore unit communication with your Cox TV receiver.

Reminder: Verify that the batteries of the Cox remote are appropriately embedded!

4. Re-program the Cox Remote

There are two types of Cox remotes, one of which is the “Contour” remote, which must be programmed in a specific way.

The only difference in the programming process between a universal Cox remote and a Contour remote is the buttons used for the pairing process.

How to Program a Basic Cox Remote?

To program a Basic Cox remote, hold the “Setup” and “Home” buttons on the remote and wait for the LED of the remote to blink twice. The setup is complete!

How to Program a Cox Contour Remote?

• To program an RF Cox Contour remote, hold the “Contour” and “i” keys while pointing the remote towards the TV. Then, follow the on-screen setup instructions.

• To program an IR Cox  Contour remote, hold the “Setup” key on the remote control until the LED of the remote blinks twice—press “Power” to complete the setup.

Note: To check if the programming was successful, press “Power” or “Volume Up/Down.”

5. Disconnect Third-Party Devices!

As unusual as it sounds, third-party devices could also interfere with the communication from the Cox remote to the receiver box.

If you have installed any external devices to your TV or potentially the Cox receiver, you should unplug them and then test the remote purely.

Disconnect all HDMI, RCA, Component, or Audio devices from the receiver! 

Once the only device left connected to the back of the TV is the Cox receiver, test the remote control by pressing the “power” and “Volume UP/DOWN” buttons.

If there is no output from the receiver, move closer to the TV box and attempt to interact with the receiver once again.

6. Restore the Cox Receiver to Default

Since there is no built-in function that reverts the Cox receiver to factory defaults, you must do it through an online browser.

All you need to factory reset the TV box is your client details to sign in to the official Cox website and a plugged-in receiver!

The factory reset process is identical for Cox Contour TV receivers and the essential TV boxes offered by the provider.

Let’s review the process of restoring the default settings on the Cox receiver:

1. Navigate to the official Cox website.
2. Sign in using your client login details.
3. After that, navigate to “My Services.”
4. Beneath “MyTV” click the receiver box.
5. Scroll down to “Reset my equipment.”
6. Follow the factory reset instructions.

Once the factory reset is complete, the Cox TV box will restart, and you must undergo the initial setup again.

If you have the Cox mini (basic) cable box, the initial setup will differ from the setup on a Cox Contour TV box.

Note: For further details on the setup, consult the user’s manual!

Quick Recap:

Thus, to fix whenever the Cox remote not working with cable box, hard reset the remote and then replace the batteries.

If that doesn’t work, attempt to re-program the remote to the receiver, check for wireless/physical interference, and factory reset the receiver box.

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