Why is Sky Sports Red Button Not Working? Complete Fix Guide

A lot of people panic when they find their Sky Sports Red Button not working, and we’re here to help you out with it.

In this guide, we’ll not only give you the reasons for this dilemma, but we will also provide the complete steps to get rid of it indefinitely.

To get Sky Sports Red Button services to work back up again, double-check your broadband connection. After that, check for any faults or outages. Then, perform a reboot or a power cycle of the box. Ensure that your box’s software version is up to date and try accessing Red Button via the context key.

Before learning the complete fix process, let us first discuss some of the things that could cause your Red Button services to fail.

Why is My Sky Sports Red Button Service Not Working?

There are various reasons and causes why the Red Button services on your package aren’t working.

Some of these include:

• The server/service is down or is experiencing faults
• You’re not connected to a stable internet connection
• The software version of your box is not updated
• Problems opening Red Button services

Sky Sports Red Button Not Working – Complete Fix Steps

Now, let’s discuss the steps on how you can make your Sky Sports Red Button service work again.

Step #1: Check Your Internet or Broadband Connection

Most Sky Sports Red Button content needs to be online. Even if it’s inactive, it will show you a loading page, saying that it needs an internet connection.

So, what you want to do is check if the connection you are on is active and is giving you an internet connection.

You can do this by following these steps:

1. On your Sky Sports clicker, press [HOME].
2. Then, you want to navigate to Settings > Network.
3. After that, select Setup and highlight Status.
4. You should see your network’s name to verify that it’s connected.

NOTE: If you see that it’s connected and you’re still unable to load online connected, proceed to power cycle your hub or router.

Power Cycle or Reboot Your Hub/Router

To ensure that your connection is good and it’s not the source of the problem, you want to power cycle or restart your modem/gateway or your hub/router.

The process is simple, turn or power your device off. Then, unplug the power cable or power cord from the mains for about ten (10) to fifteen (15) seconds.

Plug the cord back in, and then turn the device back on again.

NOTE: The connection will not fully restore the moment you turn it back on. You have to wait for around three (3) to five (5) minutes.

Step #2: Check For Outages and Faults

When you’re done ensuring that the problem is not with your internet connection, the next thing you want to do is check if there are faults or outages currently happening.

The only way to check this is by contacting Sky. Currently, there’s no facility that would allow you to check for any outages on Red Button online.

So, contact Sky and inquire if there’s a problem or an outage happening currently. 

NOTE: Sky usually sends out alerts and notifications for planned outages and system maintenance processes.

If they didn’t send one, it could’ve been a problem or an error on their part.

Step #3: Restart Interactive Services

Then, the next thing you want to do is restart your interactive services. This step has been reported to have fixed most of the Red Button problems.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Press [SKY] or [BACK Up] on your clicker, closing interactive services.
2. Then, press the Red Button to restart and retry the service.

NOTE: Press CH+ and CH- to move and transfer to a different channel. 

Power Cycle or Reboot Your Sky Box 

Before you begin the next step, you want to somehow conclude the process by power cycling or rebooting your box first.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press [STANDBY] on the Sky clicker.
2. Once turned off, unplug your Sky box from the wall or main socket.
3. Wait for about fifteen (15) to twenty (20) seconds.
4. Plug the box back to the mains switch and check if the [POWER] light returned.

From there, you just have to wait for the box to reinitialize to make it work back again.

Step #4: Make Sure Your Box’s Software is Up to Date

For this process, we won’t just be doing a regular software update. Instead, we’ll perform the manual method.

This would drain power that’s been held up in the capacitors of the box, allowing you to start from a clean slate.

Here’s how you can do this:

1. Turn your box off at the mains.
2. Then, hold down the [STANDBY] button at the box’s front panel.
3. While pressed, plug the cord back on the wall socket.
4. Wait for the box’s lights to turn into alternating red and amber-coloured lights.
5. When this happens, a software update will begin.

You simply have to wait for your box to boot back up again. When it does, press [HOME] on your Sky Q clicker, and it will turn it back on. 

NOTE: If the screen freezes while performing a software update, unplug the box from power for about five (5) minutes.

Then, when it boots back up, press and hold [STANDBY] on the front panel; you should see Updating Software once again.

Step #5: Access Red Button via the Context Key

Last, but most definitely not least is to make sure that you’re accessing Red Button via the context key.

The context key is the three-dotted option after you press the Red Button.

To give you a more detailed process on how it’s done, follow these steps:

1. Access Red Button by pressing it on your remote.
2. Then, instead of going on with the service, press the Context Key.
3. This will bring up the Red Button options.
4. Access it from that menu.

If you find your Sky Sports Football Red Button not working, following the steps above can free you from this dilemma!

Sky Sports Red Button is Still Not Working, What Should I Do?

Whether it’s not working for Sky Sports Football or for any other programme, following the steps we mentioned above will definitely shave off this problem.

But if the dilemma persists, directly contact Sky’s technical support.

It could already be an issue with your hardware, so, it’ll be best to have it checked.

NOTE: When you contact them, inform them of the troubleshooting steps you’ve already accomplished. This is so you get to the point and don’t redo the methods you have already done.

Read Next: How to Find Sky Viewing Card Number?

Final Thoughts

Many of us wouldn’t really know what to do when we’re faced with this problem.

Luckily, our guide that’s purposely made to comprehensively resolve the problem of your Sky Sports Red Button not working is here.

Learning this is imperative, especially for future references.

Sky Sports Red Button is known for errors and problems like this, so, being armed with the knowledge we imparted through this guide can help you and your folks.