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I seem to be the only one in my house capable of putting the remote in the same spot.

How can I solve the "I can't find the remote problem"?

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    <comments removed> @Alex If you have an answer, please post it below. The answer section is how we organize content and assure that it stays up to date and relevant. Not only do comments not provide any of those capabilities, but you're sending users with links elsewhere to find that information on their own. Thanks.
    – Robert Cartaino
    Oct 29, 2015 at 13:47
  • Remote controls are supposed to be somewhere else; that's why they're called remotes.
    – Daniel Griscom
    Nov 5, 2015 at 0:18
  • One word: Roku.
    – user22124
    Sep 13, 2017 at 9:31
  • @uwnojpjm - Reported missing: my Roku remote :(
    – Minnow
    Sep 13, 2017 at 17:29
  • @Minnow, what? Roku's got a remote finder. See here.
    – user22124
    Sep 13, 2017 at 19:31

11 Answers 11

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Maybe you could attach the remote to something big so that it's easier to find if it gets lost.

enter image description here

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  • The image makes me laugh, but that is the direction we're headed...
    – Minnow
    Oct 30, 2015 at 19:47
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If you're using smart TV and it is connected to the same WiFi of your device, or it is capable of Bluetooth then you can try apps that can substitute your remote control.

  1. Dijit - Uses Bluetooth, WiFi
  2. iRule - Uses Wifi
  3. RedEye - Like Dijit
  4. Rē - IR Dongle
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    Good idea. I have a Roku box with app already. Won't help with the TV itself or other devices...
    – Minnow
    Oct 30, 2015 at 19:51
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I think you can try tie/glue/tape a piece of string to it and tie the other end somewhere near your couch, or wherever you sit to watch TV. If that dangles too much, maybe you can try fixing one of those retractable lanyard thing to your remote so it doesn't still end up at random places because it will retract to that one spot.

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Attach a keyring finder to it.

In general, avoid the whistle-activated ones, I find they're too sensitive and go off randomly.

I'd probably go for one that doesn't use a remote, otherwise you're going to end up with a recursive problem.

My favourite would probably be one activated by smart phone. Activated by button rather than by sound, and you can always ring your phone if you've misplaced that!

How does one attach it to the remote?

Depends how aesthetically pleasing and how technical you are.

Least effort - duct tape, and plenty of it!

Most effort - might involve removing the key parts of the finder and hiding them in the battery compartment.

Some middle ground might double sided tape or similar.

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  • This is a good idea. How does one attach it to the remote?
    – Minnow
    Oct 30, 2015 at 19:48
  • @Minnow, I've edited.
    – James Webster
    Oct 30, 2015 at 19:54
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Rather than attaching something to the remote, make a place for it that is more attractive/easy to use:

Various places sell sofa-side magazine holders, or trays. Have one of these on the most useful end of the sofa. Use tape to mark out a silhouette of the remote (or remotes, as many of us have) and tag it with the name of the remote.

This should help encourage usage. To further help, why not gamify the process, with points for each member of the family who places the remote correctly or loses points for failing to do so. Top points at end of week wins a prize.

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  • The ideas for behavior modification are not bad. I might try this.
    – Minnow
    Oct 30, 2015 at 19:50
  • As someone who has used reward charts in the past and present, I don't think this will work. It's too much of a grey area, arguments will ensue as to who had it last, etc.
    – n00dles
    Nov 14, 2015 at 18:21
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Your main problem seems to be that you're the only one with a bit of discipline, and you're the only one who wants to put it in a given place. In other words, the issue is much more than just having a good place to put your remote control.

You either need to train other members of your household to return it/place it somewhere, or you need to work around the problem and be able to relocate it when they've misplaced it.

In my experience both cases are hard, as it is not easy to train/force those who don't want to be trained. Best option related to training is to invent/enforce a system which they'll see as a benefit without any extra work for them. It could work to have a given place, which is close to the favourite position for using the remote control.

On the other hand, finding it when it is misplaced requires some sort of locating device, such as key ring finders, or attaching strings or other large objects (makes it impractical to move it :-) ).

Overall, I would say that your best option is either to talk to your household members and see about finding a really good place to put it, and/or for you to consider if you can control the equipment by other means so you don't have to find it when the others have misplaced it. The latter one can be achieved by having an extra universal remote control for your use, or having a remote control app on your smartphone, if that is possible with your equipment.

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  • Indeed, the other household members have no discipline and don't recognize this as a problem. You are on to something as far as a solution for me instead of everyone.
    – Minnow
    Oct 30, 2015 at 19:46
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I'd say the best answer to this problem is to buy another, identical remote for your use.

Keep it locked, or hidden away. If the rest of the household loses their remote, it's their problem. They will soon miss you finding it for them, and maybe they will then learn amongst themselves to place the remote in a designated spot when not in use.

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I use self-sealing Velcro touch fasteners bands that I put on the back of the remote control and on the element it is related to (pedestal of the TV, body of the iPod docking station, table, etc).

Then, this system only needs discipline to work : you take the remote control, you use it. Once you are finished, you put it back on the Velcro band.

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  • This is a good solution, if those handling the remote control have discipline, but as the OP says, that is the main problem...
    – holroy
    Oct 30, 2015 at 16:15
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Some smart phones have infrared transmitters that can directly control TV (and other remote controlled entertainment equipment). My Samsung Galaxy S4 does this; with the correct app it'll do anything the cable company's universal remote will. Even better, with a Samsung TV, I have access through wifi to play content from the phone on the TV and access the smart TV with the phone as a control pad, which is much nicer to use than the TV remote.

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Get duplicates.

I have 3 copies of the remote control for my cable set top box. The cable company actually sends them out for free -- all you need to do is ask.

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What I tried was attaching a red lace/ribbon or any red string. I make sure it is red so I can easily find it.

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