Comparison
Universal remote vs original remote: what carries over
The short answer
A universal remote can take over the everyday controls, but how much it covers depends on the remote and the code. Roku notes that on a Roku TV some remotes control only power, volume and input, while others add navigation and playback. Features that rely on the original remote's own hardware, such as a voice button, stay with that remote.
The useful question is not which remote is better, but which controls you actually use, and whether your universal remote's code covers them.
Where this page gives specifics, they come from the manufacturers' own documentation, linked beneath.
What a universal remote covers
| Control | What the manufacturers say |
|---|---|
| Power, volume and input | Roku calls this basic control; some remotes support only these on a Roku TV |
| Home, arrows, back, play, pause, fast-forward | Roku calls this expanded control; only some remotes support it |
| Other device functions | Jasco and RCA: a code may control only some functions, so try other codes |
| A button the code doesn't include | Some remotes can learn it from the original, such as the One For All Contour TV |
| Voice search | Needs a voice remote; Roku's voice remotes have a button with a microphone or magnifying-glass icon |
Source: Roku: set up a cable, satellite or universal remote to control a Roku TV
Where a universal remote helps
Controlling several devices from one handset. Jasco says a GE remote's device buttons can be programmed to control any compatible A/V device; for example, a CBL/SAT button can control a soundbar.
Adjusting volume without switching modes. Jasco says GE and UltraPro universal remotes come with a master volume control feature.
Source: Jasco: GE universal remotes FAQ
Filling gaps by learning from the original
On the One For All Contour TV, hold SETUP until the red LED blinks once then twice, press 9 7 5, press the key you want to teach, then press the matching key on the original remote. The LED blinks twice when the key is learned; hold SETUP until it blinks twice to finish.
Source: One For All: learn a missing function on the Contour remote (URC1210)
Apple TV works the other way round: it learns your universal remote's signals in Settings → Remotes and Devices → Learn Remote.
Source: Apple TV 4K User Guide: use other remotes to control Apple TV 4K
Replacing a lost remote
Start with the controls you used. If they were the everyday ones, check that a universal remote's code list includes your device and test the functions you need. If you relied on a feature built into the original remote, such as a voice button, a replacement from the device's maker keeps it.
You don't have to choose one: keeping the original for the features only it has, alongside a universal remote for daily use, is a sensible arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Will a universal remote do everything the original did?
Not always. It depends on the remote and code: Roku notes some remotes control only power, volume and input on a Roku TV, and Jasco says a code may control only some functions, so test the ones you need.
Can a universal remote learn a button from my original remote?
Some can. The One For All Contour TV learns a function when you hold SETUP, press 9 7 5, press the key to teach, then press the matching key on the original remote.
Can one universal remote control a TV and a soundbar?
Yes, on remotes with several device buttons. Jasco says a GE remote's device buttons can each be programmed to control any compatible A/V device.
Can a universal remote do voice search?
Voice search needs a remote with a voice button. Roku's voice remotes, for example, have a button with a microphone or magnifying-glass icon.
Manufacturer sources
- Roku: set up a cable, satellite or universal remote to control a Roku TV
- Roku: what Roku remote do I have?
- Jasco: GE universal remote codes and programming
- Jasco: GE universal remotes FAQ
- One For All: learn a missing function on the Contour remote (URC1210)
- Apple TV 4K User Guide: use other remotes to control Apple TV 4K
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