Identification
Which universal remote do I have?
The short answer
Take the battery cover off. Nearly every universal remote prints its model number inside the battery compartment or on a label on the back — URC 1210, 33709, RCR503BR and so on. If the label has worn away, the digit-length test identifies the code format you need, which is the part that actually matters.
Every code list on this site is organised by remote model, because a code is meaningless without one. Before you can use any of them you need to know what is in your hand, and the remote rarely says so on the front.
Two minutes of looking solves this in most cases. Where it does not, you do not actually need the model number — you need the two things the model number would have told you, and both can be worked out from the remote itself.
Where the model number hides
- 1
Slide off the battery cover. On most remotes the model number is printed inside the compartment, often beneath the batteries themselves.
- 2
Take the batteries out and look at the base of the tray — it is a common spot and easily missed with cells in place.
- 3
Check the back of the remote for a printed or moulded label, usually near the bottom edge.
- 4
Look for a small sticker with a barcode. The model number is normally printed alongside it.
- 5
Check the front face near the bottom. A few brands print a short model name below the keypad.
Reading the number once you have it
Each manufacturer numbers its remotes differently, and the pattern tells you which family you are in even when the exact model is not listed here.
| Brand | Looks like | Code format |
|---|---|---|
| One For All | URC followed by four digits — URC 1210, URC 7140 | 4-digit |
| GE | Five digits, no prefix — 33709, 24993 | Varies by generation |
| RCA | RC or RCR prefix — RCR503BR, RCRN04GR | 5-digit |
| Sky | No model number; identified by generation — Sky Q, Sky+ HD | 4-digit |
| Samsung | BN59 followed by digits | 4-digit |
| LG | AKB or AN-MR followed by digits | 4-digit |
GE is the one to be careful with, because the number does not tell you the code format. The 33709 generation takes 4-digit codes and the 24993 generation takes 5-digit codes, and entering the wrong length fails silently on both.
If the label has worn off
You can stop hunting at this point. The model number is a means to an end, and the end is two facts you can establish directly from the remote.
The first is the code length. Enter setup mode, type digits slowly and watch the indicator: a 4-digit remote clears the light after the fourth digit, a 5-digit remote waits for a fifth. That single test tells you which half of every code list applies to you.
The second is which device keys the remote has. TV, AUD, DVD and SAT decide which parts of the code table you can reach at all — a remote with no audio key cannot store a soundbar code however correct the number is.
Identifying the setup key
Manufacturers disagree about what to call the key that enters programming mode, and pressing the wrong one is a common dead end on an unlabelled remote.
SET or SETUP — the most common labels, usually a small key near the top or bottom edge.
MAGIC or C — used on some cable and satellite remotes.
A recessed pinhole key — on slim remotes, occasionally requiring a paperclip.
A two-key combination held together — Sky remotes use TV and SELECT, and several RCA models use the device key with ON·OFF.
Whichever it is, the confirmation is the same: the indicator light must come on and stay on. A single blink that fades means the remote did not enter setup mode, and every digit typed afterwards is discarded.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the model number on a universal remote?
Almost always inside the battery compartment, frequently under the batteries themselves. Failing that, check the back of the remote for a printed label, often near a barcode sticker at the bottom edge.
How do I use a universal remote without knowing the model?
Use auto-search, which needs no model number and no code list. Hold SET until the indicator stays lit, press the device key, then hold POWER until the device responds and press SET to store the code.
How can I tell if my remote takes 4-digit or 5-digit codes?
Enter setup mode and type digits slowly while watching the indicator. A 4-digit remote clears the light after the fourth digit; a 5-digit remote waits for a fifth. This matters more than the model number itself.
What does a URC number mean?
URC is One For All's model prefix, followed by four digits — URC 1210, URC 7140, URC 7955. All of them use 4-digit codes, and the digits identify the range and number of devices the remote supports.
My remote has no SET button — what do I press?
Look for SETUP, MAGIC or C, a recessed pinhole key, or a two-key combination. Sky remotes use TV and SELECT held together, and several RCA models use the device key with ON·OFF. The indicator staying lit is the confirmation you are in setup mode.
Does the model number change which codes work?
Yes. Codes index a table held inside that particular remote, so a code from a One For All list will not program a GE remote to the same device. Always use the list that names your remote brand and model.
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