When the picture freezes you blame the dish, but when nothing happens at all the culprit is usually in your hand: the DStv remote. A dead handset turns the cleverest decoder into a paperweight. The good news is that almost every "DStv remote not working" problem is fixable in a few minutes — fresh batteries, a quick re-pair, or a reset from self-service. This guide covers the modern DStv remotes, how to pair and program them, and how to bring an unresponsive one back to life.
It sits alongside our complete DStv guide, which explains the packages, decoders and streaming options the remote actually controls. If your remote works but the picture does not, that is a different fault — start with the broader guide instead.
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Know your DStv remote: A7, B5, B6 & Explora
DStv has shipped several remote designs, and the right fix depends on which one you have. The two big families are the small single-view remotes and the larger Explora remote.
The A7, B5 and B6 remotes
These are the compact handsets bundled with HD decoders, the Streama and newer boxes. The older A7 is a pure infrared (IR)remote — it has to point straight at the decoder's front window to work. The newer B5 and B6 remotes add Bluetooth (BLE), so once paired they control the box even through a cabinet door or from another part of the room. They look almost identical, so check the model number on the back if you are buying a replacement.
The Explora remote
The Explora remote is the larger PVR handset with dedicated record, pause, rewind and fast-forwardkeys for the Explora and Explora Ultra. Modern Explora remotes are Bluetooth, which is why they can be re-paired the same way as the B5. If your Explora's recording keys have stopped responding but live channels still change, the remote has usually lost its pairing rather than failed outright.
How to pair (or re-pair) the remote to your decoder
Bluetooth remotes have to be paired to the specific decoder before they work, and a power cut, a software update or a smartcard swap can knock that pairing loose. Re-pairing is the single most useful trick for a remote that suddenly went dead. The exact key combination varies slightly by model, but the flow is the same:
- Make sure the decoder is powered on and showing a picture or standby light.
- Put the decoder into pairing mode — on most boxes, press and hold the standby/power button on the front panel until the screen prompts you to pair a remote.
- On the remote, press and hold the DStv (or OK) button together with the down-arrow until the small light on the remote flashes.
- Follow the on-screen confirmation. When the decoder reports the remote is connected, test the channel-up, channel-down and volume keys.
Tip: if pairing will not complete, the decoder itself may need a reset first. A quick re-authorisation from self-service clears the glitch — see the DStv login & self-service guide for the exact reset steps, then try pairing again.
How to program the remote to control your TV
One of the most useful DStv features is teaching the remote to control your TV's power and volume too, so you can put the TV remote in a drawer. This is separate from decoder pairing — it uses an infrared TV code. There are two methods:
Method 1 — enter your TV brand code
- Hold the TV button on the DStv remote until it flashes twice.
- Type the code for your TV brand (Samsung, LG, Hisense, Sony and others are listed in the remote leaflet and on dstv.com).
- Point the remote at the TV and test power and volume. If nothing happens, try the next code for that brand.
Method 2 — automatic code search
- Hold the TV button until it flashes, then hold the power button.
- The remote cycles through codes; the moment your TV switches off, release the button.
- Press OK to lock that code in. The remote now controls TV power and volume.
From then on, the volume keys default to your TV while channel keys drive the decoder — exactly what most households want from a single handset.
Fixing an unresponsive remote
Work through these in order. Most DStv remote not working cases are solved before you reach the bottom of the list.
- Replace the batteries. This fixes the majority of dead remotes. Use a fresh matched pair, not one old and one new, and check the polarity.
- Clear the line of sight.For infrared (A7) remotes, anything between the handset and the decoder's front window blocks the signal — move ornaments, soundbars or a closed cabinet door.
- Re-pair the remote. For Bluetooth B5, B6 and Explora remotes, follow the pairing steps above. Lost pairing is the number-one cause of a remote that worked yesterday and not today.
- Test the IR emitter. Point your phone camera at the front of the remote and press a button — a working infrared remote shows a faint flashing light on the camera screen. No light usually means a hardware fault.
- Reset the decoder. A full re-authorisation clears decoder-side glitches that make it ignore the remote. Do this from MyDStv self-service, then re-pair.
- Rule out an error state. If the box is stuck on an on-screen error, the remote may be working but locked out — check our DStv error codes guide to clear the underlying fault first.
Quick troubleshooting table
Match the symptom to the fastest fix:
| Symptom | Most likely fix |
|---|---|
| No buttons respond at all | Replace both batteries with fresh ones; check they are the right way round. |
| Some buttons work, others do not | Clean around the sticky keys; weak batteries often kill less-used buttons first. |
| Remote worked, then stopped after a power cut or update | Lost Bluetooth pairing — re-pair the remote to the decoder. |
| Only works very close to the box | Failing batteries or a dirty IR window; replace batteries and wipe the decoder's front sensor. |
| TV power/volume keys do nothing | Re-run the TV programming step with your TV brand's code. |
| Decoder ignores remote but front-panel buttons work | Re-pair the remote, then reset (re-authorise) the decoder from MyDStv. |
| Remote completely dead, lost or cracked | Use the DStv app virtual remote, then buy a replacement handset. |
When to use the DStv app as a virtual remote
If the physical remote is lost, cracked or simply will not revive, you do not have to sit in front of the decoder pressing front-panel buttons. The DStv app includes a built-in virtual remote that connects to a paired decoder over your home network or Bluetooth. From your phone you can change channels, adjust volume, open the guide and navigate menus — enough to keep watching while you order a replacement handset.
It is also handy during the fixes above: you can re-authorise the decoder from the same app, so a single phone can both reset the box and stand in for the remote. For everything the app can do beyond the remote — payments, package changes and error clearing — see the self-service guide.
The no-remote-hassle alternative
Pairing codes, IR windows, brand-specific TV codes and replacement handsets are all friction that comes with a dedicated satellite decoder. It is worth knowing there is a model without any of it. An internet IPTV service like Tivimateruns as an app on hardware you already own — a Firestick, Android TV box, smart TV or phone — so you control it with that device's own remote or touchscreen. There is no proprietary remote to pair, no TV code to program, and nothing to replace when a handset breaks.
Tivimate streams 50,000+ live channels, sport and on-demand content in up to 4K over your broadband, with no dish, no decoder and no contract from $14.99/month. If you are tired of fighting hardware, that simplicity is part of the appeal — and you can test it on your own TV with a free 24-hour trial before changing anything, on flexible no-contract plans. For a full breakdown of how the two services compare on cost, channels and convenience, read DStv vs IPTV — and our complete DStv guide covers everything about DStv packages, decoders and streaming in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my DStv remote not working?
The most common causes are flat batteries, a blocked line of sight to the decoder's infrared sensor, or a remote that has lost its Bluetooth pairing after a software update or power cut. Start by replacing both batteries, then re-pair the remote to the decoder. If buttons still do nothing, reset (re-authorise) the decoder from the MyDStv self-service tools.
How do I pair my DStv B5 remote to the decoder?
Switch the decoder on, put it into pairing mode from the front panel, then hold the DStv (or OK) button and the down-arrow on the B5 remote until the remote light flashes. The decoder will confirm on screen when the remote is connected. The Explora remote pairs the same way because it uses Bluetooth rather than only infrared.
How do I program my DStv remote to control my TV's volume and power?
Press and hold the TV button on the DStv remote until it flashes, then enter your TV brand's code (printed in the remote leaflet or on dstv.com), or use the automatic search method where you hold the power button until the TV switches off. Once set, the DStv remote will control your TV's power and volume so you only need one handset.
What is the difference between the A7, B5 and Explora remotes?
The A7 and B5 are the small modern DStv remotes for HD decoders and Streama, while the Explora remote is the larger PVR remote with record, pause and rewind keys. Newer B5 and Explora remotes use Bluetooth, so they do not need direct line of sight; older A-series remotes are infrared and must point at the decoder.
Can I use my phone as a DStv remote?
Yes. The DStv app includes a virtual remote that controls a connected decoder over your home network or Bluetooth, so you can change channels, adjust volume and navigate menus when the physical remote is lost or broken. It is the quickest stop-gap while you replace a faulty handset.
Do I need a DStv remote at all with an IPTV alternative?
No. An internet IPTV service such as Tivimate runs on devices you already own — a Firestick, smart TV, Android box or phone — using that device's own remote or a touchscreen, so there is no decoder-specific handset to pair, program or replace.
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