I was using an LCD TV with Dish Network for over 7 years before it ran out on me.
After getting it checked, I realized it was time for the old TV to rest and purchased a Smart TV.
Now, I was able to enjoy the best of both the cable network and OTT apps.
The only hassle, however, was to use separate remotes for the Dish receiver and TV. I often confused one with the other and pressed a button I shouldn’t have.
Since I knew my Dish remote was a universal remote, I decided to pair it to my TV to control both devices.
Hence began my search for a way to program the Dish remote to my Smart TV.
And, as it turned out, I didn’t need to look for a pairing code to do so.
To program Dish remote to TV without code, press the remote’s Home button twice and use the Pairing Wizard from Settings. To program old Dish remotes (21 series and older) to a TV, hold the TV button on the remote for 10 seconds and use the Power Scan method.
Which Dish Remote Model Do I Have?

The quickest way to find out your Dish remote’s model is to check the user manual that came with the remote.
However, if you don’t have a manual, you can find the model number of your remote by comparing it with all available Dish remotes.
Every Dish remote has a unique shape, making it easy to identify them.
Once you know which model of Dish remote you own, you can follow the relevant programming steps to pair it to your TV.
Pair Newer Models of Dish Remotes to TV Without Code

You can quickly program Dish remotes of model 30.0 and later to a TV using the Pairing Wizard.
Pairing Wizard is a guided process that lets you test a series of pairing codes to program the remote to your TV. Because of its easy walkthrough, Pairing Wizard is the easiest way to program a Dish remote.
To program a Dish remote to your TV using the Pairing Wizard:
- Point the remote towards your TV.
- Press the Home button on the remote twice. For Dish remote model 40.0, you need to press the Menu button once.
- A menu will appear on your TV screen. Choose Settings from it.
- Click on Pairing Wizard.
- Select your TV from the list of devices. Based on your selection, the Wizard will generate a series of pairing codes for your TV.
- For each code, you will be asked to press one of the Volume buttons on the remote to test if they work with the TV.
- Repeat the process till your remote and TV are paired.
- Once the pairing is complete, click on Finish.
When a code works for you, be sure to test your Dish remote thoroughly. Sometimes, only the basic buttons may work, while the advanced functions don’t.
In that case, you will need to run the Pairing Wizard again.
Pair Old Models of Dish Remotes to TV Without Code

The Pairing Wizard is not available for Dish remotes of series 21.0 and before. For these remotes, you will need to use the ‘Power Scan’ method to pair them to your TV.
Power Scan too runs different pairing codes for your device until the remote is successfully paired.
To program a Dish remote to your TV using the Power Scan method:
- Point the remote towards your TV.
- Hold the TV button on the remote for 10 seconds.
- When the lights of the Mode button on the remote turn on, release the TV button.
- Now, press and hold the Power button on your remote till the lights of the Mode button are steady.
- Press the Up arrow on your remote. This will test the first pairing code for your TV.
- Keep pressing the Up arrow every 10 seconds till the TV turns off.
- Once your TV turns off, press the # button on your remote. The last pairing code will now be saved in your Dish remote’s memory.
After saving the code, test all the functions of the Dish remote with your TV. In case some of the buttons do not work as intended, repeat the Power Scan process.
Pair Dish Remotes With Other Devices
All Dish remotes are universal remotes and can be paired with multiple devices to control them along with your TV.
Here are some of the common devices to which a Dish remote can be programmed to:
- DVD player
- Amplifier
- Audio receiver
- TV Tuner
- VCR
To program a Dish remote with another device, you will need to know the 3-digit pairing code for that device.
The common pairing codes for each device are given in your remote user manual and on the Dish website.
How to Find a Code to Pair Dish Remote to Your Device

- Go to My Dish Support.
- Scroll down to the ViP Receivers section.
- Click on the three-digit remote control code text highlighted in blue.
- Choose your Dish remote model.
- Select the device you wish to pair.
- Pick the brand of your device. The common pairing codes for your device will be displayed.
Once you have a list of codes that work for your device, you can proceed to pair your Dish remote.
How to Program Dish Remote to Your Device
- Point the remote towards your device.
- Press and hold the Aux button on your remote till the button lights up.
- Enter 1 if you want to pair a DVD player and 2 for any other device.
- Enter the 3-digit code for your device.
- Press the # button on your remote. The Aux button on the remote will flash three times.
- Press the Power button on your remote.
If your device turns off, the Dish remote is successfully paired with that device.
If the device does not turn off, repeat the process with different codes till the Dish remote is programmed correctly.
Why is My Dish Remote Not Working?

Your Dish remote may not work for reasons as simple as dead batteries to a major fault in the remote.
In such cases, you can try these troubleshooting steps to identify and resolve the problem:
- Check if the batteries are inserted correctly and replace the batteries if needed.
- Make sure that the correct function key is selected based on the type of device you want to control.
- Reprogram the Dish remote to your device.
- Restart your device and try again.
If you face any persistent problems with your Dish remote, you should contact Dish Support for assistance or replace the remote.
One Remote to Control Them All
When it comes to pairing a universal remote to any device, we often go looking for device-specific pairing codes.
However, using a Dish remote gives a distinct advantage as you can pair it to your devices without any code.
Dish remotes are equipped with the Pairing Wizard or Power Scan technology which easily pairs them to your device with just a few button clicks.
Once I learned about this, I was able to pair my Dish remote to my Smart TV and soundbar within seconds, and it has never worked any better.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find the pairing code for my TV and Dish remote?
A Dish remote is capable of pairing with your TV without a code. However, if you need a code for your TV, you can look for it in the remote user manual.
Why won’t my Dish remote change the TV’s volume?
This usually happens when the Dish remote is not programmed correctly to your TV. In this case, some buttons on your remote may not work. To resolve this problem, you need to reprogram the remote to your TV.
How do I reset my Dish remote?
To reset a Dish remote, you need to reprogram the remote to your device. Alternatively, you can remove the remote’s batteries, press and hold its Power button for 10 seconds, and reinsert the batteries. This will force the Dish remote to reset.