How to Reset TV Box Without Remote?

It is surely frustrating to lose your TV box remote or deal with an unresponsive one. But there are several ways to reset your device without relying on a remote. 

Let us share a few methods to reset your TV box, based on our extensive research from sources like Smart TV Remote Guru, Virgin Media, and user experiences from the Reddit AndroidTV community.

1. Soft Reset by Power Cycling

The easiest and quickest way to reset your TV box without a remote is by performing a soft reset, also known as power cycling. This method doesn’t delete any data, so it’s perfect if you want to avoid losing settings or preferences.

• Step 1: Unplug the TV box from the power source.
• Step 2: Wait for a few minutes to allow the device to power down completely.
• Step 3: Plug it back in and turn it on.

This method helps clear out minor bugs or issues causing performance problems, such as lagging or freezing. It is important to note that according to Smart TV Remote Guru, power cycling often resolves most temporary glitches and restores normal functionality without a full factory reset.

2. Hard Reset Using the Reset Button

Many TV boxes come with a dedicated reset button. So, this method is helpful when the TV box becomes unresponsive, and a soft reset doesn’t resolve the issue. According to Smart TV Remote Gur, a hard reset erases all settings and data, which restores the box to factory defaults.

• Locate the Reset Button: You can usually find this on the back or bottom of the TV box. Some devices may have a small pinhole requiring a paperclip or similar tool.For example, the NOW TV Box has a reset button on the bottom panel that can be long-pressed for about six seconds to initiate a reset.
• Press and Hold: For pinhole buttons, press with a paperclip and hold for 10-30 seconds.
• Wait for Reboot: The TV box will automatically restart and reset to factory defaults.

This method was also shared in the Reddit AndroidTV community, where users like cripledcarforcriples reported successfully resetting their MiBox 4S.

3. Factory Reset Using a Smartphone

If your TV box is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your smartphone, you can reset the device using an app. Most Android TV boxes and NOW TV boxes are compatible with remote control apps like Roku or the Android TV Remote Control App.

• Step 1: Download the Roku App (or a similar app) on your smartphone.
• Step 2: Ensure your phone and TV box are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Step 3: Use the app’s remote control feature to navigate to Settings → System → Advanced System Settings → Factory Reset.
• Step 4: Confirm the reset by entering a PIN if prompted.

This method works effectively when the physical remote is lost or broken, which allows you to use your smartphone as a remote to perform a reset.

4. Using an External USB Keyboard or Mouse

If your TV box supports USB Debugging or recognizes external USB devices, you can use a connected keyboard or mouse to reset the device. It comes in handy when both the remote and smartphone options are unavailable.

• Step 1: Connect a USB keyboard or mouse to the TV box’s USB port.
• Step 2: Use the keyboard’s arrow keys or mouse to navigate the settings.
• Step 3: Go to Settings → System → Factory Reset, and follow the prompts to reset the device.

According to discussions in the Reddit AndroidTV community, this method has helped users reset their MiBox and other Android TV boxes. One user, cripledcarforcriples, successfully reset their MiBox 4S using a USB keyboard after the remote became unresponsive.

5. ADB Commands via PC (Advanced Users)

If you are more technically inclined and have ADB (Android Debug Bridge) enabled on your TV box, you can reset the device. All you have to do is connect it to a PC and using command-line instructions.

• Step 1: Connect the TV box to your PC using a USB Male-to-Male cable.
• Step 2: Make sure USB Debugging is enabled on the TV box.
• Step 3: On your PC, run the command adb devices to ensure the TV box is detected.
• Step 4: Use the command adb reboot recovery to reboot the TV box into recovery mode.
• Step 5: Once in recovery mode, navigate using a keyboard or external device to perform a factory reset.

This method is recommended by advanced users in the Reddit AndroidTV community, where users have shared similar solutions to reset TV boxes using ADB commands when the remote and other methods fail.

Conclusion

There are multiple ways to reset your TV box without a remote, from simple methods like power cycling to more advanced techniques using ADB commands. The method you choose depends on the resources available and the condition of your device. 

Use a reset button, a smartphone app, or an external keyboard, you’ll be able restore your TV box even when the remote isn’t functioning.