Access Vizio, Sharp, Sony, JVC, Toshiba, LG TV Menu Without Remote
By Robert Jones · 2021-05-22
If you are also one of those who have lost their TV
Right, let's face it, we've all been there, haven't we? You've settled down for a quiet evening, ready to catch that documentary you've been meaning to watch, and then… poof, the remote’s vanished. Under the sofa? In the dog’s bed? Who knows! And suddenly, you can't even get to the blooming menu on your TV. Annoying, to say the least. Now, for most of us, this is just a minor inconvenience. We rummage around, eventually find the thing, and all’s well. But what if it’s really gone for good? Or what if you’ve got an older set, maybe a spare one in the workshop, and the original remote died a dignified death years ago? You still want to tinker with the picture settings, don’t you? Of course you do. So, I’ve put together a bit of a guide based on my own experiences over the years, trying to get these various tellies to behave without their magic wand. I’ve got an old Sharp Aquos in the garage, been there for donkey’s years. Remote packed up ages ago, and honestly, trying to find a genuine replacement was more hassle than it was worth. But I still use it for testing bits and bobs, and sometimes I need to adjust the input or picture mode. Same with a little Toshiba I picked up at a car boot sale for next to nothing. Great for a bit of background noise while I’m soldering, but without the remote, it was stuck on one channel. ### General Approach: The Buttons Are Your Friends First things first, before you start tearing your hair out or ordering a universal remote that’ll probably annoy you more than help, have a good look at your TV. Seriously, get up close and personal. Most sets, even the newer ones, have a few basic controls built right into the set itself. They might be tucked away, sometimes on the side, sometimes underneath, or even on the back. Look for buttons like: * **Power:** Obvious, that one. * **Volume Up/Down:** Handy for getting some noise going. * **Channel Up/Down:** Good for flicking through stations. * **Input/Source:** This is a big one. It lets you switch between HDMI 1, HDMI 2, Freeview, etc. * **Menu:** The holy grail! This is what you’re really after. Often, getting to the main menu without a dedicated "Menu" button involves a bit of a dance. You might need to press "Input" and then use the "Channel" buttons to navigate. It’s like a little puzzle, different for each brand, and sometimes even different models within the same brand. Takes a bit of patience, but it’s usually there. ### Brand-Specific Shenanigans (My Experiences) #### Vizio I’ve had a few Vizio soundbars come through the workshop for testing, and they sometimes throw up similar remote issues. For their TVs, you’ll often find the control buttons on the back, usually on the left-hand side when you’re facing the screen. You’re looking for a combination of power, input, and volume buttons. Sometimes, pressing and holding the "Input" button for a few seconds will bring up a basic menu. It’s not the full-fat menu, mind, but it usually gets you to the input selection, which is often what most people need. #### Sharp My old Sharp Aquos, bless its cotton socks, has its controls tucked away on the right-hand side, just behind the front bezel. They’re slim, almost hidden. I think the designers thought they were being clever, making them blend in. For that one, there’s a distinct "Menu" button, but it