If you have an older remote control from the 20 or 21 series, you’ll have to follow a different procedure called a power scan.
A power scan fires off device codes until it finds one that works. Here are the steps for programming an older DISH remote control using the power scan:
- Point your DISH remote at the device you want to pair.
- Press and hold the button on the DISH remote that corresponds to the device you want to program (TV, DVD, or AUX). After about 10 seconds, you should see all four Mode buttons light up. When they do, release the button and it will start blinking.
- Press and release the Power button on the DISH remote. The blinking Mode button should now be a solid light. This means the DISH remote is ready to program.
- Press the Up directional button on your DISH remote to send the first code.
- Keep pressing the Up button every few seconds until the device turns off. Once the device has turned off, you know you’ve found the right code.
- Press the # button (that’s pound, not hashtag!) to save the code to memory. The Mode button should blink several times.
- Test your DISH remote. Now you want to test the remote control to make sure everything works as expected. Better to test it now than to find out something isn’t working in the middle of your favorite sitcom.
If everything works, congratulations, friend. You’re all set. Repeat this process for any other devices you want to program to your DISH remote, and you’re good to go.