Infrared remote control not working - OS X Yosemite

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Vlnps13 Author

Level 1

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Infrared remote control not working - OS X Yosemite

iMac 27"

NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M 1024 MB

OS X Yosemite 10.10.2

8 GB 1600 MHz DDR

33.2 GHz Intel Core i5

I have just purchased the above iMac and tried to use my old 3"x1" remote control to no avail. The technical help has not been able to shed any light on it, suffice to say it won't work. I can't believe Apple would have produced an upgrade that means you have to leap up from your chair across the room to turn up or down the volume on the keyboard by the computer. I use a wired keyboard and don't necessarily wish to sit with the wireless one on my knee. The small white gizmo was brilliant on my last imac. Are there any Bluetooth solutions or other ideas?

Phil

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Feb 23, 2015 10:04 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 23, 2015 1:18 PM in response to Vlnps13

Take a look in System Preferences ▸ Security & Privacy ▸ Firewall ▸ Advanced. You will need to provide the administrator password to unlock the Security & Privacy panel. Is the Disable remote control infrared receiver checked in that slide down Advanced sheet?

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Answer 2

Vlnps13 Author

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Feb 23, 2015 1:34 PM in response to VikingOSX

Many thanks.

Tried your suggestion but there are only 2 boxes in all the areas within Security & Privacy:

Log out after 60 minutes of activity
Require an administrator password to access system-wide preferences

Phil

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Answer 3

GeoCo

Level 1

130 points

Feb 23, 2015 2:43 PM in response to Vlnps13

It is actually under System Preferences->Security&Privacy->General; Advanced not Firewall.

<edit>

Interesting on my system it is in both places

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Answer 4

Vlnps13 Author

Level 1

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Feb 23, 2015 2:50 PM in response to GeoCo

Very many thanks but this command does not exist under General, Firewall, Vault File, or Privacy.

Any other ideas?

Many thanks

P

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Answer 5

Feb 23, 2015 2:54 PM in response to GeoCo

I didn't have a Yosemite system handy at the moment, and I was betting that Apple hadn't moved it from where I said (confirmed in Maverick) to another location in Yosemite.

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Answer 6

Feb 23, 2015 3:02 PM in response to Vlnps13

The slimline 27 inch iMacs don't have an infra-red sensor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_%28Intel-based%29#Slim_Unibody_iMac

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Answer 7

GeoCo

Level 1

130 points

Feb 23, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Vlnps13

My iMac is a dinosaur, late 2009. Looks like Apple removed the IR support on later model systems.

From what I read on the web if you see the settings that both I and VikingOSX pointed out your system has an IR receiver and will work with the remote. If the settings are not there then there is no IR receiver and the remote won't work.

BTW I am running 10.10.2 here so that is not the issue.

regards

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Answer 8

Vlnps13 Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 24, 2015 4:45 AM in response to GeoCo

Thanks to you all. It looks as though there is no infrared connectivity on this very expensive piece of equipment. Interesting that the Apple helpdesk couldn't answer this.

Any ideas on the best way to get through to the boffins at Apple to ask why they have taken away this easy access? I think it is silly to remove something so effective, although the answer will probably be that I need an app on an iPhone (which I do not have).

Phil

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Answer 9

Feb 24, 2015 5:04 AM in response to Vlnps13

Another alternative is the Apple Remote in the iTunes App Store. It is network based, not IR.

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Answer 10

Vlnps13 Author

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Feb 24, 2015 5:40 AM in response to VikingOSX

Hmm! It looks as though I now have to purchase an iPad to control the volume on my iMac from the other side of the room. Is it only me has this problem or are there others out there who mourn the loss of the small handy remote control?

Phil

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Answer 11

Feb 24, 2015 10:08 AM in response to Vlnps13

Or use an iPhone. The thing with Apple is that sooner or later, they will obsolete all of their products. 😉

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Answer 12

msuper69

Level 6

8,689 points

Feb 24, 2015 10:31 AM in response to VikingOSX

As do all companies. Just not at the accelerated rate Apple does.

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Answer 13

crliege

Level 1

14 points

Jun 12, 2015 2:24 AM in response to VikingOSX

VikingOSX

What a worthless comment; you shoot yourself in the foot by saying you don't have a Yosemite system in answer to a question about Yosemite!

It would appear, too, that the latest iMac DOESN'T have have an infrared sensor, so end of discussion. Too, your remarks and those about disabling infrard remote control are obviously talking about another version of the software, and probably an old iMac.

If you use Yosemite you'll see that the screen display in Advanced isn't as you describe it.

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Answer 14

cisko84

Level 1

0 points

Aug 2, 2015 10:39 AM in response to crliege

my iMac says the ir receiver is installed and it used to work but since i upgraded to yosemite its not working any help please

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Answer 15

Jul 13, 2016 3:53 AM in response to Vlnps13

For me it's the same. I was really disapointed. To spend such a lot of money for a 5K iMac without an IR-Remote.

All the years before it was such easy to control the ( older) iMac by IR-Remote.

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