Can anyone help me with a Apple IR Remote Control problem?

Can anyone help me with a Apple IR Remote Control problem?


I have the white Apple 6 button Remote Control. In the past, I have used this with no problems on my 2012 MacBook Pro, (the last MacBook Pro to have a built-in optical drive).


The volume controls work perfectly. But none of the other buttons do anything. I have successfully un-paired and paired this remote with my Mac. The next/fast-forward and menu buttons do nothing. The battery for the remote is good.


I am using this with Apples "DVD Player".

Posted on Aug 1, 2018 11:30 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 2, 2018 12:20 PM

Hi, Ziatron,

Thanks for stopping by the Apple Support Communities. From your post, I understand that your Apple Remote isn't working as expected with your MacBook Pro. Instead of being able to utilize all of the buttons, only the volume controls work. I'm happy to help!

It looks like you've already tried unpairing and repairing the remote, as well as checking the batteries. In addition to those steps, I would recommend toggling the IR reception off, and back on again. you can do that using the following steps from macOS Sierra: If your Apple Remote isn’t working :

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, then click General.

  2. Click the lock icon User uploaded file to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password.

  3. Click Advanced.

  4. In the window that appears, deselect “Disable remote control infrared receiver.”



After you have the IR reception turned off, restart your Mac: How to turn your Mac on or off - Apple Support , then use the above steps to turn the IR reception back on.

If you still have trouble after that, see how the remote works in safe mode: Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support , and another user account if the issue persists after safe mode: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support .

Have a wonderful day.
3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 2, 2018 12:20 PM in response to Ziatron

Hi, Ziatron,

Thanks for stopping by the Apple Support Communities. From your post, I understand that your Apple Remote isn't working as expected with your MacBook Pro. Instead of being able to utilize all of the buttons, only the volume controls work. I'm happy to help!

It looks like you've already tried unpairing and repairing the remote, as well as checking the batteries. In addition to those steps, I would recommend toggling the IR reception off, and back on again. you can do that using the following steps from macOS Sierra: If your Apple Remote isn’t working :

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, then click General.

  2. Click the lock icon User uploaded file to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password.

  3. Click Advanced.

  4. In the window that appears, deselect “Disable remote control infrared receiver.”



After you have the IR reception turned off, restart your Mac: How to turn your Mac on or off - Apple Support , then use the above steps to turn the IR reception back on.

If you still have trouble after that, see how the remote works in safe mode: Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support , and another user account if the issue persists after safe mode: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support .

Have a wonderful day.

Aug 3, 2018 12:09 AM in response to MoonJ.

Thank you for helping,


I followed your suggestions without success.


When I boot the Macbook Pro in Save Boot, DVD Player will NOT run, so I can't test that aspect of the situation.

In Save Boot, when I try to run DVD Player, I get the following pop-up.


" There was an initialization error. A valid video device could not be found for playback. [-70017] "


Regarding my login items, I have iTunesHelper, and Dropbox.


Something else I forgot to mention earlier, when playing a DVD if I press the "Play/Pause" button on the remote, iTunes magically launches itself. In researching this issue online, I found others with the same problem, but no solutions.

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Can anyone help me with a Apple IR Remote Control problem?

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