NOW remote fix and replace
The Bluetooth remote that ships with the NOW Smart Stick and NOW Smart Box is reliable when it is paired correctly. Most issues are batteries, pairing or TV-brand mapping, all fixable in under five minutes. This page walks through pairing, the six most-common faults, a factory reset and where to source a replacement remote.
At a glance
At a glance
- Bluetooth (BLE) pairing
- Voice search built in
- AAA batteries (Smart Stick remote)
- Works through cabinet doors
NOW remote
Updated 19 May 2026
5 steps
How to pair the NOW remote
The same procedure works for both the Smart Stick and Smart Box remotes. Fresh batteries are non-negotiable, half-flat batteries pair the remote but then disconnect after 30 seconds.
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1
Power up the Smart Stick or Smart Box
Plug the device into your TV via HDMI and into mains power via the supplied USB cable. Switch the TV to the correct HDMI input. The NOW splash screen should appear within 10 seconds.
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2
Insert the AAA batteries
Pop the back cover of the remote and fit two AAA batteries (Smart Stick remote) or follow the printed diagram on the Smart Box remote. New batteries always: half-flat batteries are the single most-common cause of pairing failure.
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3
Hold the Home + Back buttons together
Press and hold the Home button and the Back button at the same time for around 5 seconds. The blue LED at the top of the remote should start flashing slowly. This puts the remote into pairing mode.
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4
Wait for the on-screen confirmation
The NOW splash screen will show “Remote paired” once the Bluetooth handshake completes, usually within 15 seconds. Test the directional pad and OK button. If they respond, you are done.
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5
Run a quick voice test
Hold the microphone button and say “Open Netflix” or “Search Premier League”. If the search bar fills in, voice is working. If not, the remote is paired for navigation but the microphone may not have authorised, repeat step 3.
Troubleshooting
The six most-common NOW remote faults
Identify the symptom on the left, the likely cause in the middle and the fix on the right. Five minutes covers all of these.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Remote will not pair | Flat batteries or the device is on a different home Bluetooth network | Replace both AAA batteries with fresh ones. Power-cycle the Smart Stick or Smart Box (unplug for 10 seconds). Repeat the Home + Back pairing combination. |
| Buttons respond intermittently | Bluetooth interference from a Wi-Fi router or microwave | Move the Smart Stick a few centimetres clear of the back of the TV (HDMI extender cable). Keep the remote within 6 metres line-of-sight where possible. Disable Bluetooth on phones temporarily to rule out interference. |
| Voice search ignored | Microphone not authorised during pairing | Settings » Remotes » Forget remote » pair again. On reauthorisation, the device asks for microphone permission. |
| Volume buttons do not work | TV brand-mapping not set on first use | Settings » Remotes » TV brand. Pick your TV manufacturer (Samsung, LG, Sony, etc.) and test the volume. The remote sends a coded IR pulse for volume control on top of the Bluetooth navigation. |
| Sticky or unresponsive buttons | Physical wear or sticky residue | Pop the battery cover, give the rubber dome under the suspect button a wipe with a dry cotton bud. Avoid any liquid. If the button is mechanically broken, replace the remote (see below). |
| Remote feels laggy in menus | Bluetooth signal weakness or device firmware out of date | Settings » System » About » Check for updates. Reboot the device. If still laggy, factory reset (next section). |
Last resort
Factory reset the Smart Stick or Smart Box
If the remote is fine on a different device, the device itself is the problem. A factory reset clears every paired remote, every Wi-Fi credential and every app login in around two minutes.
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1
Back up nothing
A factory reset removes all your paired remotes, your Wi-Fi credentials and your app sign-ins. Your NOW pass and account are unaffected, they are linked to your email, not the device.
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2
Open Settings » System » Factory reset
On the home screen, scroll to the cog icon, choose “System”, then “Factory reset”. Confirm with your PIN if you set one when you signed up.
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3
Wait 60 to 90 seconds
The Smart Stick or Smart Box reboots and shows the setup wizard. The remote will need to be re-paired from scratch (Home + Back, 5 seconds).
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4
Reconnect Wi-Fi and sign in
Enter your Wi-Fi password and sign back into NOW with your email and password. If you have Netflix, Disney+ or BBC iPlayer on the device, sign back in to those too.
Lost or broken
Where to buy a replacement NOW remote
Four routes, ranked by reliability. The official Sky shop is the safest bet; Amazon is fastest; eBay is cheapest; the NOW app is a free stop-gap.
| Source | Price | Delivery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky (official) | ~£20 | 3 to 5 days delivery | The official replacement comes from sky.com/shop rather than nowtv.com. Genuine Sky remote, full warranty. |
| Amazon UK | £15 to £25 | Next-day Prime | Mixed listings: some genuine, some compatible-aftermarket. Read the seller before you buy. Look for “NOW Smart Stick voice remote” in the title. |
| eBay | £8 to £18 | Varies (often 2 to 7 days) | Used remotes from people who upgraded to a Smart Box. Useful if you have a Smart Stick and just want any working remote, less appealing if you want voice search to work reliably. |
| NOW app (no remote) | Free | Instant | A workaround, not a replacement: the NOW app on iOS or Android has a remote-control screen that talks to the Smart Stick over the same Wi-Fi. Good as a stop-gap. |
Two remotes
Smart Stick remote vs Smart Box remote
Both look almost identical but they are not interchangeable: the Smart Box remote uses HDMI-CEC for TV volume, the Smart Stick remote uses an IR pulse. If you bought one of each, make sure you keep the right remote with the right device.
| Feature | Smart Stick remote | Smart Box remote |
|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | Bluetooth Low Energy | Bluetooth Low Energy + IR pass-through |
| Voice search | Yes | Yes (better far-field mic) |
| TV volume / power | Via IR mapping on first setup | Via HDMI-CEC, automatic |
| Batteries | 2x AAA | 2x AAA |
| Standby brightness | Subtle LED | Brighter status LED, easier to find in the dark |
| Replacement price | ~£15 to £20 | ~£20 to £25 |
FAQ
NOW remote, your questions answered
My NOW remote will not pair, what should I try first?
In this order: (1) fresh AAA batteries, (2) unplug the Smart Stick or Smart Box from mains power for 10 seconds and plug it back in, (3) hold Home + Back together for 5 seconds until the blue LED on the remote flashes, (4) wait 15 seconds for the on-screen confirmation. If the LED never flashes, the batteries are the cause 9 times out of 10.
Is the NOW remote infrared or Bluetooth?
Bluetooth Low Energy for navigation and voice search, with an optional IR pulse for TV volume and power that you set up on first use. The Bluetooth side means the remote works through cabinet doors and around corners, you do not need direct line-of-sight to the Smart Stick.
Can I use the NOW app instead of a remote?
Yes, partially. The free NOW app on iOS and Android has a remote-control screen that pairs to the Smart Stick over your home Wi-Fi. It is fine for casual navigation and a perfect stop-gap if your physical remote is lost. The app cannot send IR volume commands to the TV itself, so you still need the TV’s own remote for volume control.
Where do I buy a replacement NOW remote?
The official channel is sky.com/shop (NOW is a Sky brand, so the official replacement page lives on Sky’s site, not nowtv.com). Expect to pay around £20. Amazon and eBay carry both genuine and compatible-aftermarket alternatives at £8 to £25; check the listing carefully for the voice-search button if you want that feature to work.
How do I factory reset my NOW Smart Stick?
From the home screen: Settings » System » Factory reset. Confirm with your PIN. The device wipes Wi-Fi, app sign-ins and paired remotes, then reboots into the setup wizard. Your NOW account and any active passes are unaffected, they live on your email, not the device. After the reset, re-pair the remote with Home + Back held for 5 seconds.