There’s nothing more frustrating than setting up the perfect vibe with your Tzumi Aura LED lights, only for the remote to suddenly stop working. Whether it’s completely unresponsive, stuck on one color, or glitching, you’re not alone. The good news is that this is a common issue with a very simple solution.
Before you consider buying a new set of lights, take a few minutes to follow this guide. We’ll walk you through everything from the 5-minute fixes to a full reset, helping you get your glow back in no time.
Start Here: 5-Minute Fixes for an Unresponsive Remote
Always start with the basics. More often than not, one of these simple checks will solve your remote control woes instantly, saving you time and frustration.
1. Check or Replace the Remote Battery (The #1 Culprit)
The flat, coin-style battery in your remote is the most common point of failure.
- For New Remotes: Make sure you’ve pulled out the clear plastic tab from the battery compartment. This tab is there to prevent battery drain during shipping and must be removed for the remote to work.
- For Existing Remotes: The battery has likely run out of power. Slide the battery tray out (you may need to press a small latch) and replace the battery. Most Tzumi remotes use a CR2025 or CR2032battery. Ensure the new one is inserted with the ‘+’ side facing up.
2. Clear the Line of Sight to the IR Sensor
Your remote sends an infrared (IR) signal, similar to a TV remote. It needs a direct, unobstructed path to work.
- Locate the small black box (the IR receiver) that the LED strip plugs into.
- Make sure nothing is blocking this receiver. Move any books, decorations, or parts of your TV that might be in the way.
- Point your remote directly at this black box when you press a button.
3. Remove the Plastic Battery Tab on New Remotes
This is for brand-new setups only. It’s easy to overlook this small step during the excitement of setting up your lights. The small, clear plastic tab must be fully removed from the battery slot for the connection to be made.
How to Reset Your Tzumi Remote: The 3-Step Power-Cycle Fix
If the quick fixes didn’t work, it’s time for the most effective solution: a power-cycle reset. This process reboots both the light strip’s controller and the remote, clearing out any software glitches that are causing the communication breakdown.
Step 1: Unplug the LED Lights
Disconnect the entire light strip assembly by unplugging its main power adapter from the wall outlet. Don’t just turn it off with the remote; it needs to be fully disconnected from power.
Step 2: Remove the Remote’s Battery
While the lights are unplugged, slide the battery tray out of your remote control.
Step 3: Wait, Reconnect, and Test
Wait for about 30-60 seconds. This allows any residual power in the circuits to fully discharge. Now, plug the LED light strip back into the wall outlet first, then re-insert the battery into the remote. Point the remote at the IR receiver and test it. This process re-establishes the connection and fixes the issue in most cases.
Lights Showing the Wrong Color? How to Re-Sync Your Remote
One of the strangest issues is when your remote works, but the colors are mixed up—you press the red button, but the lights turn green or blue. This means the remote’s command signals are out of sync with the controller. Here’s how to fix it:
- Turn your LED lights off using the main power button on the remote.
- Point the remote at the IR receiver and press the “FADE7” button (this is the bottom right button on many standard Tzumi remotes). The lights may flash briefly.
- Turn the lights back on.
- Test the colors. They should now match the buttons you are pressing. If it doesn’t work the first time, try pressing one of the other
FADEorJUMPbuttons in step 2.
When Resetting Fails: Diagnosing a Broken Remote or Receiver
If you’ve tried all the steps above and your lights are still not responding, you may have a hardware issue. Here’s how to figure out what’s wrong.
Is the IR Receiver Damaged?
Carefully inspect the small black receiver box and the wires connected to it. If the wire is bent sharply, frayed, or the box itself looks crushed or damaged, it may not be able to receive the signal.
How to Know if the Remote Itself is Faulty
A simple way to test your remote’s IR emitter is to use your smartphone’s camera.
- Open your camera app.
- Point the top of the Tzumi remote (where the little bulb is) at the camera lens.
- Press and hold any button on the remote while looking at your phone screen.
- You should see a faint purple or pink light flashing on your screen. If you don’t see any light, the remote is likely dead. If you do see a light, the remote is sending a signal, and the problem lies with the receiver.
Checking the LED Strip Connections
Ensure the metal pins on the end of your LED strip are firmly and correctly inserted into the power controller. If this connection is loose, the lights won’t work at all.
Tzumi Remote FAQ: Quick Answers to Common Problems
Most Tzumi Aura LED remotes use a flat, 3-volt coin battery, typically a CR2025. Some larger remotes may use a CR2032.
Some Tzumi Aura LED strips come with an in-line controller on the power cord that has a button to cycle through basic colors and modes. However, for full functionality, you need the remote or a compatible app if your model supports it.
This is usually caused by a communication glitch. The power-cycle reset method described above is the most effective way to fix this issue.
Conclusion:
Getting your Tzumi Aura LED remote to work again is typically a quick and easy process. By starting with the simplest solutions like checking the battery and line of sight, you can often solve the problem in seconds. For more stubborn issues, the power-cycle reset is a highly effective method for clearing glitches and re-establishing a proper connection. With these steps, you should be able to get your remote and lights back in sync, allowing you to once again customize your space with the perfect ambiance.