How to Fix a Wii Remote That's Not Working: 15 Troubleshooting Tips

Ways to fix your Wii Remote, from quick & easy to tech savvy

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: April 8, 2024 Fact Checked

Is your Wii Remote suddenly not working? This is definitely frustrating, especially if it stops working in the middle of playing a game. There are a number of reasons why your Wii Remote might stop working, such as having dead batteries, a broken sensor bar, or a dirty pointer lens or remote buttons. In this article we'll go over 15 things you can try to fix your Wii Remote.

Wii Remote Connectivity Tips

The first two things to try when your Wii Remote isn't working is to check the batteries and move closer to the TV. These are quick and easy steps to start with. If your Wii Remote still isn't working, make sure your sensor bar is still working and try cleaning your Wii Remote's pointer lens or buttons.

1

Replace Dead or Low Batteries

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Check the batteries in your Wii Remote. If the batteries in your Wii Remote have died, the remote won't work properly. The remote also may not work as intended if the batteries are low, but not entirely dead.
- Remove the backplate on your Wii Remote and remove the old batteries, then insert new ones.
- You can use rechargeable batteries in your Wii Remote to cut down on battery waste. Just make sure you have at least 2 sets of rechargeable batteries per Wii Remote so you'll always have batteries available.

2

Check for Bad Battery Connection

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Check your Wii Remote battery contacts. Make sure your batteries are inserted correctly and look for damage or corrosion on the battery contacts. Corrosion can cause interference with the battery's connection, leading to limited or no power going to the device.
- If there is corrosion on the battery contacts, you can try to remove it.
- If your Wii Remote is very corroded, removing the corrosion may not be safe or your Wii Remote might be further damaged. In this case, replacing the remote is a better option.

3

Move Closer to TV

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Move closer to your TV so you're in the sensor bar range. You should be about 3 to 8 feet away from the sensor bar for your Wii Remote to work properly.^{[1]
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- You also may be too close to your TV. If you're under 3 feet away from your TV, try stepping back a little bit to see if that helps with the remote's connection.

4

Check for Bright Lights Shining on TV

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Look for bright lights shining on your TV screen or sensor bar. Bright lights shining on your TV or on the Wii sensor bar can interfere with your remote's ability to interact with the TV.
- If your TV is near a window, try blocking out the sunlight with a curtain or window blinds.
- If the bright light is from a lamp or light, turn off that light until you're done gaming.
- Infrared light such as heaters, candle or fireplace flames, or stoves can also interfere with your Wii Remote. Turn these off or block the light from shining near your TV or sensor bar if you can.

5

Look for Sensor Bar Issues

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Check out your sensor bar for damage or placement issues. The sensor bar should be placed either above or below the television. If there are issues with your sensor bar's placement or connection, or the sensor bar (or its cable) are damaged, this can cause your Wii Remote to not work.^{[2]
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- Your sensor bar should be aligned with the front of the TV if placed on top of it, or aligned with the edge of the surface the TV is sitting on if placed below it.
- Make sure the sensor bar is plugged into the sensor bar port on the back of your Wii.
- Check the sensor bar cable for damage. If it's damaged, you'll need to get a replacement from Nintendo.
- Use a camera with an LCD screen to check if the sensor bar is working. Look at the sensor bar through the camera, and you should see 5 infrared lights on each side of the bar. If your device has infrared filtering (such as on a phone), you may need to use the front-facing camera.^{[3]
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6

Re-sync the Wii Remote

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Delete your Wii Remote syncs on your Wii console, then re-sync the remote. Sometimes, sync connections can stop working properly. Re-syncing your Wii Remote to the console will refresh this connection.
- Turn on your Wii console and wait until the Health & Safety screen appears, but don't press any buttons to move past this screen.
- Open the flap on the front of your Wii, then press and hold the red SYNC button for 15 seconds. This will clear all Wii Remote syncs.^{[4]
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- Re-sync your Wii Remote by removing the backplate and pressing and releasing the SYNC button on the remote. When the LED light on the front of the remote is blinking, press and release the red SYNC button on the console. When the LED on the remote stops blinking, the sync has been completed.^{[5]
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- Some models of the Wii Remote have a hole in the backplate with a tool on the wrist strap to press the SYNC button. You won't need to remove the backplate if you have this model of Wii Remote.

7

Check Wii Remote Model Number

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Make sure your Wii Remote is a licensed Nintendo product. Off-brand or third-party controllers may not work properly with your Wii. If your Wii Remote suddenly stops working or has never worked properly, check if it's a licensed product and replace it with an official Nintendo Wii Remote if not.
- To check if your Wii Remote is licensed, look for the model number printed on the bottom where accessories plug in. The original Wii Remote has the model number RVL 003 and the Wii Remote Plus has the model number RVL 036.

8

Recalibrate Wii Remote Plus/WiiMotion Plus

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Try recalibrating your Wii Remote Plus or WiiMotion Plus accessory. If your Wii Remote isn't completely dead but isn't working properly, you may need to recalibrate your Wii Remote Plus or Wii Remote with a WiiMotion Plus accessory.
- Start a game that uses WiiMotion Plus. If a game uses WiiMotion Plus, it'll have an icon on the box of a Wii Remote with a WiiMotion Plus accessory at the bottom.
- Place your Wii Remote Plus or Wii Remote with a WiiMotion Plus accessory on a flat, horizontal surface with the buttons facing down.
- After 10 seconds, pick up the remote and try using it again.^{[6]
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9

Clean Pointer Lens

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Check your Wii Remote's pointer lens if it's dirty. The pointer lens is found at the top of the Wii Remote, and it's how the Wii Remote communicates with the sensor bar. If the pointer lens is dirty or covered in residue, it can make your Wii Remote not work properly.
- Wipe off any dirt with a soft cloth. You can use an electronics cleaning wipe to gently clean sticky or stuck-on residue.
- If there is sticker residue on the pointer lens, use masking tape to remove it. Wrap some masking tape around your first two fingers with the sticky side facing out, then gently press it against the pointer lens to lift away sticky residue.^{[7]
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10

Clean Remote Buttons

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Use a toothbrush to clean dirt and residue off of your remote buttons. If your Wii Remote buttons are sticky or dirty, this can impact how well your remote works.
- Take a (new) soft toothbrush and gently brush around the gap between the Wii Remote buttons and the casing.
- If the buttons are very sticky, you can use warm water and a little mild soap to clean underneath them. Remove the batteries from your Wii Remote, then get the toothbrush slightly damp with warm soapy water, and brush around the buttons. Dry immediately with a paper towel.

11

Verify Sensitivity Settings

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Check your Wii's sensitivity setting dots. If your Wii Remote isn't working at all and you have a Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro, you can use the controller to check your sensitivity settings.
- Go to System Settings and press the right arrow to move to page 2.^{[8]
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- Select Sensor Bar > Sensitivity.
- If one or no dots appear on the sensitivity screen but you've verified that your sensor bar is working with the camera method, then there is a good chance the issue lies with your Wii Remote.

12

Try a Different Wii Remote

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Try using a different Wii Remote, if you have one handy. While this doesn't necessarily fix anything, it can help you determine if the issue is with your Wii Remote or your console itself.
- If a different Wii Remote doesn't work, then the issue is likely with your console.
- If a different Wii Remote works and no other troubleshooting methods have fixed the issue, you likely need to replace your Wii Remote. If you are tech savvy, keep reading to learn how you can potentially fix some of these issues yourself.

13

Check Power Button Connection

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A bad power button connection can make your Wii Remote stop working. If your Wii Remote can't power on, then it won't work. If you have done some electronics repair in the past, you can likely check this yourself.
- Remove the batteries from your Wii Remote, then remove the four screws that connect the back of the remote to the front.
- Using a prying tool, gently apply pressure to the tabs on the left side of the remote. These tabs are breakable, but if they break the remote will still work.
- Once the tabs are disconnected, open the front of the remote like a book.
- Using a clean, dry, new toothbrush, gently brush over the contact in the upper-right corner where the power button connects to the motherboard.
- Put the front cover back on, snapping it gently into place, then replace the screws, batteries, and back cover.

14

Install a New Motherboard

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A dead, faulty, or fried motherboard will lead to connection issues. If your Wii Remote's motherboard is not working, this will affect your remote's functionality. Replacing the motherboard isn't difficult, but it's best done only if you've done electronics repair before.
- Remove the batteries from your Wii Remote, then remove the four screws that connect the back of the remote to the front.
- Using a prying tool, gently apply pressure to the tabs on the left side of the remote. These tabs are breakable, but if they break the remote will still work.
- Once the tabs are disconnected, open the front of the remote like a book.
- Using your finger, push up on the connector port at the bottom of the remote and lift the motherboard up slightly.
- Grasp the sides of the motherboard and pull it out of the casing.
- Replace the motherboard by setting the new one into the casing.
- Put the front cover back on, snapping it gently into place, then replace the screws, batteries, and back cover.

15

Contact Nintendo

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Call Nintendo for help with repair requests or replacements. If your Wii Remote isn't working, you may need to get it repaired or replaced. You can purchase replacements at stores like GameStop, but as the Wii is an older console most major retailers no longer carry controllers. Nintendo Support can help you with the repair or replacement process.
- If you're in the U.S. or Canada, call Nintendo at 1-800-255-3700. Outside of the U.S. or Canada, call 1-855-548-4693.^{[9]
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