Bose Soundbar Universal Remote

Great remote control but very annoying feature where the remote does not light up long enough for more comfortable use

I bought the sound bar 700 and it came with this remote.

The sound bar 700 is absolutely fantastic and worth every penny. But I was disappointed by the quality of the remote. This made the value of the entire sound bar system depreciate significantly, as I now have to use two remotes (one which works half the time) for my tv and sound bar.

Basically pairing the sound bar to the remote worked once when following the step by step instructions and using the Bose Music app. After doing a few resets, it still don’t work. And don’t get me started on pairing it with the tv. I teach physics and I find reading about special relativity more conceptually attainable than figuring out and troubleshooting pairing the remote with any other device beside the sound bar.

Title says it all. An infuriating remote as the lights extinguish before you can select the buttons, especially with using for satellite that needs often several buttons and learning where what function is, there is not enough time to check. It is small things like this that ruin the pleasure of using what could be high quality units. Shame this is not considered important enough to resolve or provide a user option. I would not mind the extra cost of battery replacement more often to get this option/time increased.

This remote is fantastic. The contextual buttons are amazing and it works great.

HUGE FLAW though. The backlight of the contextual buttons only lats a few seconds. This ruins the remote and makes it completely inaccessible for most especially those with any disabilities.

Bose needs to fix this or a class action lawsuit should be opened.

Would buy this replacement for my Soundtouch 300 Soundbar but not sure if it works for my system. All I see referenced is Soundtouch 500 and 700. Does it work on 300?

This remote works well for a lot of universal items. I managed to pair it with all devices: Samsung TV, Bell PVR, etc.

My major beef with this remote is that since it’s release, there have been documented complaints about the “BACK” button not working on samsung TVs. Hello BOSE!!!! WAKEUP!!!! Samsung is a MAJOR market Share for TVs and for your remote to not allow users to move back in a menu setting is really frustrating. Don’t believe me? Read the dozens of other users that have complained.

Not sure what I mean? Here is an example: you have a streaming service (Netflix, Disney+, etc) and you want to watch a movie with the kids. You see something that is interesting and click on it only to discover it might not be the right choice (insert reason here). You want to go BACK to the menu to view the other choices, but the BACK button doesn’t work. To go back, you will sometimes need to exit the app and start all over again. On a good day this is frustrating for adults. On any day with kids, good luck keeping their patience. Lol.

Great sound from the sound bar BUT don’t waste time with the remote that can’t go back.

My other reason for 1 Star is the community response to Bose or their lack of response on their own website. There is the occasional BoSe moderator who chimes in saying it’s a TV Remote pairing issue. NOPE! It’s a programming issue with Bose.

FIX YOUR REMOTE PLEASE!

Looks nice but 100% useless. Doesn’t even control the volume. Bose is awful anymore

The app doesn’t display an option to tune the universal remote in to the TV. The app is buggy. The soundbar is great. Shame they can’t sort out the remote .

I am excited to replace three remotes with one.
I am sad to say that the backlighting issue about which Bose customers have been writing negative reviews for years now has *still* not been addressed. Truly the backlighting is on for microseconds.
With arthritic hands, it has been frustrating to "break in" our new remote.
Despite a great design and compatibility, the backlighting issue is of serious concern.
Please, Bose, at the very least address your customers' concerns here or on the Bose community support pages.

does everything you need except the home button does not work the same as the one on the tv remote

I bought this with my Soundbar500 and the remote is useless. It is too slow when used on my Samsung and the slag makes me irritated. And the light go off so quick. So not at all user friendly.

I bought this a month ago and the light panel went out, rendering it almost useless. With minimal physical feedback on the device (raised icons, etc.) its really hard to know when you’re on a button and which one it is. Very disappointing.

I programmed this universal remote the first time quite easily. Took me an hr to set it up with my tv, cable box and bose soundbar. Then it just blanked out and i had to reprogram it again and agin. Its easy enough but its a hassle to look up the codes and videos again. The remote is gorgeous but it doesnt work half the time, its literally useless. I end up having to use the app to control the volume of my bose system.

This thing just does not work. I spent hours trying to make it pair with my devices.
If it does actually pair it will stop working within minutes or if you switch activities.
Save yourself the headache of trying to make this thing work.
I wasted hours on this thing. Can't wait to send this thing back. This thing is hot hot garbage.

I received this remote when I purchased a Bose soundbar. I was excited to find out I could use it as a universal remote. Works pretty well except the lighting rime on the keypad is very short. The remote keypad is designed to light up only the buttons you need however the lights go out after several seconds if the remote is not moved. I find my wife waving it around trying to get the lights to light up. Bose needs to extend the lighting time on this remote.

I actually love this remote. Only reason not 5 stars is it has a few small issues. But for the most part this thing works everything I have. Including my dvr from spectrum. Never have to pick up another remote.

The backlight cuts out after 1-2 seconds so all the buttons disappear before being able to find/press any button. Bose acknowledged the issue in their own forums over 2 years ago but have not fix it. Would be a really great remote if the backlight worked.

Some features not supported. For example I am unable to pause my cable box but everything else seems to work.
Great functionality in component switching! Makes it super easy to use!
The back of the remote has become sticky for some reason. Not sure if the plastic is degrading and can't seem to find anything online for support.

This came with my BOSE 700 soundbar.
Great i thought this will get rid of my numerous remotes. So i begun on the arduous task of setting the control up, to my surprise it was simple. However it is a re-education on what buttons do what. once you sort that out and have identified the buttons functions it is great.

Quality wise it is as you would have expected from BOSE, fantastic! The only drawback is it shows every fingerprint. The only other fault i found is like other people have mentioned, is the length of time the backlight stays on.

Overall a great product with my setup

I bought the Bose 700 Soundbar, Subwoofer and Surround Speakers and love the system. This remote is one of the highlights. I can control most everything with one remote and even my parents have figured out how to use it.

Two complaints:
1.) I cannot Control my LG OLED C9 directly (other than powering on and off) and must use the LG Magic Remote to get to ANY of the menus or to ANY of the apps I use daily like VUDU, Fandango Now, Netflix, Amazon Prime,
etc...

2.) The lights do not stay on long enough even though I LOVE how only the buttons you need light up when controlling a device and the level of light is PERFECT for a dark room. It’s a pleasing light that is easy to see without hurting my sensitive eyes. However, I am constantly shaking the remote to cut them back on.

Are there solutions to either of these problems (controlling my LG OLED menus and and apps and making the backlights stay on for 10 - 15 seconds longer)? If so, this would be the best remote I have ever owned and K would give it 6 stars.

This remote came with my Bose 700 sound bar and I’ve owned for about 6 months now. To date I’ve yet to use it with my Rogers Ignite cable box nor do I use it with my Sony XBR65X900F. The simple fact is it Doesn’t work with my Rogers cable box and it doesn’t work with my Sony TV. The only time I use it is when I need to switch from playing music back to tv. Another annoyance is the back light stays on for a few seconds before you have to shake it again to get the lights working again. In a dark room this is a pain in the but.

I've had this for six months and the remotes already broken I don't drop it I take care of my stuff and it just quit working

Bought Bose 700 Soundbar and the Bose Universal Remote was included. Relatively easy to set up, although must first download Bose app then set up remote on a device to which the app has been downloaded. Still not a major issue, just a bit of a pain. Guided through those steps and completed successfully. Although our blu-ray DVD player info is in place, the Bose remote will not operate it. The info in the Bose app and on the Bose website would indicate this remote can be set up to operate several devices, however this does not appear to be the case. The app allows setup so connected devices can all be turned on and off simultaneously, but in the app one must chose via bullet selection a cable/satellite box or a DVD player. It would seem logical that BOTH bullets could be selected, but sadly this is not the case, and only one can be selected. We tried everything, reset everything, reprogrammed everything to no avail. Also we have been unable to find any guidance on using some of the remotes’s buttons. Some things are fairly intuitive, like the main power button that’s front and center at the top, but no guidance on what the TV Input button top right and Source button top left are for. Would it really be so hard to add info to Bose website on using this remote? So for now and probably forever we will turn the blu-ray DVD player on separately when we watch a DVD, and wish there was some way that would work differently. We will hope some additional literature will magically appear. Since we did not pay a separate price for the universal remote because it was bundled with our Soundbar purchase we will grumble only so much. I am glad it was not a separate purchase because if it was, I would be pressed to rate it more than 1 star.

I have a Lifestyle 35. My remote is ok, but of course does NOT turn my TV on/off. I noticed this new Bose "universal" remote. As it is universal, I hoped it would work with my LS35. There is no mention on the website of the compatibility. I called Bose twice (with serial number) and after a long painful discussion, was told it is not compatible with the Lifestyle systems. Sure wish it was.

We purchased the 700 Bose soundbar 3 months ago and this remote cams with it. Stopped working after 3 months of owning it. Replaced the batteries tried to troubleshoot how to reset it and it’s still not working. We paid over $900 for this system with several wireless speakers and Base and we’re very disappointed that we have buy another remote to try and work our sound system. Not built well at all. Bose please do something about this issue so one has to go through this.

I purchased your Bose Soundbar, Universal premium remote control last week, only to find out some of the buttons doesn't lite up. I called Bose setup technique support Department with no help with the buttons function. The MUSIC, TV, BLUETOOTH buttons will lite up, but the buttons below those buttons will NOT lite up.

Since i feel its a rip off to pay rental fees on a cable box I use a Samsung box that i purchased for a cable card. Ive tried many remotes with arc connections and universal remotes but none that I have tried have worked with the Samsung box until now. Kudos to Bose

I bought this a couple days before Black Friday I have had it for a month and it has worked like garbage. It is oversized and has a slow response, moves cursor more times than you've clicked on amazon prime the remote needs the lighting feature in order to even see the buttons on the remote and now it disconnected itself from my bose sound bar and will not reconnect. I've tried the troubleshoot and several different website suggestions on reconnecting the remote and nothing has worked. I do not recommend this remote.

This remote is terrible after 1 week of use now everytime i press any button of the directionally buttons it double press by default. Have tried factory reset and been sent out another remote by bose but the issue has not gone.
Im not the first person by reading other reviews

Bought this remote so I can discard all the others, easy to set-up but it's very "glitchy". Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I've had to revert back to using my original remotes. Waste of money! The backlights stay on wayyyyyy to short which is annoying.

The build quality of the remote is really good, and it feels premium. But, where it crumbles is the software/firmware inside.
The backlight sensors are of a poor quality and mine stopped working after 1.5 months of use. They are supposed to light up when you pick the remote up, but now they don't anymore unless you click any button. Moreover you cannot control how long the backlight would stay on. It turns off in around 10 seconds and you have to shake the remote up, to see the buttoms again. Note - the buttons are not visible at all without the back light.

After the firmware update - 6.0.15, the remote has been rendered completely useless. Now if you press a navigation button once, it moves twice on the screen. Similarily the volume controls take at least a few seconds to reflect on your TV - wasting a lot of time to get the right sound level.
I have contacted Bose Tech Support multiple times regarding these issues but they absolutely reject it saying they have never heard of them, even though the Bose forum has a bunch of people complaining about it. Here is one on navigation buttons - https://community.bose.com/t5/Home-Theater/Soundbar-700-remote-navigation-buttons/td-p/253138
Instead what Bose did was send me a new remote, but how would that have helped since it's a software issue.
I hope Bose fixes these issues soon, else I am not sure how could the sounbar be of any use without a proper functioning remote?

Very bad remote . Don't buy this product it dosent work with many tvs . Waste of time trying to setup this remote to control my tv

Navigation skips when trying to control certain streaming services through Samsung TV. Tried reinstalling but no improvement. Very frustrating. Also remote only controls certain TV functions. Definitely not a "universal" remote.

This remote came with the Bose 700 soundbar. It paired with my devices just fine but after 1 month, the direction pad (up, down, left, right) will move 2 spaces instead of 1 while navigating menus. Sometimes it moves 1 space like it’s suppose to but it’s pretty much guaranteed the next move will be 2 spaces. This causes the remote to be useless for anything except controlling the soundbar volume.
I’ve tried resynching the remote and replacing the batteries.

I love this remote! The weight is perfect, it replaced all my remotes and this is not missing any buttons I need. I have the apple tv and this has replaced that remote, my vizio tv remote has been replaced. And the light up feature is amazing especially at night or while watching a movie.

I bought everything Bose. This remote came with my SoundBar 700 package. I think it has a great design. It took me a while to figure out how to reset it. I think it's great to use my iPhone App to control it. It doesn't like some previous system which need to hook up to TV. I think that can minimize their cost and Bose is able to sell it at lower price. However, I couldn't make it work with my LG TV and not even my Apple TV. I can only use it as an expansive volume control remote which I can simply use my phone to replace it.

Came with Bose 700 sound bar and sub woofer. Lovely feel. Clever context sensitive lights. Backlighting stays on waaay too short and doesn’t seem to be changeable. I’ve successfully connected it to TV (which it controls well), DVD (which it has limited function) and a Virgin V6 media box (which, after apparently connecting ok, as confirmed by remote powering the V6 off, doesn’t seem to work at all. Very frustrating.

Where to start... (1) it does not pair with my TV (Panasonic FZ950) - I have tried so many times to re-pair but it at best it intermittently works (2) Lights flick on and off so you can never actually see the buttons, (3) when the lights do flick on, they often don't turn off for hours (what a waste of batteries).
Such a hopeless remote, I'd love to throw it in the bin but I need it change the audio inputs on my Soundbar 700 - this is literally the only thing I use it for (if I play music from my iphone then turn on the TV on the soundbar does not automatically change inputs).
Here's an idea Bose, include a source button on the Soundbar 700, then you can stop including this in the package - it is more trouble than it's worth.

Will not re pair with soundbar 500 when you put in New batteries

No wonder the remote was thrown in with the deal..... it just does not work well.

Hi there, recently less lights light up on my remote. Some of the buttons i need did not lit. Previously when i first got it, all six sources buttons would light up and the one that i click on will turn blue and all other colorful buttons will also light up. Recently, only the TV and the Bluetooth buttons and a few other white buttons would light up. the numbers and the coloured ones and the TV Source buttons are dark. Is there a problem with my remote?

The Apple TV touch pad controller was a pain. Either too sensitive or not sensitive enough, often dropped because of how small and smooth it is. The Bose Universal Remote has been a welcome upgrade. It even has the ability to slow motion play shows, though I haven’t learned how to invoke on demand (I accidentally invoke). I never have to worry about anything being in the way of the receiver. Additionally, it has a nice design and feel. If anyone knows how to invoke the slow motion play on the Apple TV, please comment. Thank you!

I have trouble with the remote being too sensitive. It is extremely difficult to toggle to the correct letter when trying to do a search on Netflix or Hulu etc. HELP!

This remote came with my new sound bar I bought it does not work properly. And does not have all the features my old sound bar remote has. I will be using my old remote on my new soundboard.

Where is the universal remote troubleshooting shooting guide!
Remote has been working perfectly for 4 months...for no reason it no longer lights up on picking it up..you have to touch it hopefully pressing the correct spot (as its black with nothing showing) and nowhere can I find any help...very frustrating
Would have given a 5 star rating other than this issue

I am not able to switch off soundbar separately. And operate only television at a time.

Control came with the SB700. Initially I did not find where to configure it inside the bose app. Once I did I found that using the “advanced setup” feature by entering the device model number works like a charm and much better than the basic trial and error feature. I setup TV, xbox and tv receiver in no time and it works like a charm with full features.

One Day the remote just stopped working. Replaced batteries but nothing. Inputs just keep flashing

Bought the 700 soundbar and I’m seriously considering returning it! System isn’t playing sound from my Samsung TV via HDMI, and I refuse to go backwards an use an optical cable. Shouldn’t be this difficult. Very disappointed with this aspect of a Bose product. The only pro so far... Playing music via BT, the sound is PHENOMENAL!! I’ll give customer support a chance Monday, if issues exist , I’m returning the system. Update coming 1 July 19.

Such a shame, this is such a premium remote but the fact that the timing of the back lights can’t be adjusted makes it unusable. They claim it stays on for three seconds, but I can assure you it is not nearly long enough and will drive you absolutely nuts.