how do universal remotes work?

Universal remotes work by being programmed to emulate the infrared signals of multiple individual remotes. They achieve this using a database of IR codes for various devices or by learning from existing remotes. With universal remotes, you can control different devices from a single remote, which simplifies managing home entertainment systems that might include components like TVs, soundbars, and streaming devices.

Some universal remotes come preloaded with codes for numerous brands and models. Users typically input a code corresponding to their devices, allowing the remote to mimic the original remote's functions. Other remotes have a learning feature, where they directly receive signals from the original remotes to learn specific commands.

There are also advanced smart universal remotes that use apps or voice commands to further integrate control, offering features like switching between devices or launching specific services more seamlessly. These smart remotes can also handle more devices and connections by being programmed via smartphone apps, sometimes even integrating with smart home systems for more streamlined user experiences 1.