What Every Sony TV Remote Button Does (Complete Explanation)
Wondering what the buttons on your Sony TV remote actually do? The Power button turns the TV on or off, the Home button opens the smart TV dashboard, the Input button switches HDMI sources, the Options (Action Menu) button displays context-specific settings, and dedicated Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video buttons launch their respective apps instantly. Understanding these buttons helps you get the most from your Sony TV and troubleshoot common remote issues.
New to Sony remotes? Start with our Sony TV Remote Complete Guide to understand compatibility, pairing, and choosing the correct replacement remote.
Why Understanding Your Sony Remote Matters
Many Sony TV owners use only a handful of buttons every day.
As a result, useful features such as quick picture adjustments, subtitle controls, HDMI switching, voice search, and advanced sound settings often go unnoticed.
At ANM Remotes, customers frequently contact us believing their remote is faulty, when in reality they simply aren't sure what a particular button is designed to do.
Learning your remote's layout can make navigating your Sony TV much faster and easier.
Sony TV Remote Button Layout
Power Button
What does the Power button do?
The Power button switches your Sony TV on and off.
On Bluetooth-enabled Sony remotes, the Power button communicates wirelessly with the television.
On older infrared remotes, the button requires a direct line of sight.
Input Button
What is the Input button on a Sony remote?
The Input button changes the video source connected to your television.
Typical inputs include:
- HDMI 1
- HDMI 2
- HDMI 3
- HDMI ARC/eARC
- AV Input
- USB Media
When should you use it?
Use the Input button when switching between devices such as:
- Tata Play
- Airtel Xstream
- Fire TV Stick
- Apple TV
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Blu-ray Player
Expert Tip
Many customers think their TV has stopped working when it is simply on the wrong HDMI input.
Home Button
What does the Home button do?
The Home button opens the Sony Smart TV dashboard.
Depending on your television, this may be:
- Android TV Home
- Google TV Home
- Sony Bravia Interface
From here you can:
- Open apps
- Change settings
- Search content
- Manage profiles
Options / Action Menu Button
What is the Options button on a Sony remote?
The Options button (called Action Menu on some models) opens a context-sensitive settings menu.
The available options change depending on what you're watching.
Examples include:
- Picture Mode
- Sound Mode
- Sleep Timer
- Subtitle Settings
- Audio Language
- Picture Adjustments
Why is it useful?
Instead of opening the full Settings menu, the Action Menu provides quick access to commonly used controls.
Guide Button
What does the Guide button do?
The Guide button opens the Electronic Program Guide (EPG).
This displays:
- Current TV programmes
- Upcoming programmes
- Channel schedules
It mainly works with DTH boxes and broadcast television.
Back Button
Returns to the previous screen or exits the current menu.
Navigation Buttons
The circular directional pad allows you to:
- Move through menus
- Select apps
- Browse settings
- Confirm selections
The centre button functions as OK or Enter.
Volume Buttons
Increase or decrease speaker volume.
Holding the button continuously changes the volume quickly.
Channel Buttons
Switch television channels.
These buttons primarily work while watching broadcast television or a connected set-top box.
Mute Button
Temporarily silences the television.
Press again to restore audio.
Voice Search Button
What does the Microphone button do?
The microphone activates Google Assistant.
Examples:
"Open YouTube."
"Play cricket highlights."
"Increase volume."
Voice search requires:
- Compatible Sony remote
- Bluetooth pairing
- Internet connection
Microphone button not responding? Follow our step-by-step Sony TV Remote Not Working troubleshooting guide before replacing your remote
Settings Button
Provides direct access to:
- Picture Settings
- Display
- Sound
- Network
- Bluetooth
- Storage
- Accessibility
Netflix Button
What does the Netflix button do?
Launches Netflix instantly without opening the Home screen.
If Netflix isn't installed, your TV may prompt you to download or sign in.
YouTube Button
Launches the YouTube application immediately.
Ideal for:
- Streaming videos
- Music
- Tutorials
- Live TV
Prime Video Button
Opens Amazon Prime Video directly.
Disney+ Hotstar Button
Available on many Sony remotes sold in India.
Launches Disney+ Hotstar with a single press.
Colored Buttons (Red, Green, Yellow, Blue)
These buttons perform different actions depending on:
- DTH service
- Live television
- Interactive menus
Their functionality varies by broadcaster.
- Related Guides -
- Sony TV Remote Complete Guide (2026) – Compatibility, replacement and buying advice.
- Sony TV Remote Not Working? – Troubleshooting pairing, button failures and Bluetooth issues.
- How to Choose the Right Sony TV Remote – Model number and compatibility guide.
- Original vs Compatible Sony TV Remote – Which one should you buy?
Frequently Asked Questions-
Why does my Sony remote have buttons I never use?
Many buttons are designed for advanced features, live television services, or specific apps that may not be used daily.
What is the Action Menu button used for?
It provides quick access to picture, sound, subtitle, and playback settings without opening the complete Settings menu.
What does the Input button do?
The Input button switches between HDMI devices, AV inputs, USB media, and other connected sources.
Why doesn't the Netflix button work?
Possible reasons include:
- Netflix app removed
- Internet unavailable
- Outdated software
- Region restrictions
Can I reprogram Sony remote buttons?
Most original Sony remotes cannot be customized. Some universal remotes allow button remapping.
Does every Sony remote have the same buttons?
No. Button layouts vary across Android TV, Google TV, Bravia XR, OLED, and older LCD televisions, although the primary functions remain similar.
Expert Advice From ANM Remotes
One of the most common misconceptions we encounter is that a replacement Sony remote is faulty because certain buttons behave differently.
In many cases, the replacement remote is working correctly—the button labels or layout simply differ between remote generations.
For example, one remote may include an Options button while another uses Action Menu to perform the same function.
Understanding these differences before purchasing a replacement helps avoid unnecessary returns and ensures you choose a remote that matches your TV's features.
Final Thoughts
Sony TV remotes are designed to make navigation faster and more intuitive, but many of their most useful functions remain under-utilised. Learning what each button does can improve your viewing experience, simplify troubleshooting, and help you choose the right replacement remote if yours is lost or damaged.
Whether you're switching HDMI inputs, adjusting picture settings through the Action Menu, or launching streaming apps with a single press, understanding your Sony remote is the first step toward getting the most from your television.
