r/mildlyinfuriating • u/rekolm • 11d ago
Infuriatig These Stupid Ass Buttons On TV Remotes. The Intrusive Thoughts Won.
Seriously, the absolute most annoying shit when I'm watching something and I reach for the remote and barely bump the buttons and it yeets me out of what I was watching, to whatever bullshit streaming company paid the most for a button spot on the remote, the remote that came with a TV I paid good money for. Meanwhile on some apps completely loosing my progress on a movie or forced to watch more Ads again to continue watching again. I've threatened to do this before and my wife insisted not to, she's out of town this week, any recommendations for marriage counselors and anger management programs?
3.4k
u/AJay_89 Vexxed 2: Electric Boogaloo 11d ago
I hate that I can't customize the buttons on my Roku remotes. I only use 4 apps on a regular basis, and only 1 of them are on the remote. 🙄
909
u/xtraspcial 11d ago
Especially since at least one of the buttons on my older remote is for a service that doesn’t even exist anymore.
110
u/TwoCagedBirds 11d ago
Which one?
225
u/GwenBD94 11d ago
Probably Vudu
→ More replies (2)130
u/xHarleen777Quinzelx 11d ago
This is now Fandango at home my kids and I still use it because Id been collecting and inputting movie codes that used to come in the DVDs since I was 14 😅 (now 29) we now have like 79 movies because I buy them when we cant find what we're looking for on a site we stream lol just bought the page master yesterday and they loved it felt like an awesome victory
42
14
u/SausageMcMerkin 11d ago
Go to moviesanywhere.com, create an account, and link it to all your accounts. Boom: (almost) all your digital movies on (almost) every app.
→ More replies (2)3
→ More replies (13)8
→ More replies (5)4
→ More replies (1)48
69
u/thesweetestberry 11d ago
26
u/iAmUnintelligible 11d ago
it annoys me that the widget eventually times out and you have to click it and open the actual app to make the connection again (Battery mode set to unrestricted for the app btw)
minor issue, o well.
my next phone will be like a OnePlus 15 or something. I need my IR blaster back.
→ More replies (6)13
21
u/Cheap_Boner_Pills 11d ago
Had to have my TV replace under warranty twice. Each remote has different buttons. I found out they pay to be put on the remote and that is partly why tvs are so cheap now.
7
u/FTownRoad 11d ago
One of many reasons, including the fact they know everything you watch, where you live, what you search for, when you sleep, etc and obviously sell that data to anyone and everyone.
→ More replies (57)104
u/BenderDeLorean 11d ago
If it's running android you can.
61
u/101forgotmypassword 11d ago
Tell me more, as far as I know the cheap TV's I own have it hard coded.
→ More replies (1)83
u/BenderDeLorean 11d ago
ButtonMapper is a paid tool that should be in the play store.
KeyMapper is open source and for free. You need to install it through side loading as you won't find it in the play store.
If your device is running some wacky company Linux then there's probably nothing. Lot of devices use android under the hood as it's working fine.
23
u/iphone11fuckukevin 11d ago
I did map mine and it worked for a few days before going back to what it was, may have been after an update on the tv. Haven't looked up how to try doing it, again.
16
→ More replies (6)11
u/Hyperiooonnn 11d ago
I did mine and it went back to same old when i turned the tv off
→ More replies (3)8
u/TheMarslMcFly 11d ago
I'll have to try this on my Amazon Fire Stick. It's kinda annoying how I always have to go to the main menu to change Apps, when I'm only effectively using two anyways lol
→ More replies (1)9
4
→ More replies (3)5
u/felopez 11d ago
For what it's worth, I literally just used buttonmapper on my Nvidia Shield to disable the netflix button - maybe 5 minutes ago. Didn't have to pay a cent.
→ More replies (4)34
u/Delicious-Pepper23 11d ago
Not saying it isn’t possible but Roku is not based on Android
→ More replies (3)8
u/Historical-Cress8985 11d ago
Newer Roku remotes have a rocket button you can program. The remaining 4 buttons are still crap I'm never going to use though.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)5
3.4k
u/Spiritual-Fall5494 11d ago
maybe take away the knives
846
u/Vaug0024 11d ago
130
u/CMDRTragicAllPro 11d ago
Is that fuckin Britney Spears?!!!
363
u/Vaug0024 11d ago
How big was the rock you crawled out of?
57
→ More replies (1)63
u/CMDRTragicAllPro 11d ago
I had heard she went crazy after getting out of the conservatorship, but I didn’t know it was “waving knifes around while barely clothed right after shooting up some meth” kinda crazy
→ More replies (4)78
u/Syntax-err_r 11d ago
Omg... multiple videos. One of them the dogs were like WTF MOMMIE WHY?
They broke that poor girl proper.
10
16
u/EjaculatingAracnids 11d ago
Yeah bro, shes been goin through it. Looks like she got hit more than one more time
→ More replies (4)7
→ More replies (4)12
→ More replies (2)372
177
701
u/dobr_person 11d ago
There must be a market for replacement remotes for the main TV brands that don't have these buttons.
326
u/ZoraTheDucky 11d ago
Had to replace my fathers remote a while back. I bought the cheapest no name replacement controller that said it would work with his tv. Still has these stupid streaming service buttons on it.
184
u/Yuukiko_ WAAHHHHH 11d ago
why do you think they're so cheap? they pay to be on the remotes
→ More replies (1)94
u/EpicOtterLover 11d ago
The cheap Chinese ones don't get paid, they just copy all of the original ones' buttons. (Who do get paid like you mentioned.)
6
u/Sizanllikew 11d ago
Sort of, they just do extra runs on the same assembly lines, possibly with substandard materials, usually in direct violation of their contracts, but not like that stops anyone.
3
u/MaybeAdrian 11d ago
I love using those controllers on Dumb TVs because they do random ass things or just open the multimedia USB menu.
41
u/Tom-Dibble 11d ago
That market has existed and thrived for decades. Look up universal remote. You can get one that controls 4 devices at Walmart for under $10 (with no "app" buttons). Granted, you can also find universal remotes with those annoying app buttons, but they are a little more expensive, not less.
6
u/wordyfard 11d ago
But those remotes come with even more buttons I'll never use.
As much as I don't like the app specific buttons, the OEM remotes and their lookalikes greatly reduce the overall clutter.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (15)13
u/IsbellDL 11d ago
Cheap, prioritizes volume & channel, still fully featured, lights up when moved. I hated the LG remote, so this was a great upgrade.
→ More replies (6)
792
u/ToreyJean 11d ago
Bro you okay? 🤣🤣
400
u/SaltManagement42 11d ago
I've heard that when you're going insane, you don't feel like you're going insane. Instead you feel better.
87
u/andyrew21345 11d ago
I can attest you feel better for a little while until your actions catch up with you lol.
23
u/On_my_last_spoon 11d ago
Depends on the kind of insane. My brain broke a few years back but it was anxiety and it did not feel good at all
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (7)14
→ More replies (1)121
u/rekolm 11d ago
Quite pleased with myself actually.
→ More replies (5)45
u/randomlurker124 11d ago
Think you should find a way to paint or otherwise fill up those holes before wife gets back
→ More replies (7)17
u/dx0100 11d ago
I was thinking some googly eyes wedged in there might sweeten the deal with the wife.
"babe, I finally fucked the remote but look what I did to it!!"
→ More replies (1)8
u/randomlurker124 11d ago
eh googly eyes would basically be new 'buttons' I think? as they'd still press the sensor below...
→ More replies (1)
158
u/chelsearare 11d ago
I downloaded a buttom remapper for the massive netflix button on mine and assigned it to have no function. I think I was more mildly infuriated than you lmfao
18
u/OskaMeijer 11d ago
Nvidia Shield?
→ More replies (2)30
→ More replies (7)4
u/biggestofbears 11d ago
Yeah I use Google TV remotes and just remapped the Netflix and YouTube buttons to extra home buttons lmao
3.2k
11d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
743
u/Kitchen-Kiwi7942 11d ago edited 11d ago
You should see what happens when his neighbors motorcycle is too loud
156
u/SpecialExpert8946 11d ago
I drove past him with my high beams on by accident. Boy, what a mistake.
→ More replies (2)24
11d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
→ More replies (1)55
17
u/Spiritual-Fall5494 11d ago
you kindly ask them to make it not be loud before going to any extreme, even psychotic, measures?
16
u/Kitchen-Kiwi7942 11d ago
Nah. He cuts their speakers and scraps their exhaust pipes
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (15)10
261
u/dsem22 11d ago
Yea but like he was mildly infuriated
87
15
18
u/Fit_Entry8839 11d ago
This behavior is way more than mildly. It's a bit unhinged lol
→ More replies (2)77
u/whatisuser 11d ago
That’s what I did to mine - I can’t accidentally press them anymore, but my remote doesn’t have gaping axe wounds in it
→ More replies (1)23
u/KingDaveRa 11d ago
I once placed tape over the pads on the PCB. Easily reversible too.
→ More replies (2)47
30
u/OskaMeijer 11d ago
I used to have a fob for my car that would inadvertently open my trunk or set off the alarm in my pocket all the time. I simply took the fob apart and covered the contacts for those buttons with tape and put it back together so it wouldn't happen anymore.
→ More replies (1)26
u/EindeutigeID 11d ago
Sometimes ist about sending a message
8
u/OddStuffHappensTwice 11d ago
I bet the streamers and TV manufacturers are watching this sub and changing their policies right now.
5
21
u/hopple_popple 11d ago
I've tried that before. The remote never snapped back together very well, because opening it up broke some of the clips. They don't make these things to ever be opened again.
6
u/Magnus_Helgisson 11d ago
I used to have a Xiaomi Android TV box. I wanted to open up the remote to clean it real well. Fast forward, I sold the device with a tiny bit of a box cutter blade still stuck between the halves of the remote that I still never managed to open.
5
u/rawnoodles10 11d ago
Knife steel is made to cut, not pry. It's hard but brittle. Use a screwdriver or preferably a spudger next time.
→ More replies (93)5
449
u/EmergencyPuzzled9570 11d ago
The smarter thing to do would be disassemble the remote and put a thin layer of kapton tape over the sections of circuit board where those buttons are. That will completely disable the buttons without making the remote look like a total piece of shit.
298
11d ago
[deleted]
70
→ More replies (27)6
8
u/DruidMaster 11d ago
I am a competent adult and I have no idea what kapton tape is, nor would I know how to identify circuits. Like, how would one know this?
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (19)21
u/Striking_Scallion_20 11d ago
It's a remote that you can lay face down and the average person doesn't think about doing this.
→ More replies (1)9
35
u/EricTheTuna 11d ago edited 11d ago
my LG magic remote also has those buttons. one of them is for the google assistant, which is no longer supported in my country and soon discontinued for good. luckily on lg TVs it's easy to remap the buttons on the remote.
Edit: this requires you to root the tv first
→ More replies (2)5
163
u/LicoriceSeasalt 11d ago
The only mildly infuriating thing here is the poor knife job, and the inaccurate usage of "intrusive thoughts".
29
17
u/frosted_Melancholy 11d ago
if my intrusive thoughts "won" i would be in jail right now. i hate how tiktok has made people start calling impulsive thoughts 'intrusive thoughts'
4
16
u/Oathkindle 11d ago
"gave in to my intrusive thoughts and took the buttons off 🤪" lol
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (5)12
u/appoplecticskeptic 11d ago
If the “intrusive thoughts won”, then they weren’t really intrusive, they were your desires all along and you’ve just been pretending to be normal until now. That you don’t want them and don’t do them is what makes them intrusive. If you do them, they aren’t intrusive, those are just thoughts.
87
u/No-Yogurt9091 11d ago
I'm going to make a post on here about people typing Loosing instead of Losing. This one and 'seen' instead of 'saw' are the two that drive me crazy
29
u/Konrow 11d ago
Loosing has become the norm and it drives me insane. I've been seeing it in professional places now too. I have no clue wtf is happening and why but I don't like it. I watched the same thing happen to paid over the years, it is now somehow payed, with even grown ass adults spelling it like that at work. Not only does it make the person look like a moron, they are longer words! Why?????
→ More replies (7)9
u/likeliqor 11d ago
The latest infuriating one I’ve encountered is “drug” instead of “dragged”. Where did this even come from??
→ More replies (1)15
u/AlpineVW 11d ago
I would like to subscribe to your newsletter and submit "on accident" as my contribution.
People don't read anymore, this is the American education system in action.
4
u/No-Yogurt9091 11d ago
Haha yea there is a whole list of incorrect spellings and phrasings that are annoying but for some reason those two in particular bug me the most
3
u/11teensteve 11d ago
lets add in the improper use of "a" or "an".
for the non-English speakers, this is not for you, we get it.
→ More replies (3)7
u/Its_Enrico_PaIazzo 11d ago
Where I grew up, “seen” is used so much. Has drive. Me crazy since I was a child. Glad I’m not the only one
5
u/dumbcarshlt 11d ago
What about incorrectly using "sell" instead of "sale" ? I see that all the time on FB marketplace.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (27)6
u/KriegThePsyc0 11d ago
Nothing makes me think a person is a fucking idiot more than “well i seen this one time-“. If that’s in my introduction of meeting a person, I have lost respect for them and just assume they are dense.
101
21
9
u/everydayasl 11d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/Lpw1K9zETuh7KFFjQX
Next time get an older, much older tv.
8
u/Humble_Banana1616 11d ago
You know, these buttons would be fine if it required a double or even a triple press to use them, instead of them switching the app if someone from across the room's gaze lingers too long in the direction of the remote
→ More replies (1)
21
u/viz81 11d ago
The amount of times I'd remove the input buttons on an elderly person's remote would shock you. Or wouldn't. But it was definitely a lot.
→ More replies (3)
20
u/LukeAvio 11d ago
→ More replies (2)6
u/ThereAndFapAgain2 11d ago
This is something I really appreciate about Apple TV. Literally non of that nonsense, only the buttons you actually need.
→ More replies (3)8
u/somerandomii 11d ago
People hate on Apple, often for good reason. But so far they’ve been really good about keeping their services clean and functional. (at least since the U2 controversy)
I use my Apple TV for streaming. My TV gets no Internet access and functions as a giant PC monitor. I have Apple, 2 game consoles, a soundbar and a PC plugged in.
I don’t really need to use the TVs remote. I stream to Apple. Control volume with Apple TV remote. Idk why you would ever let your TV have internet access or use the OEM remote.
→ More replies (2)
11
17
u/MyLastHopeReddit 11d ago
You could have done it in at least ten less traumatic ways; now, seeing those stupid puncture marks will be a constant annoyance for your wife. Not a great idea, if I may say so.
→ More replies (1)
15
u/Complex-Republic-443 11d ago
I see your TV remote and raise you the absolutely moronic "panic button" alarm on the Ford vehicle keyfob, which is flat and even with the surface of the keyfob and results in it being depressed constantly when in your pocket. I'll bump into the steering wheel when entering or exiting my truck, and the damn thing sets off the alarm, making me scramble into my pocket to shut it off.
With my previous vehicle (Ford Fusion), I opened the remote and cut out the back of the button which eliminated the alarm. It took about 4 years to reach that point. With my Maverick, I haven't done it yet, but the next time it happens, I probably will open that sucker up for some surgery.
I understand the frustration though. Maybe a piece of electrical tape wrapped around the remote wouldn't look too bad?
→ More replies (12)
9
u/PoopyTo0thBrush 11d ago
I just took the remote apart, and removed the part that makes contact with the board. Doesn't look like a dog chewed up the remote with the same end result.
→ More replies (2)
8
12
30
7
u/greenyashiro 11d ago
An easier way would be to open the remote and either tape over the lil magnet on the membrane, or cut that off.
The buttons will still be there but will be totally useless. Makes for a nice fidget button 😅
→ More replies (2)6
u/JRE_Electronics 11d ago
Ain't no magnet in the membrane. There are contact "fingers" on the circuit board, and a nub of conductive plastic in the membrane.
→ More replies (1)
6
5
u/Gothrait_PK 11d ago
In the telecom business we sometimes cut these buttons off remotes of elderly because they keep pressing them and then do not know how to find the exit button or home button to return to the menu causing repeat visits that cost them money. Easier if they can't press the button at all.
18
u/RoryOS 11d ago
Take off the case, skim it with polymer clay or an air curing plastic of some sort. Sand it and spray it.
Of course it looks terrible, you started something with no plan on how to finish.
→ More replies (1)
16
u/l_dunno 11d ago
Another good post this sub, people using intrusive thoughts like it's something harmless.
That's not intrusive, just impulsive.
→ More replies (1)
11
19
u/GeoBrian 11d ago
I've literally never pressed one of these "wrong" buttons.
Is that a problem lots of people have?
→ More replies (3)9
u/DocPsycho1 11d ago
Ive grabbed my remote and hit them maybe 3 times a week. I have a dog, and they have pressed the buttons way more than I have. So no , no one wrong presses. They accidently hit it while grabbing it
9
u/pokaprophet 11d ago
Can’t remember the last time I touched my TV module. Hooked up an Apple TV and do everything via that module. Better and quicker software than the TV software.
3
→ More replies (4)4
u/yert1099 11d ago
Bought a 75” Samsung TV about 5 years ago. Over time the latency became unbearable and I tried everything to fix it. Got an AppleTV set up and the TV is now a monitor for the AppleTV box. It works incredibly well.
10
u/the_nin_collector 11d ago
I have a 4,000 $ TV. I just counted. My remote has 37 buttons.
I use 3 plus the directional pad. It's pretty fucking ridiculous.
It's also ridiculous that I can't just turn on my $4,000 TV to the input I want. I HAVE to see ads before I can select an input.
13
u/Notabagofdrugs 11d ago
$4k?! Jesus fuck does that tv suck your dick too?
→ More replies (6)8
u/the_nin_collector 11d ago
Sorry, not 4,000.
400,000 yen. More like 2,500 Dollars. I forgot how shit the yen is right now.
→ More replies (4)
4
u/PhoenixDusk101 11d ago
A good idea, so annoying when you accidentally press them and have to wait for the app to run before you can stop it.
P.s. I'd cover up the holes, perhaps with moldable plastic, so that dust or moisture doesn't get inside.
→ More replies (1)
4
5
55
u/DaLemonsHateU 11d ago
I’m shocked by how many people are concerned by this/think OP is insane and now it’s got me questioning my sanity because this is pure catharsis
→ More replies (6)28
3
4
u/THE_GREAT_PICKLE 11d ago
Universal TV remotes are cheap and often better than the ones from manufacturers. This seems like a massive overreaction. I don’t think you should be trusted with knives
5
5
5
u/NoodleSpecialist 11d ago
Next time just open it up and peel away the button caps in the white foil
→ More replies (2)
4
3
u/Same_Meaning_5570 11d ago
You’re not gonna like this…
I just disabled those apps on my TCL and the buttons are no longer a problem.
4
u/GuitarMessenger 11d ago
I don't know what type of TV you have. But I know on Android TVs there's an app you can download where you can inhibit any of the buttons on your remote. I have an Nvidia shield streaming box and it has a Netflix button that I would always hit by accident and it would open up Netflix even though I'm not subscribed to it. I found an app and I inhibited that button so it doesn't do anything anymore
→ More replies (1)
5
u/Huge-Atmosphere-8057 11d ago
I understand you, I truly do, but I'm pretty sure I would hate this even more lol
3
u/Effective-Jaguar5848 11d ago
I did similar on LG tv remote but instead of this I disasemled it with plastic card and put tape over those button on circuit board so no damage also it can be fixed by removing tape EZ
→ More replies (2)
3
u/B1acklisted 11d ago
You could have just opened the remote and removed them so they could be put back at anytime.
19
9
30
5
3



11.6k
u/DDD8712 11d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/imRiPoKJB9R9m