If you’re looking for a way to make the most out of your Vizio TV and its integration into your home theater setup, a universal remote for Vizio TVs is the way to go. Whether you want a secondary remote in case the one that came with your TV goes missing, or you want a remote with additional functionality so that you don’t have to keep track of more than one for your various audio-visual components, there are many options available that meet your needs.

If you're looking for a versatile option, the Vizio Universal Remote works with a variety of Vizio TV models, meaning that if you decide to upgrade or have more than one Vizio TV, you can control all your Vizio products with one remote.

Infrared, or IR connection, uses pulses of infrared light to transmit data between two wireless devices. Bluetooth connectivity transmits data wirelessly between two devices on a specific radio frequency of 2.4GHz. Even though some remotes for devices such as the Amazon Firestick or the Apple TV use Bluetooth to pair, most universal remotes use infrared connection. Sometimes they will use the HDMI connection between the TV and a device, such as a Blu-ray or DVD player, to connect to that device.

Some universal remotes allow you to access the app screen within your smart TV. This makes it easy to set up new channels or streaming services, especially if they are installed on more than one TV controlled by a single universal remote.

Some universal remotes have a control center or info function, which is like a dashboard for all of your devices in one menu. In general, even if your remote does not have this, you should be able to set all the common menu functions of your TV through your universal remote. Most universal remotes for smart TVs have shortcut buttons for commonly-used streaming services and apps such as Netflix, Amazon and Xumo. Additionally, you can often add a numerical device code to your universal remote which matches the electronic device or media player of your choosing. These codes are generally listed in the owner's manuals of each device. There is generally also an automatic function to scan for devices and "learn" them without manually adding them.

Some remotes come with a variety of functions, allowing you to choose one based on how many devices you need to control. This is especially useful if you have a DVD player and CD player, or some other combination of media players. The only instance in which you might not be able to use a universal remote is with some gaming consoles.

Most universal remotes allow you to control not only the TV volume but also the volume of any connected media player.

Most universal remotes have a backlighting function, and may also have glow-in-the-dark buttons.

Most universal remotes run off of either AA or AAA batteries. You can use rechargeable batteries if you’d like.

Universal remotes for Vizio TVs range in price from about $7-$50.

A. Yes. This generally works by connecting via HDMI.

A. Check to see if your universal remote has a shortcut button to those apps. Even if it does not, you'll still be able to page through the main screen of your Vizio Smart TV to find the app you want.

Vizio Universal Remote: available at Amazon

Our take: This easy-to-use Vizio remote connects to most Vizio TV models and has programmable shortcut buttons.

What we like: It connects from a distance of up to 12 feet. The buttons are soft-click and durable.

What we dislike: Some users had trouble programming the shortcut buttons. Other users found the remote would work sporadically if the batteries were low.

Philips Universal Remote: available at Amazon

Our take: This affordable universal remote can control up to six devices, depending on the model selected.

What we like: It comes in a few different color choices and has a range of up to 30 feet.

What we dislike: Some Roku users had trouble using it for all Roku functions. Its light weight makes it feel slightly flimsy and cheap to some.

XRT136 Universal Remote: available at Amazon

Our take: This remote uses one key to access shortcuts to various apps, including Netflix and Amazon.

What we like: The buttons are very fast and there is little delay. It's easy to set up with minimal programming.

What we dislike: Some users find the back of it hard to open for battery insertion, while others found that the buttons tend to stick.

GE Universal Remote: available at Amazon

Our take: This versatile backlit remote can control up to eight devices depending on the model.

What we like: For older TVs and devices, it can be programmed by automatically finding device codes. It works with Amazon Firestick via HDMI.

What we dislike: Depending on which app you're in, there is no back button. Some users cannot change the input of their TV.

Adrian Wengenroth is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

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