Don't throw out that old TV remote yet! Take a look at these projects for some ideas for repurposing it.

Ah! The TV remote! The one accessory we can’t do without, yet most of the time it’s either hiding between pillows, broken, or too old to work. So, if you own a TV, you’ve probably run through quite a handful of old TV remotes that you stash away, hoping to fix at some point. Check out nine ways to repurpose old TV remotes instead of having them fill your home with clutter.

If your job involves a lot of typing, then repetitive commands like select all, copy, and paste become monotonous, but there’s no avoiding them. Imagine having a remote you can use to perform such commands in a single click! That's exactly what making a mini wireless keyboard from an old TV remote gets you. And it can do more than perform repetitive tasks. It can open and close tabs and computer files and even be used to play your favorite game.

Apart from the TV remote, you’ll need an Arduino, IR receiver, and some jumper wires. Check out the step-wise guide on Instructables to complete this project.

Wingardium Leviosa! If you are familiar with this phrase, you’re likely a Harry Potter fan, and guess what? Using an Arduino Micro, a 3-axis gyroscope + accelerometer, slide switch, and the DIY instructions on Instructables, you can turn your old remote into a magic wand. Now you can play Harry Potter, Hermione, Ron, or any of your favorite characters in Hogwarts every time you switch a channel, adjust the volume, or perform other TV commands.

We’ve all heard of, or probably even owned, a remote-controlled car toy, but a remote-controlled paper airplane! Well, that’s pretty new, and you or anyone with little technical knowledge and an old remote can create it.

So, if you’ve been looking for interesting ways to spend the boring afternoons with the kids, this is a fun DIY project to try. Other than paper and an old TV remote, you will need a 3.7V Li-poly battery, a micro electric motor with a propeller, red LED, IR receiver, small PCB board, a couple of resistors, a capacitor, Velcro, and a few straws. Check out the build guide on Instructables to complete this project.

Speaking of remote-controlled toy cars, you don’t need to spend extra cash getting another one if you recently misplaced the remote to one. Simply convert an old TV remote into a remote car controller. Besides the TV remote and the toy car, you will need a motor controller, Arduino, infrared receiver, Altoids tin, and the easy-to-follow Instructable to build one.

Smartphones have been a game-changer, but using one before bedtime or while in bed is never a good idea. The blue light alters your sleep patterns, and if you were planning only to use it to switch off the lights or a fan at night, chances are you’ll end up on Instagram.

That's why repurposing your old TV remote into a light switch, as shown in this step-by-step guide on Instructables, is a genius idea. And it’s incredibly straightforward, with the required supplies being only an IR receiver, relay, and push-buttons or capacitative touch buttons.

Owning a robot is pretty cool. But owning one whose parts you’ve single-handedly tailored is even more satisfying. You should consider repurposing your TV remote into a robot controller. This project requires a few technical skills, but you can pull it off if you are a tinkerer. Besides, the Instructables guide breaks down everything into easy-to-follow steps, so the only thing you’ll need to worry about is the supplies and getting it together. Here are a few more DIY robotics projects you can try out.

Having a boring afternoon? Take out that old TV remote you no longer use, grab an RGB LED, and dedicate your downtime to making this TV remote-controlled color lighting system. Like most projects on our list, it capitalizes on a remote’s infrared signals to communicate with the LED, enabling you to change its color by pressing different buttons.

Besides the RGB LED, you will also need a breadboard, jumpers, Arduino Uno, laptop IR receiver, and the setup code from the detailed Instructable. While you’re at it, here are some more DIY LED projects you can try out.

Did you know you don’t need to buy a new TV remote whenever your current one fails? You can either try the fun, techy DIY projects above to convert it into a controller for something new, or you could always fix the buttons and skip the costs of buying a new one.

If the latter sounds better, you’ll be glad to know the process is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is snip a small piece of wire from a spool of copper wire, pound it flat and round using a smooth-faced hammer, disassemble the remote control, and follow all the remaining steps in the Instructables guide to fix an old TV remote’s buttons. Here are some more DIY guides on how to quick fix and continue using common devices.

Model trains are still a popular hobby for many people, from small children to grown-ups. If you are among the many hobbyists who own one, there’s no doubt you enjoy watching it take on the tracks every time.

However, operating it manually from the trackside can get boring quite fast. So, repurpose your old TV remote into a model train controller today, and watch it choo-choo away from the comfort of your couch. Your nieces and nephews will love it even more. You can easily hack this project by following the detailed guide on Instructables.

As a gadget working on infrared light, there’s so much more you can do with a TV remote than just control your TV. You can turn it into a remote light switch and comfortably turn off your lights every time you need to snooze off, or you could repurpose it into something fun like the magic wand remote or the paper airplane controller.

Although some of these projects require a little more technical knowledge, each linked Instructable comprehensively highlights the steps so that anyone, from the novice tinkerer to the expert hobbyist, can comfortably pull them off. So, don’t stash or throw away an old TV remote: repurpose it today!

Alan Blake is a passionate and proficient writer who loves exploring, learning, and sharing his findings in an engaging approach. He not only likes to keep up with SEO trends but also technology advancements. He currently works as a writer at MakeUseOf where he covers tech DIY among other niches.

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