How To Program One For All Essential 6 (URC3661) Remote

The One For All Essential 6 is more than just a universal remote; it’s a command center for your entire home entertainment system. Capable of controlling up to six devices—from your TV and soundbar to a streaming box and Blu-ray player—it is designed to consolidate your setup with a host of powerful, user-friendly features.

This guide is structured as a masterclass, taking you from the foundational setup of your individual devices to the advanced features that will truly streamline your experience. Before you can unlock the advanced features, you must first teach the remote which devices you own. There are two primary methods for this.

Program Essential 6 Remote using SimpleSet Method for Popular Brands

This is the most efficient way to program the majority of common device brands.

1. Turn on your device (e.g., your TV).
2. Press the corresponding Device key on the Essential 6 remote (e.g., TV).
3. Hold down the SETUP key until the LED under the device key blinks twice.
4. Find your brand in the extensive SimpleSet lists in your manual and note the digit assigned to it.
5. Press and hold that digit on the remote.
6. The remote will now send a command every three seconds (Power for most devices, Play/Pause for streaming boxes). The moment your device reacts by turning off or pausing, you must release the digit.
7. The LED will blink twice, and your device is now programmed.

Expert Tip: If some keys don’t work as expected after setup, simply repeat the process. The remote will automatically try the next code in its memory for that brand.

How To Program Essential 6 Remote Using Direct Code Entry Method

If your brand is not on the SimpleSet list, this manual method provides a precise alternative.

1. Turn on your device.
2. Locate the four-digit code for your device and brand in the code list included with your remote’s manual or starting of this article.
3. Press the appropriate Device key on the remote.
4. Hold down the SETUP key until the LED blinks twice.
5. Enter the four-digit code. The LED will blink twice on the last digit.
6. Test the Power key. If it works, your setup for that device is complete. If not, try the next code in the list for your brand.

Streamlining Your Experience with Activities

This is the most powerful feature of the Essential 6. An Activity allows you to group multiple devices into a single, intuitive mode. For example, in a “Watch TV” activity, the volume keys can control your soundbar while the channel keys control your set-top box, all without ever changing device modes.

How to Set Up and Customize Activities

The remote has three Activity modes: Watch TV, Listen To Music, and Watch Movie. Each has a default combination of devices but can be customized to your specific setup. If you have programmed the default devices for an Activity (e.g., a TV, STB, and Audio device), it will be set up automatically. To change the combination:

1. Hold the SETUP key until the LED under the device key blinks twice.
2. Press the Activity key you wish to set up (e.g., Watch TV).
3. Press the number of the combination you want to use (see your manual for the full list, e.g., press 3 for TV + AUDIO).
4. The LED will blink twice and your new Activity is stored.

What is Learning Function and How to Use it

You can copy any function from your original, working remote.

1. Press the Device key for the device.
2. Hold SETUP until the LED blinks twice, then press 975.
3. Press the key on the Essential 6 where you want to store the function.
4. Press the corresponding key on your original remote. A double blink confirms success.
5. When finished, hold SETUP until the LED blinks twice to save.

How To Set Volume Lock: Centralize Your Audio Control

To make the volume keys always control a single device (like a soundbar):

1. Hold SETUP until the LED blinks twice, then press 993.
2. Press the device key for your audio device (e.g., AUDIO).
3. The LED will blink twice. Volume is now locked to that device.

Steps To Create Channel Shortcuts on the Coloured Keys

You can program the Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue keys to cycle through a list of your favorite channels. For owners of specific TV brands, there are also dedicated replacements, like the One For All Samsung remote, which has its own pre-programmed app shortcut keys.

1. Select the device you use for watching TV (e.g., STB).
2. Hold SETUP and a colored key (e.g., Red) until the LED blinks twice.
3. Enter your first favorite channel number (e.g., 200).
4. Press and release the same colored key (Red).
5. Enter the next channel number (e.g., 201).
6. Repeat for up to 10 channels per key. When finished, hold the SETUP key to save.

Conclusion

The One For All Essential 6 (URC 3661) is a truly comprehensive control solution for any home theater. By moving beyond the initial device setup and taking the time to configure its powerful Activities, Volume Lock, and shortcut features, you can transform a collection of individual devices into a single, seamlessly integrated system.