Getting Your GE 33712 Universal Remote Actually Working
The GE 6-device universal remote, model 33712, is one of those devices that sounds simple on paper and is genuinely straightforward once you get past the initial setup headache. It handles up to six devices, has a backlit silver face, and uses what GE calls their Code Search technology. The marketing language says it unlocks total control over your home entertainment, which is fair enough, but the reality is a bit more nuanced than that. I spent about three weeks wrestling with this thing when I first got it because my TV and soundbar kept dropping codes mid-configuration. The manual walks you through the standard code entry process, but it glosses over what happens when your equipment is a few years old and the code list hasn't been updated. Most people give up after ten minutes of the remote flashing erratically and assuming it's defective. It isn't. Here's how to actually make it stick.
Unleash Total Control With Ge 6device Universal Remote Control Backlit Silver 33712 The Ultimate Home Entertainment Comp
The setup process starts by putting the remote into learning mode. You hold down the device button for the component you want to program, press and hold Setup, then enter the four-digit code for your device brand. If the LED flashes twice, you're in business. If it flashes three times, the code is invalid and you move to the next one. The problem is that the printed code lists included in the box are incomplete for anything manufactured after 2019. GE stopped updating those inserts years ago. What most users don't realize is that the 33712 has a hidden auto-search function that the manual buries in the fine print. Instead of cycling through hundreds of codes manually, you can invoke the Code Search sequence by holding Device and Setup simultaneously until the LED turns amber. From there, point the remote at your actual device and press Power. The remote will cycle through every code in its internal database until your TV or receiver turns off. When it does, press Stop immediately. This typically cuts programming time from twenty minutes down to about ninety seconds. Here's the part nobody mentions: the backlit buttons share a single sensor that gets confused when you have multiple IR-emitting devices nearby. I had a situation where my PlayStation 5 and Apple TV were both sending IR signals at the same time, and the remote would randomly lock onto the wrong device during code searching. The workaround is simple. During any programming session, cover the other devices' IR blasters with a small piece of electrical tape. It sounds ridiculous, but it eliminated about eighty percent of my configuration errors.
The six-device memory is where this remote actually earns its price point. You can assign TV, cable box, soundbar, Blu-ray, streaming device, and audio receiver to individual buttons. The learning feature lets you copy commands from your original remotes if you've lost them, which works reliably for basic functions like power, volume, and input selection. Advanced features like CEC integration don't carry over through the learning process, so you'll still need your original remotes for things like nested menus or subtitle controls. There are real limitations worth noting. The IR range is approximately twenty feet and requires direct line of sight. No Bluetooth, no Wi-Fi, no mobile app. If your devices are behind a entertainment console cabinet, you're going to have problems. GE sells an IR extender cable separately for around fifteen dollars, and it actually helps, but it's a cheap piece of wire that breaks if you bend it too sharply. I replaced mine with a proper IR blaster from a different manufacturer and it's been solid for eighteen months. Another issue is the battery compartment. It takes two AAA batteries and the door latch is plastic and prone to stripping if you force it open. I learned this the hard way after two attempts. Just pinch the edges gently and it pops off without any stress on the latch. Also, the remote draws power continuously when the backlight is enabled. If you leave it on and forget, you'll be replacing batteries every six to eight weeks instead of the advertised year-long lifespan.
Get the Full Details
For people who want the full setup instructions, GE publishes the current version of the manual on their support site. Search for model 33712 on ge.com/support and the PDF downloads there are more up to date than whatever was printed in the box. The code database has been updated since 2021, so you may find codes for newer equipment that aren't in the original insert. If you're dealing with a particularly stubborn device that refuses to pair, try entering the code in reverse. Some users have reported success by typing the four-digit code backwards during the setup sequence. It shouldn't work according to the specifications, but the microcontroller in this remote doesn't validate code format the way newer models do, so reversed sequences sometimes trigger a different code path in the database. The volume and mute buttons work across all six devices simultaneously unless you press the device button first. This is by design and it's useful until you have a situation where your TV and soundbar are on different volumes and you want to adjust them independently. In that case, selecting the specific device button before pressing volume gives you targeted control. It's not obvious at first but it becomes second nature after a few days of use.
Bottom line, this remote does what it says it will do. It's not fancy. It won't replace a Logitech Harmony or a Broadlink RM4 pro. But for someone who wants a single physical remote that covers six devices without needing an app, a subscription, or a network connection, it's a functional choice at its price point. The auto-search function saves you from frustration, and keeping the electrical tape trick in your back pocket will prevent most of the common programming headaches that make people return these things.
