X

Circumvent the Harmony remote device limit with this hack (pictures)

Harmony's awesome remote controls come with one big limitation: how many devices they can command. That limit is arbitrary. Here's how to get around it.

David Katzmaier
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
David Katzmaier
My_Account_Page1.png
1 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Here's how to hack a Harmony Remote to control more devices (full article).

First, connect your remote to your PC using a USB cable. Log onto your MyHarmony.com account and select your remote.

My_devices_maxed_out.png
2 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Click "Your devices" and choose an existing device to "piggy-back" the new "phantom" device you want to add. Choose a device you know will be active (powered on) during the new activity you'll create to associate with the phantom device you're adding. I chose my Panasonic TV since I know it needs to be on to watch TV via a Roku. If you're adding an audio-only device you may want to choose your AV receiver or home theater system instead.

On the next page, choose "Add or fix command."

Add_command.png
3 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Click the "Add a missing command" radio button and name the command. You'll want to use a name that corresponds to one of the remote buttons of the phantom device. To avoid confusion and repetition, and to group the new commands together, I suggest you preface this and all succeeding names with a unique designation, such as "a Roku" (the "a" floats it to the top of an alphabetical list). Hit the Next button.
Get_ready_to_teach.png
4 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Follow the instructions to "teach" the new command. The button you press on the phantom device's remote should correspond with the name you chose in Step 4. Hit the Finish button.

Repeat for every key on the phantom device's remote control. Don't forget the right/left/up/down cursor keys! Only exclude keys you're sure you'll never use.

Add_activity.png
5 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Click "Home" on the upper left and choose "Your Activities," then "Add Activity," then "Additional Custom." Hit "Next."
Name_phantom_activity.png
6 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Name the new activity, typically something related to your phantom device like "Watch Roku." Hit "Next."
New_Roku_activity.png
7 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Choose the devices your new activity will use, making sure to include the "piggy-back" device you taught the new commands for the phantom device (such as the TV). Choose the inputs as instructed, and hit "Finish."
Change_buttons.png
8 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Click "Buttons" in the upper left, click the down arrow next to the second pull-down menu (the one below "Change what a button does") and select the activity you created in Step 7.
Change_what_a_button_does.png
9 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
On the "Change What a Button Does" screen under "Device," choose the piggy-back device. Follow the instructions to assign all of those new commands to the buttons you want. Hit "OK" when finished.
Customize_buttons.png
10 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
Repeat the previous two steps, but instead use the first "Buttons" pull-down menu, the one under "Change your screen options."
Customize_activity.png
11 of 11 Screenshot by David Katzmaier/CNET
[Optional. Perform this step only if your phantom device needs to be turned on and off along with the activity. For some devices like Roku that stay "on" all the time, this step isn't necessary.] Hit "Activities" on the left menu, select the new activity and hit "Customize this activity." Under "Activity startup commands" choose "Add step," select the piggy-backed device, choose "IR Command" under "Action," and the new command for Power on your phantom device under "Value." Repeat for "Activity shutdown commands."

Sync your changes using the yellow pull-down in the upper right. You're done!

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos