What must be confirmed if a remote control is not working properly?

To ensure a remote control is functioning properly, one critical aspect to confirm is that the batteries are fully functional. Remote controls rely on batteries to provide the necessary power to send signals to the devices they control. If the batteries are drained or not installed correctly, the remote will not transmit any signals at all, leading to functionality issues.

Verifying the battery status is essential because a remote control cannot operate without a sufficient power supply. Even if the remote appears to be in the proper position or the device it is controlling is turned on, these factors become irrelevant if the batteries are dead or faulty. Therefore, checking the batteries first is a fundamental troubleshooting step in diagnosing any issues with a remote control.