MCE remote controls: Difference between revisions

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Home icon grey.png   ▶ General topics ▶ MCE remote controls
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In XBMC the primary environment was designed for the living room (10-foot interface) and controlling it only with a remote control. While XBMC does support mouse, keyboard, and even touch controls, the remote control is typically how the GUI is designed around.

This is why XBMC doesn't currently do things like dragging and dropping icons and things within its windows, since a remote control can't really do that. XBMC is still evolving, and using XBMC on touch screens, and other "2-foot interface" situations are causing XBMC to gain new ways to interface with it. While the "remote is king" is still true, XBMC will continue to add new ways to control it, so watch out for exciting new versions in the future.

MCE remotes

MCE remotes are the cheapest and easiest remotes to use with XBMC. They are readily available in most computer hardware stores and there are many available at eBay from far eastern sources.


MCE remotes typically come with a usb IR receiver, making them the very good first remote. Because MCE remotes are so cheap, they are often cheaper than a standalone IR receiver, so people often buy them to use the receiver with a All in One remote.


XBMC (v10.0 and later) is set up so that most buttons on an MCE remote work straight away with no editing or setting up. Just connect the receiver and away you go.

MCE remotes split into two main categories:

  • MCE remotes that send keystrokes
  • Windows remotes with (also known as RC6 or eHome remotes) using the Microsoft eHome device driver to send commands


For more details on MCE remotes see: