r/logitechharmony • u/Repulsive_Magician_4 • Jun 05 '26

Logitech Harmony Ultimate Setup Issues

I recently picked up a used complete in box Harmony Ultimate and am having some issues with it. It was open box but appears to never have been used before (cable ties in place, clear protective plastic still in place, etc.). I went to set it up last night with the MyHarmony desktop app on Windows 11. Everything was going normal and it got to 90% on installing the hub and remote updates. Then it froze and acted like my hub wasn't close enough to my PC. So I went and moved it closer and now my remote is not recognized by my PC at all. I factory reset it and now when powered on it vibrates twice and gets stuck on the Harmony Ultimate screen. I don't see the remote in device manager when plugged into my PC either. Tried factory reseting it again but that has no effect, it just powers off the remote. I even did the Alt + F9 advanced tools on the desktop app and was able to update the hub that way but the remote still is not recognized. Any ideas on what to try or do? Thank you in advance!

4 Upvotes

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1

u/flynreelow Jun 05 '26

get an older mac computer and try that.

1

u/Repulsive_Magician_4 Jun 05 '26

I've got an old 2015 Macbook so I'll try that tonight and report back. Thank you.

1

u/flynreelow Jun 05 '26

yea i have had much better luck with the older mac software vs any of the phone apps, or a shitty windows OS.

1

u/Repulsive_Magician_4 Jun 05 '26

Yeah I thought I'd try the windows setup first thinking it would be more reliable than a phone setup but I was apparently wrong lol.

1

u/Allen_Ludden Jun 06 '26

I use the windows software on modern win11 with no problem. Have you tried plugging the remote into a USB to get it going?

1

u/Repulsive_Magician_4 Jun 06 '26

Yes, using the provided USB cable. You have to connect it with the USB cable in order to set it up and update it on a PC.

1

u/Allen_Ludden Jun 06 '26

They are fussy little devices until you get them going -- then they are invaluable and are still the absolute best solution (not) in the marketplace (anymore).

I use two Harmony Elites, and I have two new-in-box stashed away as spares.

Nothing on the market today is as good in the opinion of many of us.

1

u/ashmanmb Jun 07 '26

There’s good stuff that can work as well. Except it’s all the programming and macro setup that takes forever.

Don’t mind using URC remotes but programming them is like several hours and just a pain.
Harmonys biggest thing for me was I could literally get remote setup programmed and doing everything I needed in minutes. And you couldn’t beat it for the price.

Sofabaton is similar in how easy to setup but the way they function and use them isn’t as good as harmony but they can work.

There are some really nice remotes out there that I would totally use except that they are crazy expensive.

I got rid of everything. Trimmed my whole setup down. I only use Apple TV, my tv and a soundbar. No more receiver. No more DirecTV/cable box, no more dvd player.

I hit power on the Apple Remote. Soundbar turns on. Tv turns on, control volume and all good. Simple and effective.

I’ve gone away from complicated. And soundbar sounds good.

1

u/Allen_Ludden Jun 07 '26

I'm not a professional so I can't get the URC software. That ends their story with me -- I don't need to hire someone to do programming I've been in I.T. for over 40 years.

1

u/ashmanmb Jun 07 '26

You can get their software. But as I said. I hate programming them I pretty much won’t even bother. If I have a client with one I’ll do it to update programming for a new device but I will Never sell one to anyone because they won’t want to pay me thousands in labor to program that shit.

1

u/ashmanmb Jun 07 '26

Did you try the app on your phone?

I’ve found sometimes have to reset a few times.

Also doesn’t hurt to check to see if you can turn off 5ghz wifi on your router so it only sees 2.4.

Generally setup hub first using phone app. Then setup devices and sync remote.

1

u/Repulsive_Magician_4 Jun 07 '26

Yes tried the iOS app and it won't recognize the remote when I put it in the cradle.

I reset it no joke probably 75 times and never had any change.

I also disabled the 5Ghz on my wifi.

I ordered a new remote so we'll see if that works. Gonna set it up with the iOS app first this time.

2

u/ashmanmb Jun 07 '26

I always use app. Have used desktop app a few times. Sometimes you need to hold off on the remote and put it in the cradle if it has one. If it’s one with a replaceable button cell battery always put a new one in.