How to Program the Memory Button on a Power Recliner

To program the memory button on a power recliner, first move the seat to the exact position you want. Then use your model's save action to store it. Button steps differ by recliner and controller, so check that your instructions match your chair's exact model before you press anything.

Here's one example. On our Simple Style 1-seat recliner, you adjust the recline and headrest, press the memory button once to save, and press and hold it for about 2 seconds to return to that spot. These steps show how to use the memory button on a recliner of that model, so treat them as a model-specific example, not a rule for every power seat.

Identify your model, then save a preferred position

Saving a position takes two jobs: find the instructions that belong to your chair, then set and store the position. Work through these steps in order.

1. Find the exact model name. Look at your order record, the product listing you bought from, or the model label on the chair. If you can't find a label, this video on locating a furniture manufacturer tag shows how to track one down on furniture, including recliners and power lift chairs.
2. Match the controller to those instructions. The buttons in the instructions should match the buttons on your seat, including a memory button. If the layout looks different, you have the wrong document. Find the right one before going further.
3. Set the position first. Use the recline and headrest controls to reach your viewing or lounging position. Setting the seat is not the same as saving it. The chair stores nothing until you use the save action.
4. Save with your model's save action. On the Simple Style 1-seat, that means one press of the memory button.

For our Simple Style 1-seat recliner, the full save routine is short. Adjust both the recline and the headrest until the seat feels right for a movie or a nap, then press the memory button once. Our available documentation does not confirm whether the memory feature actually stores the headrest angle or only recline movement. We sent the Simple Style orange single-seat chair to a creator for review, and that review describes one press of MEMORY as saving a favorite position, matching the same one-press step.

If you own a different chair, follow that model's own sequence. Don't assume another recliner saves the headrest along with the recline, or that its memory button works with a single press. Some seats have no powered headrest at all. Our guide to power headrest and lumbar support explains how those adjustable features differ from fixed seating.

Multi-seat setups need the same check. Our 2-seat Simple Style loveseat and 3-seat Simple Style seating each have their own listing. Use the instructions for the configuration you ordered instead of assuming the 1-seat steps carry over.

Recall the saved position—and verify overwrite behavior

On the Simple Style 1-seat, recall is a separate action from saving: press and hold the memory button for about 2 seconds, and the chair returns to your stored position. Here's how to use it.

1. Start from any other position. Recline, sit up, or move the headrest. Recall only does something when the chair is somewhere other than the saved spot.
2. Press and hold the memory button for about 2 seconds. Keep your finger on it instead of tapping.
3. Watch the chair move. It should travel back to the position you saved.
4. If nothing happens, check how you pressed. A quick single press is the save action on this model, not recall. Try again with a steady hold.

The same creator review of the Simple Style orange single-seat chair, which we supplied, describes pressing and holding MEMORY to recall the saved position. The review doesn't give a hold time, so use the roughly 2-second hold from our product instructions. On any other recliner, use the recall action from that model's instructions. A long press, a double tap, or a separate button can all be possible, and only your model's documentation tells you which one applies.

Replacing a saved position is a different question. Our Simple Style 1-seat instructions cover saving and recalling, but they don't spell out what happens when you save while a position is already stored. Check your model's written documentation for an explicit overwrite, replace, or reset step before counting on a new preset. If the written manual does not clarify how to overwrite a position on one of our chairs, contact our support team so we can confirm the exact procedure for your model.

FAQs

Can I save separate viewing and lounging positions?

That depends on your chair's controls. Our Simple Style 1-seat instructions describe one memory button with one save action and one recall action. They don't describe a second preset. For another recliner, check its manual for a second preset or numbered memory buttons before you plan on storing two setups.

Does every power recliner save the headrest in memory?

No, you can't assume that. Some recliners have no powered headrest, and memory features vary by model. On our Simple Style 1-seat, you adjust the headrest as part of the save routine. On other chairs, your model's instructions are the only reliable source for what the memory button stores.

What should I do if the memory button stops responding?

First, check that you're using the right action, such as a press-and-hold for recall instead of a tap. If the seat stopped responding after a power outage, our steps for resetting a power recliner control box cover power cycling the transformer and checking connections and fuses. If the button still does nothing, contact the chair's support line with your model name ready.

Does memory work the same on a reclining loveseat?

Not necessarily. On a loveseat, the seats may recline on their own or as a linked pair, and that changes which controls you use. Our explainer on how dual reclining loveseats work covers independent and linked reclining. Then follow the memory steps for your exact loveseat model.