DELLA Mini Split Remote Symbols & Controls Explained

You press a button, an unfamiliar symbol appears, and the mini split either changes behavior or seems to ignore the command. That usually points to an active mode, a locked control, or a feature conflict—not a failed remote.

DELLA has supplied several remote designs across its mini split lines, so the same basic symbols may come with different operating limits or button combinations. Use the explanations below to identify the function first, then match any exact sequence or temperature limit to the remote manual for your indoor unit.

What Do the Mode Symbols Mean?

The Mode button moves through the system’s main operating choices. Point the remote at the indoor unit, press Mode one step at a time, and stop when the symbol for the operation you want remains on the display.

DELLA Remote Symbol Quick Reference

Use this table to identify symbols on the DELLA RA01 remote. The RA01 remote manual shows the exact icons; layouts vary on other DELLA remotes. Operating limits are explained below.

The Snowflake Activates Cool Mode

The snowflake selects Cool mode. Set the temperature below the current room temperature, send the command toward the indoor unit, and listen for a confirmation beep. A mode change can take several minutes, so wait for the system to respond before pressing Mode again; if cooling still does not begin, compare the setpoint with the room temperature and check for a displayed error code.

The Sun Selects Heat Mode

The sun selects Heat mode on a mini split heat pump. Heating may not begin immediately after a switch from cooling, and the indoor fan can pause during automatic defrost. If the sun never appears as you cycle through Mode, confirm that the indoor and outdoor model combination includes heat-pump operation.

The Droplet Starts Dehumidify Mode

The droplet selects Dry or Dehumidify mode. The mini split manages cooling cycles and airflow to remove moisture, so temperature and fan controls may behave differently than they do in Cool mode. On DELLA RA01 remotes, Turbo and Quiet are unavailable in Dry; switch to Cool when faster temperature reduction or a manually selected comfort feature matters more than moisture removal.

Fan and Auto Work Differently

Fan mode circulates room air without calling for compressor-based heating or cooling. Auto compares the room temperature with the setpoint and chooses Cool, Heat, or Fan as needed; on the RA01 controller, each selected operation runs for at least six minutes before Auto changes it. Choose a fixed mode when you do not want the system deciding between heating and cooling.

How Do the Basic Controls Work?

The everyday controls set the target temperature, airflow speed, and air direction. A beep from the indoor unit or a change on its display confirms that the command was received; a remote-screen change alone does not always prove the unit received it.

Temperature Buttons Adjust the Setpoint

The up and down buttons change the target temperature by 1°F or 1°C per press, and holding either button scrolls through the range. On the RA01 remote, the adjustable range is 61–88°F or 16–31°C, although certain modes can narrow it. The number is the setpoint, not supply-air temperature; after the room reaches the selected temperature, an inverter compressor may slow while the indoor fan continues running.

Fan Selects the Airflow Speed

Press Fan to cycle through the speeds allowed by the active mode. A fixed setting holds the selected airflow until another feature overrides it, while Auto fan lets the indoor unit raise or lower airflow as demand changes. If the remote skips a speed or the indoor unit does not change, exit Dry, Quiet, Turbo, or another control that may be managing the fan first.

Swing Redirects the Louvers and Vanes

Swing moves the horizontal flaps, vertical vanes, or both, depending on the remote and indoor unit. On the RA01 controller, a short press starts oscillation and another press stops it; holding the airflow control for three seconds opens additional fixed-position choices. Use an upward discharge for cooling and a downward discharge for heating, and do not force a motorized louver by hand.

Turbo Temporarily Boosts Fan Performance

Turbo uses boosted fan speed to move the room toward its setpoint more quickly. It can be useful after a garage, bedroom, or home office has been left unconditioned, but it does not raise the mini split’s rated BTU capacity. On the RA01 remote, Turbo is unavailable in Dry mode; select Cool or Heat first if the Turbo icon does not appear.

What Do the Comfort Controls Do?

Comfort controls modify noise, temperature behavior, or operating time without replacing the main mode. Their exact limits matter because the same button can be available in Cool but inactive in Auto, Dry, or Fan.

Quiet Uses the Lowest Fan Speed

Quiet runs the indoor unit at its lowest supported fan speed. That reduces indoor airflow noise during sleep, calls, or television, but it also slows recovery when the room is far from the setpoint. On the RA01 remote, Quiet is unavailable in Dry mode; selecting another fan speed, Turbo, or a conflicting operating mode also ends the quiet setting.

Sleep Runs a Preset Overnight Program

Sleep follows a preset temperature program instead of holding one setpoint all night. On the RA01 controller, the program runs for 10 hours and then returns to the previously selected mode; it is unavailable in Auto, Dry, and Fan. Other DELLA remotes can use different restrictions, so a missing Sleep icon should be checked against both the active mode and the matching remote manual.

Eco Can Limit the Available Temperature Range

Eco reduces demand by limiting the setpoint range on supported controllers. With the RA01 remote, Eco works only in Cool or Heat: cooling is limited to 79–88°F and heating to 61–77°F. Press Eco again or move the setpoint beyond the Eco range to cancel it; if another remote shows different limits or allows Eco only in Cool, follow that controller’s manual rather than applying the RA01 values.

Timer Sets Automatic Startup or Shutdown

Timer can schedule one automatic start while the unit is off or one automatic shutdown while it is running. On the RA01 remote, both timers cover 0.5–24 hours, the initial value is six hours, and waiting more than five seconds between setup presses resets the process. For a start timer, choose the mode, temperature, and fan speed before confirming; the timer icon should remain visible when the setting is saved.

Why Are Some Controls Unavailable?

A control usually disappears because the active mode already manages the same temperature, compressor, or fan decision. If the indoor unit does not respond to any command, check battery polarity, replace weak batteries with the specified type, clear the signal path, and confirm that the unit has power. Before assuming a button has failed, identify the current mode and remove the setting most likely to conflict with it.

Auto Disables Sleep and Eco

Auto decides whether the room needs heating, cooling, or circulation, so the RA01 remote disables Sleep and Eco while Auto is active. Switch to Cool or Heat, wait for the indoor unit to accept the mode change, and press the comfort button again. If the icon still does not appear, confirm that the feature is printed on and supported by the remote supplied with that system.

Dry Mode Disables Turbo and Quiet

Dry manages compressor cycles and indoor airflow for moisture removal, which is why the RA01 remote blocks Turbo and Quiet in this mode. Return to Cool before requesting Turbo or Quiet, then listen for the indoor-unit beep and check that the corresponding icon remains on the remote. Do not assume that every fan or temperature choice is blocked, since those restrictions vary among DELLA controllers.

Defrost Can Pause the Indoor Fan

During cold-weather heating, the system may reverse its refrigerant cycle to clear frost from the outdoor coil. DELLA’s RA01 instructions say automatic defrost usually lasts 2–10 minutes; the indoor fan stops and Heat resumes when the cycle finishes. Leave the unit running during that interval, but investigate an error code or a much longer loss of heat instead of repeatedly changing modes.

Available Features Depend on the Remote

An icon shown on one controller does not establish compatibility with every mini split system. DELLA support lists separate manuals for different series and, in some cases, old and new remotes within the same series. Match the indoor-unit model, remote appearance, and controller model before using a button combination or ordering a replacement.

Can You Control It Without the Remote?

A missing handheld controller does not always leave the system unusable, but the alternatives depend on hardware and prior setup. Smart access works only on compatible equipment, and an existing connection is far more useful than trying to pair a unit after the remote is gone.

Smart Models Support the DELLA App

Compatible smart models can use the Della+ app for supported power, mode, temperature, and airflow controls. If the handheld controller is missing, operating the AC without a remote may still be possible when the unit is already online and linked to the account. If it was never paired, use only the approved manual control for that indoor unit or obtain the matching replacement remote.

App Schedules Manage Daily Operation

App schedules suit routines that repeat, such as cooling a home office before work or reducing bedroom output after bedtime. Select the correct unit, confirm the phone’s time zone, save the schedule, and verify that it is enabled rather than merely listed. If the event does not run, check whether the mini split AC shows online in the app before deleting and rebuilding the schedule.

Selected Models Support Voice Control

Voice control works only when the product page names a compatible voice assistant and the Della+ account has been linked to it. Use the exact room or device name registered in the app, then confirm the indoor unit responds to the command. Voice control cannot activate a mode or fan option that the connected mini split does not support.

The Product Page Confirms Compatibility

Match the model or SKU on the indoor-unit label to the exact product page before relying on Wi-Fi, app, voice, or sensor features. Look for an explicit compatibility statement and compare the pictured remote with the controller in your hand. The product page establishes which smart functions belong to the system, while the matching remote manual establishes its button sequences and mode limits.

FAQs

How Do You Switch Between Fahrenheit and Celsius?

On the DELLA RA01 remote, press and hold the center airflow button—the button marked with three wavy lines—for five seconds. The display should switch between °F and °C immediately. Other DELLA remotes can use a different button or combination, so stop if your layout does not match the RA01 illustration and use the manual for that controller.

Why Is a Lock Symbol Showing?

The lock symbol means Child Lock is active, and normal remote inputs remain disabled until it is released. On the RA01 controller, hold the Eco leaf button and Sleep moon button together for three seconds; use the same combination again to lock it. If the symbol remains, install two matching fresh AAA batteries and repeat the documented sequence for your remote model.

What Does the Vicinity Sensor Do?

The Vicinity Sensor turns the RA01 remote into a portable thermostat, sampling the temperature around it every three minutes for up to eight hours. Keep it in the occupied area and pointed toward the indoor unit so it can communicate; if its reading differs from the indoor sensor by more than 11°F, the system uses the indoor-unit reading instead. Some older controllers call this function I Feel and may use different timing.

Where Can You Find the Correct Remote Manual?

Open DELLA’s Manuals & Troubleshooting center and select the mini split series printed on the indoor-unit label. Compare the manual’s remote drawing, button layout, and model name with the physical controller before following a sequence. When the images do not match, send DELLA support clear photos of the indoor-unit label and both sides of the remote rather than guessing from a similar model.

Conclusion

Start by identifying the active mode and confirming that the indoor unit beeps when it receives a command. If a symbol or button still behaves differently from the explanation above, match the indoor-unit model and remote layout to the correct DELLA manual before resetting the system or buying a replacement controller.