If your Roku remote has stopped working, you may not need to replace it. The batteries may simply need changing, while a voice remote can lose its connection and need to be paired again.
The fix depends on which Roku remote you have. Simple remotes use infrared and don’t need pairing, while voice remotes connect wirelessly and can be paired or restarted if they stop responding. Here’s how to identify your remote and get it working again without wiping your Roku or setting everything up again.
A Roku streaming player or Roku TV
Fresh AA or AAA batteries, as marked inside the remote, or its charging cable
An iPhone or Android phone with the Roku app, optional
The easiest way to tell which Roku remote you have is to look for the voice button near the purple directional pad. It will have either a microphone or magnifying-glass icon. If your remote has one, it supports voice controls. A simple remote does not have a voice button.
Simple remotes work much like traditional TV remotes. They use an infrared, or IR, signal and need a clear path to the device. Voice remotes connect wirelessly, so they can control your Roku without being pointed directly at it.
Roku has released several voice remote models over the years, and the table below can help you figure out which one you have.
To find the right remote for your device and see how each model differs, check Roku’s remote compatibility and features comparison.
Both your Roku and the remote need to be ready before pairing can begin. If only the remote enters pairing mode, it may simply sit there flashing without connecting. How you start the process depends on whether you’re setting up a new Roku or reconnecting a remote to one you already use.
Step 1: Connect the Roku to power and turn on your TV. If you have a separate streaming player, select the HDMI input it’s connected to.
Step 2: Insert the remote’s batteries or make sure its rechargeable battery has power.
Step 3: Follow the remote-pairing instructions that appear on your TV. If pairing doesn’t begin, use the button instructions below to manually put the remote into pairing mode.
Once the remote connects, you can continue through the rest of the setup process. Our guide to setting up a Roku and connecting it to your TV covers the remaining steps.
If you still have another working remote or can control the Roku through the Roku app, you can use the pairing menu. This works when adding a replacement remote or reconnecting another compatible voice remote.
Step 1: Open Settings > Remotes & devices > Add devices > Remote > Continue.
Step 2: Put the remote you’re adding into pairing mode using the button instructions below.
Step 3: Wait for the pairing confirmation, then use the directional buttons to check that you can move around the Home screen.
You can still start the pairing process by restarting the Roku. You don’t need access to its Settings menu first.
Step 1: Unplug the Roku player or Roku TV from power. Wait at least five seconds, then reconnect it.
Step 2: Wait for the Home screen to appear, then put the voice remote into pairing mode using the instructions below.
Step 3: Keep the remote nearby while it connects. A confirmation should appear on your TV once pairing is complete.
For a remote with a pairing button, look on the back of the remote or underneath the battery cover. Hold the button for five seconds and release it when the status light starts flashing.
For a voice remote without a pairing button, hold Back + Home together for five seconds and release them when the light flashes. The Back button has a left-pointing arrow, while Home has a house icon.
Both methods start the same pairing process. If your voice remote doesn’t have a pairing button, that doesn’t mean it cannot be paired.
A Roku simple remote doesn’t have to find or remember your Roku. Once its batteries are installed, it sends a command whenever you press a button. There’s no pairing screen or connection process to wait for.
Step 1: Open the battery compartment and insert a fresh matching pair. The compartment will show whether the remote uses AA or AAA batteries and which direction they need to face. If you have a new remote that already contains batteries, remove the battery pull tab.
Step 2: Point the remote toward the front of the Roku player or Roku TV.
Step 3: Press Home and check whether the Roku responds. Simple remotes need an unobstructed view of the receiver to work properly.
You’ll also need to make sure the replacement remote is compatible with your device. The Roku Players Remote does not work with Roku TVs or Streaming Sticks. Roku sells a separate Roku TV Remote for its TVs.
If your Roku remote worked before but has stopped responding, restarting it is the next fix to try. The exact method depends on whether its batteries can be removed.
Restarting the remote won’t affect the Roku’s apps or settings. A factory reset of the Roku player or TV is a much more drastic process. It removes account information and apps and returns the Roku to its initial setup. None of the remote procedures below will do that.
Step 1: Remove both batteries from the remote.
Step 2: Press any two buttons while the batteries are out.
Step 3: Reinsert the batteries and fit the negative ends first. If you’re not sure how much charge is left, replace both with a fresh matching pair of the correct size. Roku recommends replacing all batteries together.
Step 4: Put the cover back on and test the remote. If you have a voice remote and it still isn’t connected, try pairing it again.
The Voice Remote Pro models have built-in batteries, so the restart process uses a longer button press instead.
Step 1: Hold the pairing button for 20 seconds. If your remote doesn’t have a pairing button, hold Back + Home for 20 seconds instead.
Step 2: Release the button or buttons and wait for the status light to stop flashing.
Step 3: Try using the remote again. If it still doesn’t connect, repeat the pairing process.
The length of the button press is important. Five seconds starts pairing, while the 20-second hold restarts a rechargeable remote.
If your remote is still missing button presses or refusing to connect, the problem may come down to power or the signal between the remote and Roku. A few additional checks can help narrow down what’s going wrong.
Start by checking the battery orientation and making sure nothing is blocking the front of the Roku player or TV. Even a soundbar sitting in front of the receiver can interrupt the signal. Try pointing the remote from a different angle and moving closer to the Roku.
If the remote starts working after you move something out of the way, keep the receiver exposed. Running through the pairing process won’t fix a blocked infrared signal.
Check the battery charge before trying the pairing buttons again. The Voice Remote Pro’s charging light flashes slowly while it charges and stays solid once charging finishes. A flashing light while charging therefore doesn’t necessarily mean the remote is in pairing mode.
Once the remote has power, restart both it and the Roku, then try pairing again from nearby. Other wireless electronics can interfere with the connection, so changing the position may also help if pairing keeps failing.
If you have a Streaming Stick, check the cables that came with it. Some models, including the Streaming Stick 4K+, have a wireless receiver built into the USB power cable. You cannot replace that receiver with a regular USB cable. An HDMI extender may also help move the Stick away from interference behind the TV.
If another remote or the Roku app still works, you can also check for a Roku software update. If the problem affects playback and menus as well as the remote, our Roku troubleshooting guide covers some broader checks.
If your physical remote is charging or you’re waiting for a replacement, the Roku mobile app can keep the player usable in the meantime. Its directional pad and Home button can also get you into the pairing menu.
Step 1: Install the official Roku app on your iPhone or Android phone and complete its setup.
Step 2: Connect the phone to the same home network as the Roku. The player or TV must already be turned on and connected.
Step 3: Open Devices, select your Roku, and tap Remote.
A Roku connected through Ethernet can also work, as long as it and the phone are on the same local network. If you’re using an iPhone, allow the app’s Local Network permission so it can find the Roku.
There is one important limitation to keep in mind. The app cannot take over during initial setup if the Roku hasn’t joined the network yet. If a factory-reset or disconnected Roku needs its Wi-Fi connection set up again, you’ll need a compatible physical remote for that step.
Your voice remote may work perfectly for navigating the Roku Home screen while its TV power and volume buttons do nothing. If you use a separate streaming player, those buttons may need their own TV-control setup.
Step 1: Press Home and open Settings > Remotes & devices > Remotes.
Step 2: Select your voice remote, then choose Set up remote for TV control.
Step 3: Point the remote at the TV. Make sure the TV isn’t muted, then answer the on-screen questions about whether you can hear the music.
Step 4: Test the power and volume buttons after setup finishes.
If your player connects through a soundbar or receiver, temporarily connect it directly to the TV and run through the setup again. This can help the Roku identify the TV correctly.
Some TVs support volume control but not power. HDMI-CEC is also required for supported hands-free TV power and volume commands. Depending on the TV, this setting may be called Anynet+ on Samsung models or SIMPLINK on LG models.
A voice remote needs power, compatibility with the Roku, and both devices to be in pairing mode together. A flashing light on the remote by itself doesn’t mean the Roku is ready to pair. If checking those things and restarting both devices doesn’t help, contact Roku support before replacing the hardware.
Yes, as long as the remote and Roku are compatible. The replacement-remote instructions above also work if you’re moving a voice remote from one Roku to another. A voice remote pairs with one Roku at a time, so you’ll need to pair it again if you later want to use it with the original device.
No. Restarting the remote or pairing it again won’t erase the Roku’s apps or account settings. Factory resetting the player or TV is a separate process and requires you to set the Roku up again.
Some voice remotes use infrared for the TV’s volume controls while communicating with the Roku wirelessly. Working volume buttons therefore don’t necessarily mean the remote is paired correctly. If volume works but Roku navigation doesn’t, troubleshoot the voice remote’s connection to the player.
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This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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