You want to connect your Roku remote, but there is no pairing button to press. A simple infrared remote needs no pairing, while a voice remote, identified by a microphone or magnifying-glass button, connects wirelessly. Start with the setup that matches your remote, then work through the battery, app, and compatibility checks if it still does not respond.
Start with the simple remote setup
For a compatible simple infrared remote, setup takes three steps.
- 1.Insert fresh matching batteries, or remove the battery pull tab.
- 2.Clear any obstruction between the remote and the front of your compatible Roku player or Roku TV.
- 3.Point the remote directly at the front of the device.
If you have a voice remote and no working controller
Disconnect your Roku player or Roku TV from power.
Wait at least five seconds.
Reconnect power.
Wait for the Roku's Home screen.
Hold Back and Home together on the buttonless voice remote for five seconds, until its status light flashes.
Follow the onscreen pairing instructions to finish connecting the remote.
Keep both devices in pairing mode together; during initial setup, follow the pairing instructions shown on the TV.
The pairing menu when you already have control
Another working remote or an already connected Roku mobile app gives you a direct route to pairing. Press Home on that controller.
Open Settings > Remotes & devices > Add devices > Remote > Continue to put the Roku into pairing mode.
On your new buttonless voice remote, hold Back and Home together for five seconds until the status light flashes.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete pairing.
Use your phone to reach the controls
The Roku mobile app controls a Roku that is already connected to your network. It cannot discover an offline Roku or independently complete the device's first Wi-Fi setup.
Open Roku's official mobile app page and select Download on the Apple App Store or Get it on Google Play.
Install the Roku mobile app.
Connect your phone and your Roku to the same local network. If the Roku is wired with Ethernet, make sure it is reachable from your phone's Wi-Fi network and holds an IP address in the same range.
Open the app.
Sign in.
Select your Roku device.
Tap Remote to open the onscreen controls.
Use those controls directly, or navigate to Settings > Remotes & devices > Add devices > Remote > Continue to pair your physical remote.
On an iPhone or iPad, allow local-network access when prompted.
To change that permission later, open your phone's Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network.
Enable Roku.
If a phone VPN blocks local discovery, disconnect it. The phone and Roku must be able to communicate on the same local network.
When batteries or a blocked signal get in the way
Battery trouble or a blocked infrared signal leaves a simple remote unresponsive without any pairing problem to solve.
For a remote with removable batteries, take out both batteries.
Press any two buttons on the remote.
For a simple remote, insert fresh matching batteries.
Restore a clear line of sight to the front of the Roku.
Try the simple remote again. It does not need a settings menu or a pairing-button combination.
For a voice remote instead, reinstall the batteries negative end first.
Replace the battery cover.
If the voice remote still needs to connect, retry the five-second Back and Home pairing procedure above.
Restart a rechargeable remote that will not pair
This restarts an unresponsive rechargeable buttonless voice remote before another pairing attempt.
Hold Back and Home together for 20 seconds.
Wait for the remote's light to stop flashing.
Recharge the remote if its battery needs charging.
Put the Roku into pairing mode using the pairing menu or the power-reconnection method above.
Hold Back and Home for five seconds to start pairing again. The 20-second hold restarts the remote; the five-second hold starts pairing.
Compatibility matters before you buy a replacement
The Roku Players Remote and Roku TV Remote are different products. The Players Remote does not support Roku Streaming Sticks or Roku TVs, while the Roku TV Remote does not support Roku players or audio devices.
Voice remotes also vary in compatibility. Find your Roku device model under Settings > System > About before choosing a replacement.
On Roku's accessories page, select Check device compatibility, or sign in to see compatible devices. Check the exact remote model against your device before buying.
Once you have a compatible replacement, use the simple-remote or voice-remote setup above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the remote included with a Roku Express 4K+ pair automatically?
The included remote pairs automatically during setup for Roku Express 4K+ models 3941 and 3960RS. Power the player, select its HDMI input, and remove the remote's battery pull tab. If pairing fails, use the applicable manual voice-remote procedure. This automatic setup applies to the included remote, not every replacement.
Why does navigation work but TV power or volume does not?
TV controls have a separate setup. For a voice remote with TV controls used with a Roku streaming player, press Home, then open Settings > Remotes & devices > Remotes > [your voice remote] > Set up remote for TV control. Point the remote at the TV. Turn up the TV volume, then answer the onscreen music-test prompts. Compatibility varies, and some TVs support volume but not power.
Can a universal remote control a Roku TV?
Yes, with a compatible universal, cable, or satellite remote. Find its brand or provider in Roku's remote-code table, then program the applicable TV code using the remote manufacturer's instructions. For menu navigation, choose a remote with expanded controls such as Home, arrows, and Back. Some remotes support only power, volume, and input.
Does a physical Roku voice remote need the same Wi-Fi network as my phone?
No. The same-network requirement applies to the Roku mobile app. Physical voice-remote pairing is separate and does not require a phone.