Roku Remote Not Working? 8 Fixes That Actually Work

A Roku remote that suddenly stops responding is one of the most common TV problems out there. In most cases the fix takes a minute. The key is knowing which kind of remote you have, because they fail for different reasons.

First: which Roku remote do you have?

• Simple remote (infrared): no pairing button in the battery compartment. It must point at the Roku device or Roku TV with nothing in the way.
• Voice remote / point-anywhere remote: has a pairing button inside the battery compartment. It talks to the Roku wirelessly, so it works from behind a cabinet, but it must stay paired.

Fix 1: Replace the batteries

Use fresh batteries from a new pack, not ones from a drawer. If you have a rechargeable Voice Remote Pro, charge it for a while. On wireless remotes, you can check the battery level in Settings › Remotes & devices › Remote once you have another way to navigate (see fix 8).

Fix 2: Clear the line of sight (Simple remote)

Infrared needs a straight path. Soundbars, decorations and glass cabinet doors block it. A streaming stick hidden behind the TV won’t see an infrared remote at all.

Fix 3: Restart the Roku

Unplug the Roku device or Roku TV from power for at least 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait until the home screen appears before pressing anything.

Fix 4: Re-pair the remote (Voice remote)

1. Restart the Roku as in fix 3.
2. Remove the batteries from the remote and put them back in.
3. When the home screen appears, press and hold the pairing button in the battery compartment for about 5 seconds, until the status light on the remote starts flashing.
4. Keep the remote close to the Roku. A pairing dialog appears on the TV within about 30 seconds.

Fix 5: Reduce wireless interference

Streaming sticks plugged straight into the TV can suffer from interference. Roku recommends using an HDMI extender cable to move the stick a few inches away from the TV. Also keep the stick away from the router and other wireless devices.

Fix 6: Set up TV power and volume

If navigation works but power and volume don’t, the remote isn’t configured to control your TV. Go to Settings › Remotes & devices › Remote › Set up remote for TV control and follow the audio test. On Roku TVs this works out of the box.

Fix 7: Check for physical damage

Stuck buttons, corroded battery contacts or a drop can kill a remote. Clean the contacts with a dry cloth. If one button is stuck pressed, the remote may stop sending anything else.

Fix 8: Use your phone while you sort it out

Roku devices accept commands over Wi-Fi, so your phone works as a full remote:

1. Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi as the Roku.
2. Install the Roku app or a universal app like RemotApp, which finds Roku devices automatically and needs no pairing code.
3. If the app can’t connect, enable Settings › System › Advanced system settings › Control by mobile apps › Network access (set to Default or Permissive).

The phone also gives you a keyboard for search and passwords, which beats any remote. See our Roku guide for the full setup.

When to replace it

If a remote still doesn’t work after fresh batteries, a restart and re-pairing, it is probably dead. Roku sells replacement remotes, and its newer voice remotes work with most Roku devices. Until it arrives, your phone does the job.

Frequently asked questions

RemotApp Team

The team behind RemotApp, a universal TV remote app for iPhone and Android. We test every fix on real Samsung, LG, Roku and Google TV sets before publishing. About us