How to Fix a Roku Remote That Doesn’t Work: Troubleshooting Guide

Is your Roku TV or streaming device not responding to your Roku remote? Whether your button presses seem delayed or you can't use your remote to get past the home screen, there's often an easy fix for any Roku remote control. This beginner-friendly guide will help you troubleshoot and fix your Roku remote, including expert tips from TV and home theater installation expert Jocotra Cathey.

If Your Roku Remote Stops Working: Quick Fixes

Try resetting the Roku remote. If it's rechargeable, press and hold the pairing button for 20 seconds. If there's no pairing button, hold down the "Back" and "Home" buttons instead. Also, try re-pairing the remote, restarting your Roku, and eliminating obstructions and interference.

Section 1 of 10:

Check the Batteries

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Many Roku remote problems are caused by low battery. "The first thing I would do is check the batteries," Cathey advises. "Make sure the batteries are in there, and that they're in there correctly." Even if they're inserted correctly, test the remote with a fresh new set.^{[1]
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- If your Roku remote is hot to the touch, don't open the battery compartment. This could indicate battery corrosion. Place the remote on a hard, non-flammable surface, and allow it to cool completely before inspecting the batteries.^{[2]
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  Research source} Once the remote control is completely cool, open the compartment and check the battery connectors for a white powder, which Cathey explains can indicate corrosion.
- If your remote doesn't have removable batteries, it may need to be charged. If you have an original rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro, a full charge takes 3 hours. For the 2nd edition Voice Pro Remote, charge it for 5.5 hours. Once the status light is solid green, the charge is complete.^{[3]
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  - If your remote has a microphone button, it is one of the voice remote models.

Section 2 of 10:

Reboot Your Roku

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Keep the power cable unplugged for at least 5 seconds, then plug it back in. Once the home screen has fully loaded, try using your Roku remote again.

Section 3 of 10:

Reset the Remote

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A quick reboot can fix many problems with Roku remotes. To reset your Roku remote:
- If your remote has removable batteries, remove both batteries, then reinsert them to complete the reset.
- For a rechargeable Roku voice remote, look for a pairing button on the back. If you see one, press and hold the button for 20 seconds.^{[4]
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- If there's no pairing button, press and hold the Back and Home buttons for 20 seconds to reboot it.
- Once the status light on your remote stops flashing, the remote is finished rebooting.

Section 4 of 10:

Re-pair the Remote

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The remote may need to be paired again. Pairing your Roku remote to your Roku TV or streaming device is easy:
- If you have a Roku Simple Remote (the kind that doesn't have a microphone button for voice control):
  - Unplug the power from your Roku streaming device or Roku TV for a few seconds, then plug it back in.
- Once you see the Home screen, remove the batteries for a few seconds, then reinsert them to pair.
- If you have a voice remote (the kind with a microphone button):
  - Unplug the power from your Roku streaming device or Roku TV for a few seconds, then plug it back in.
  - If your Roku remote control has a pairing button on the back or beneath the battery cover, press and hold it for 5 seconds, or until the status light starts blinking.
  - If there's no pairing button, Press and hold the Back and Home buttons on your Roku remote for 5 seconds, or until the status light starts blinking.
  - Once paired, you'll see a confirmation message on-screen. It may take up to 30 seconds to pair.^{[5]
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Section 5 of 10:

Remove Obstructions

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Your remote needs an unobstructed path to your Roku device or TV. If you keep your Roku in a closed cabinet or behind the TV, you might experience delayed button presses, or buttons on your remote seeming to not work at all. The status light on your Roku must be visible to you when you use your remote. Place your Roku in front of or beside your TV so there's a clear path between the remote and the device.^{[6]
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- If you have a Roku streaming stick and the included cable isn't long enough to move your device to a visible location, try using the advanced wireless receiver or long-range Wi-Fi receiver that came with your device. If you don't have it, or that doesn't work, you can order a free HDMI extender from Roku.^{[7]
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  Research source} To place your order, fill out the form at https://my.roku.com/hdmi. Alternatively, you can buy an HDMI extension cable from Amazon or another retailer.

Section 6 of 10:

Check Your Wi-Fi Signal

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A weak Wi-Fi connection can cause responsiveness problems with your Roku remote. If your remote feels slow or doesn't always respond to your button presses, a weak connection could be the culprit. If your remote works at all, you can use it to perform the following steps. If not, you can use the Roku mobile app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. Just make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku, open the app, and tap Remote to get started.
- Press the Home button and select Settings.
- Select Network.
- Select About.
- Check the signal strength value. If you see "Fair" or "Poor," the connection to your Wi-Fi router is not strong enough. You can improve your wireless signal strength by:
  - Moving devices that can interfere with your connection away from the router, such as microwaves, cordless phones, or baby monitors.
  - Moving your Wi-Fi router closer to your Roku TV or streaming device.
  - Adjusting the antennas on your router.
  - Not using other devices on the network while streaming on your Roku.^{[8]
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Section 7 of 10:

Switch to CEC on Your TV

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If the Power and Volume buttons stop working, the remote may be using IR. As long as your TV supports CEC, you should be able to use your Roku streaming stick's remote to control the power and volume on your TV seamlessly. If the TV doesn't support CEC or it's disabled, your remote can only use IR, which is more sensitive to obstructions and interference.
- The steps to enable CEC differ on all TVs, but you'll usually find the option in your TV Settings or Setup menu.
- On Roku TVs, go to Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC) and enable "System audio control" and "1-touch play".^{[9]
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- On LG TVs, go to Settings > All Settings > General > SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) and set "SIMPLINK" to "On."
- On Phillips TVs, go to Setup > TV settings > Installation > Preferences. Select EasyLInk, and set all of the following options to On: Master EasyLink, Auto TV, and RC key.
- On Samsung TVs, go to Settings > System > Expert Settings > Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) and select On.
  - If you can't find these options, go to Settings > General > External Device Manager and enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).
- For other TVs, search the web for your make and model and "enable CEC."

Section 8 of 10:

Check for System Updates

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If your Roku remote still doesn't work, an update may be needed. If you can't use your remote at all, you can use the Roku mobile app as a remote to complete these steps. Open the app and select Remote to activate it.
- On the home screen, open the Settings menu.
- Go to System > System updates > Check now.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install updates.
- If no update is available, or this doesn't fix the Power and Volume buttons on your Roku remote:
  - Return to Settings and select Remotes & devices.
  - Select Remotes.
  - Choose your remote.
  - Select Set up remote for TV control.

Section 9 of 10:

Get a Replacement Remote

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If your Roku remote still doesn't work, you probably need a replacement. Fortunately, Roku remotes are super easy to find on Amazon, or directly through the Roku website.
- Until your replacement remote arrives, you can use the Roku mobile app to control your Roku TV or streaming device.
- Once you get your replacement remote, pairing is easy:
  - Insert batteries into your replacement remote or charge it completely.
  - Using the remote in the Roku mobile app, navigate to Home > Settings > Remotes & devices.
  - Select Set up a new device and choose Remote.
  - Point your new remote at your Roku TV or streaming device.
  - If your replacement remote has a pairing button, press and hold it for 5 seconds. If not, press and hold the Home and Back buttons at the same time.

Section 10 of 10:

FAQ

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If your Roku remote has removable batteries, remove them for a few seconds, then reinsert them. If not, press and hold the pairing button on the back of the remote for 20 seconds. If there's no pairing button, press and hold the Back and Home buttons for 20 seconds.
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How do I resync my Roku remote?
- Unplug the power from your Roku streaming device or Roku TV for a few seconds, then plug it back in.
- Once you see the Home screen, remove the batteries for a few seconds and reinsert them (if the batteries are removable).
- If it's a rechargeable remote, press and hold the pairing button for 5 seconds. If there is no pairing button, press and hold Back and Home simultaneously for 5 seconds.
Yes, like any electronics, your Roku remote could stop working. Some of the most common problems expressed by Roku users are remote-related, such as the buttons not working or the Roku not responding to button presses. If only some buttons aren't working (not including the power and volume buttons), you should replace the remote.