Roku remote not working? Here are your replacement options

When seeking to change a dropped or damaged Roku distant, you can rapidly tumble down a rabbit hole of alternatives.

Concerning Roku’s many substitute fobs, applications that flip your cellular phone into a remote, and innumerable unofficial choices, the ideal decision isn’t always obvious. This information will enable you sort by way of the choices.

For Roku gamers that are a lot more than a several a long time previous, you may possibly want to replace the Roku alone, as a new product may not cost much a lot more than the remote by yourself. I recently wrote a tutorial to aid you pick out between Roku types.

But for Roku good TVs or a short while ago obtained gamers, changing the remote tends to make extra sense. Study on for your options.

First, troubleshoot a misbehaving Roku remote

Before you exchange your Roku distant, consider repairing the one particular you previously have. Roku itself has an considerable assistance information, but here are the major takeaways:

• Check out changing the batteries, or recharging the interior battery for the Voice Remote Pro.
• Restart your Roku.
• Clear away and reinsert the batteries.
• Pair the remote again: Hold the pairing button in the battery compartment for 20 seconds, launch, then press and maintain for yet another 5 seconds, and wait one more 30 seconds.
• For Roku’s Streaming Stick models, check out an HDMI extender to stop interference. (Roku will mail you 1 for cost-free.)
• Join the Roku participant or Television to your router’s 5GHz community if probable, as this can also prevent interference. That Wi-Fi frequency band has shorter assortment, but it’s fewer crowded.

If none of that performs, and you’re no lengthier suitable for a replacement less than warranty, it is time to think about swapping out the remote.

Alternative 1: Roku’s formal alternative remotes

Roku

Roku now sells a few substitution remotes, but not all of them are suitable with each and every Roku product.

• Roku Easy Distant ($15): This basic Roku remote makes use of an infrared emitter that calls for line-of-sight to the Roku, so it’s will not work Roku’s Streaming Adhere types. It also lacks Tv set volume or electricity controls, so you can not use it with Roku TVs. There’s also no voice command. I’d advise staying away from this one.
• Roku Voice Distant ($20): This typical Roku remote works by using a “point anywhere” link, and as this sort of, it’s appropriate with all but the quite earliest Roku versions. Volume and electrical power buttons are also provided, so it functions with Roku TVs from TCL, Sharp, Hisense, and other distributors. It even supports TVs and gamers that transported with an infrared remote, and it has a microphone for voice handle, building it a fantastic all-all around choice or enhance.
• Roku Voice Remote Professional ($30): Roku’s fanciest remote provides a headphone jack for non-public listening, two programmable buttons, a distant-finder perform (activated by way of Roku’s mobile app), and fingers-free of charge “Hey Roku” voice instructions. It also has a rechargeable battery designed in.

Choice 2: Replace a actual physical remote with the Roku app

Jared Newman / Foundry

If you’d alternatively not acquire another distant, you can constantly use Roku’s cell app for iOS and Android. It gives on-monitor buttons that mimic an actual Roku player, along with shortcuts to speedily launch apps and material. You can also join a set of headphones or earbuds to your cellphone for non-public listening. Just notice that you’ll have to have to set up HDMI-CEC on your TV or use a separate distant to turn the Television on.

A phrase of warning: Unofficial Roku remote applications operate rampant in the iOS and Android application retailers, and numerous of them either desire payment or bombard you with adverts. Steer clear of these choices and use the backlinks higher than to get the true offer.

An exception: Reelgood’s iOS and Android apps are a fantastic choice way to manage your Roku. You can make a watchlist for tracking your favorite demonstrates, launch material straight on the Roku, and entry an on-screen remote for standard controls.

Solution 3: Switch your distant with an unofficial Roku remote

Amazon

Search on Amazon, and you are going to discover a great number of lookalike Roku remote replacements from obscure sellers, some providing for a lot less than $10. None of them guidance voice management, on the other hand, and gadget compatibility can fluctuate.

Most of these remote controls, for occasion, only assistance an infrared connection, so they have no pairing course of action and are incompatible with Roku’s Streaming Stick types. Many others, meanwhile, are only compatible with Roku TVs, and not with any Roku players. Study the descriptions meticulously, and make absolutely sure these equipment are eligible for return if you conclusion up buying the erroneous distant.

A top quality solution: If you really do not mind paying a little bit additional, I recommend A single for All’s $25 Streamer Remote, which I wrote about a couple of decades ago. This programmable infrared remote will work with Roku TVs from TCL, Hisense, Sharp, and many others. It also supports the Roku Express and the Roku Extremely, but like the much less expensive controllers previously mentioned, it doesn’t guidance Roku’s Streaming Sticks.

Jared Newman / IDG

Just one for All’s distant has heaps of neat options that are not obtainable on Amazon’s more affordable lookalikes, which includes backlit keys, an input switcher, macro support, and channel up/down buttons for your Tv antenna. You can also application it to management a Tv, AV process, and a Roku player, all with a one distant. In my testing, the IR emitter works from up to 20 feet away, and the distant has a significant come to feel with cozy, rubberized buttons.

On the draw back, placing it up consists of programming some essential codes located in a printed manual. And like the cheaper solutions above, it doesn’t assistance voice command.

Choose properly

As I’ve written just before, the distant management can make or split the full streaming practical experience, being the matter you interact with extra than nearly anything else. Whichever substitution you opt for, make positive you love making use of it.

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