How to Fix a Roku Remote That Is Not Working

Your Roku remote is unresponsive and does not control your TV. You can follow these steps to troubleshoot and resolve the connection issue.

1. Remove the batteries from the remote and leave them out for 60 seconds to perform a soft reset. If the batteries are low, replace them with fresh ones to ensure the remote has sufficient power [0:20].
2. Verify the battery level by navigating to Settings > Remotes and devices > Remotes > About [0:54].
3. If you are using a standard remote, ensure there is a clear line of sight between the remote and your Roku device with nothing blocking the signal [1:36].
4. Use your smartphone camera to check if the remote’s IR sensor is working by pointing the remote at the lens and pressing the power button to see if a light flashes [2:10].
5. Download the official Roku app on your smartphone to use as a temporary remote control [3:12].
6. Unplug your Roku device from the power source for 60 seconds to force a system restart.
7. If all else fails, perform a factory reset by navigating to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset.

Ninja Tip: If your remote still won’t pair, check your router settings to ensure your Roku device is connected to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network rather than 5GHz, as some older Roku remotes struggle to maintain a stable connection on the faster band.

If the remote remains unresponsive, you can perform a full factory reset by going to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset.