How to Fix a Roku Remote That Isn’t Working

Your Roku remote is unresponsive and won’t control your device. You can get it working again by following these troubleshooting steps.

1. Take the batteries out of the remote and let them sit for 60 seconds to perform a soft reset. [0:20]
2. Replace the batteries if they are low on charge, or check the specific battery health level by navigating to Settings > Remotes and devices > Remotes > About. [0:47]
3. If you have a standard IR remote, ensure there is a clear line of sight between the remote and your Roku device. [1:35]
4. For voice remotes, use your smartphone camera to check for an IR signal by pointing the remote at the lens and pressing the power button to see if a light flashes. [2:12]
5. Download and open the Roku app on your smartphone to use it as a temporary remote control. [3:12]
6. Unplug your Roku device from the power source for 60 seconds and plug it back in to restart the system.

Ninja Tip: If your remote still isn’t pairing, try holding down the pairing button (usually found inside the battery compartment or on the back) for five seconds until the status light begins to flash, indicating it is in pairing mode.

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