As long as remotes have existed for us to lose, we have found new and interesting ways to lose them (did you check in your refrigerator?). But now with new and more complicated devices, like the Roku streaming device, we have even more remotes to misplace. If you’re facing the all-too-common issue of a lost Roku remote control, then don’t fear! Help is here.
Even if you have a lost Roku remote and your Roku can’t connect to WiFi, we have a few fixes that are sure to get your Roku streaming once again.
Follow the troubleshooting and Roku remote recovery steps below to get back to streaming with your Roku.
Use Roku App for Android and iPhone
Most likely, unless something drastic happened like you dropped your Roku remote in the fish tank or your dog ate it, that Roku remote is going to show up sooner or later. Sometimes, all you really need is something to help you keep watching content until one day you move the couch and find it under a pile of dust bunnies. If that’s the case for you, then you need to get the FREE Roku app for your phone!
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YOUR INFORMATION IS EXPOSED Your location is: Ashburn VA Your current IP address is: 2001:4455:2f7:b700:f880:7bad:b46b:1768 You can stream and download anonymously through your PC, Mac, Android, and iPhone through IP Vanish. HIDE ME NOW
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The Official Roku App is actually super useful! It does a few really important things for us.
Google trackers are lurking on 75% of websites. Cover your tracks to protect yourself.
Why use the official Roku app to replace your lost Roku remote?
- The Roku app acts as a virtual version of your normal (physical) lost remote, enabling you to navigate using the Up, Down, Left, Right, Center button, Back button, Play / Pause, and Home button
- You can install Roku apps (aka channels) on your Roku right from your phone (making it much easier than entering Private Roku Channel Codes using the physical Roku remote)
- Gives you a virtual keyboard, so you use your phone to input text into your Roku instead of using the pesky Roku remote to hunt-and-peck individual characters one-by-one
Not sure how to get started with the Roku App or want some insider tips on how to get the most out of it? Check out our guide: Roku Keyboard (How to Install and Use Roku App for Mobile Phones)
Roku Remote App Alternatives
If the original doesn’t have exactly what you’re looking for, sometimes you can find it from third-party developers who have more of an incentive to listen to what users really want. It never hurts to look at the competitors to see what else is out there.
These apps are third-party spin-offs of the official Roku app:
- Roku Remote Control: RoSpikes (on Google Play Store)
- Roku Remote Control: RoByte (also on Google Play Store and iOS)
Roku Relayis not a Roku remote app. It’s an app to set up a device called Roku Relay
Take Batteries Out
If you don’t have a lost Roku remote, so much as one that just isn’t working, then there are a few other options available to you.
One that is surprisingly simple, and works more often than you would think is just taking the batteries out of the Roku remote and putting them back in. Sometimes this fixes any Roku remote not pairing issues you have. Also, try to switch the batteries (so Battery A is now where Battery B was, and vice versa).
This is one of those solutions that seems too obvious, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Replacing (or switching) Roku remote batteries work in a lot of cases and can save you a lot of hassle.
Notice: Hackers create fake WiFi hotspots to steal your passwords when you log in to public WiFi. Secure your data.
Re-Pair Roku Remote
Look on the back of your Roku remote for a button. If there’s a button on the back of the Roku remote, press and hold the button for 5 seconds. This will put the Roku remote into Pairing mode.
You won’t find this on all Roku streaming devices! For example, Roku Premiere does not have this. You’ll know the remote is in pairing mode when the LED light is flashing.
Re-pair the Roku remote, and then follow these easy steps:
- Go to Settings
- Then select Remotes & Devices
- Scroll to Pair New Device and select
- Choose Remote
- Then follow the steps on your screen.
This works great if you just bought a new remote for your Roku. Basically, you will just put both the remote and the Roku device into pairing mode, they’ll see each other, and then sync up (aka pair) with each other.
Hard Reset
It’s that time again folks! It’s a classic repair solution for a reason. For whatever reason, it just works. You guessed it, it’s time to do a hard reset or, as it is sometimes called, a power cycle.
Doing a hard reset on your Roku remote is easy. Just follow along:
- Unplug the power from the wall
- Wait 30 seconds
- Plug it back in
Give your device a few moments to boot back up and finish its setup processes. Once it’s ready, try your remote again. With any luck, you’re back in action!
Connect Roku via Ethernet & Use Phone App
This is a great solution if you’re also having trouble connecting your Roku to WiFi (sometimes, when it rains it pours). Your WiFi will still need to work for other devices, but it does let you get around pesky Roku WiFi connection problems.
Another upside is that cable connections are frequently faster and much more reliable than wireless connections, so you may see improvements to your Roku’s speed after you implement this solution. To get started you’ll need to:
- Make sure that your Roku has an Ethernet port
- Connect your Roku to your cable modem or router using an Ethernet cable
- Use the Roku app to control your device
Since your phone should be connected to your WiFi already (same network as the Roku) the two devices should be synced up just fine. If you need help getting your Roku to connect to WiFi, we’d recommend taking a look at our article for some extra guidance: Roku Not Connecting to WiFi.
Buy a New Roku (Remote)
It’s never the first or the preferred choice, but if everything else has failed, your remaining option may be to consider purchasing a new Roku Remote. Fortunately, a replacement remote is not too pricey, and you’ll only need to spend $20 to get a new Roku Remote on Amazon.
Although, counter-intuitively, it’s a better deal to just buy an entirely new Roku remote that comes with a remote. If you haven’t bought a new Roku TV in a while, it might be a good time to consider upgrading your hardware.
So consider purchasing a new Roku and just using the remote from that – or replace your old Roku with the new one.
If buying a new Roku TV remote is still not an option you want to entertain, it is possible that your old one may still be covered under Roku’s warranty. Contact tech support to find out.
Rare Case: Use a Phone With an IR Blaster
If you have a smartphone that has an IR blaster (which is uncommon these days), you can use an app called Remote For Roku – WiFi and IR to operate your Roku. This should also work for any device that takes an Infrared signal (such as Firestick).
It’s a really handy trick if you happen to have the right equipment.
Control Roku with Computer
Some folks just aren’t big mobile users, and that’s ok. There’s a solution for you too! It just happens that you’re able to use your computer to control your Roku using a Chrome web app called Roku URL Player and Remote.
As you might guess, you’ll need to download Google Chrome in order to take advantage of this solution, but it’s a solid browser and absolutely worth taking out for a test drive if you’re not using it already.
Trick Roku Into Thinking You’re at Home
This one is probably our trickiest workaround, and likely not a long-term solution to your problem, but if you’re in a bind, it can come in handy.
Let’s say your Roku isn’t connecting to WiFi, you can’t connect it via Ethernet, and your remote isn’t working to let you change the preferred WiFi network. The perfect storm. All is lost, right?
Wrong! This is just how dedicated we are to bringing you solutions to even the most difficult problems. We do it because we care.
You can use 2 mobile phones to trick your Roku into thinking it’s connecting to your home WiFi network. Impossible, you say? Just follow these steps:
- Use phone #1 to start up a WiFi hotspot with the same Network name and password as your home WiFi network
- Then use phone #2 to connect to the WiFi hotspot that you set up on phone #1
- Download and install the Roku App on phone #2
With any luck, your Roku will connect to the fake home WiFi hotspot you’ve set up on your phone. Now your Roku and phone #2 are sharing a WiFi network! You can use the Roku App on phone #2 to adjust settings, or just stream movies until your lost Roku remote replacement comes in the mail.
This workaround comes with the added bonus of feeling a true blue tech wizard when you actually pull it off. Science!
Bonus: Common Roku Problems and Their Fixes
Your Roku might seem fancy with its voice-activated configurations and features. However, you might still face the following common issues.
- Connectivity Problems on Your Roku
If your movie or audio quality is low, you’re dealing with Wi-Fi troubles. Additionally, if your Roku is slow to respond to inputs or you see “not connected,” you are dealing with the same issue. Hence, the obvious way to start is by checking the Wi-Fi signal strength.
Go to Settings > Network to monitor the validity of your Internet connection. The signal strength will be indicated as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor, assuming a genuine connection to Wi-Fi. Of course, you must aim to better it if it’s Fair or Poor.
Moving your TV isn’t a possibility very often, but shifting the Roku itself may be beneficial. However, we would advise first repositioning it to see if that helps. Because Roku Sticks are usually plugged directly onto the TV, moving them is more complex. However, an HDMI extension cord can provide you with extra space.
Moreover, if your smartphone, tablet, or computer is connected to Wi-Fi in the same approximate area as your Roku, it indicates a password issue. Therefore, check the network settings on your Roku and try again.
What’s Error 009?
Roku error number 009 indicates that your device s connected to your network but cannot connect to the Internet. Hence, restart your Roku device if your other Wi-Fi equipment is working fine.
If the other gadgets cannot join, consider restarting your broadband and router before restarting your devices. If all else fails, notify your Network provider.
If moving your Roku streaming stick isn’t an option, consider switching your Wi-Fi router or, if it has any, modifying its external antennae. Even minor adjustments to your modem can significantly influence the way wireless signals travel throughout your home. So if you’re having Wi-Fi issues with one or more gadgets in your house (not including your Roku), it might be time to switch to a new router.
A mesh network may be your best option if your home is large. Similarly, it’s also suitable if numerous partitions and windows between your media devices and your network. Your primary network will transmit to various smaller “nodes” across your home with a mesh network.
A gadget like a Roku will have a simpler link to one of your new network’s satellite nodes than it will with the main router.
- Roku HDMI Issues
Another frequent Roku issue is the use of HDMI cords. A “handshake” is required when multiple devices connect over HDMI. In most cases, the handshake governs the link without issue once it is established. However, the handshake may not occur every time the devices connect, or the handshake may be stopped.
This can result in various issues, including black screens, flashing visuals, and HDCP error warnings. As with many problems, powering everything down, removing and reinserting the HDMI cord ends into each machine, and then restarting is a dependable repair.
- Overheating Roku
Your Roku device can overheat if it is set on top of other apparatus or in an unventilated area. If this happens, an on-screen warning message will make it into the top right part of your screen. In addition, some Roku devices, such as the Roku Ultra and Roku Express, feature a front LED that turns solid red when overheating.
If your gadget overheats, switch it off immediately, unhook the power, and unplug any cables. Reconnect it and power it up after waiting at least ten minutes. If the solid red indicator or warning message appears again, repeat the steps above. If this continues, you should approach Roku Support because it could imply a more severe issue with your device.
