How to Connect Google Home to Roku

Control your TV with voice commands

Updated on November 26, 2019

An Android app called Quick Remote links your Google Home smart speaker and Roku streaming device, allowing you to easily control your TV with Google Home and some basic voice commands. Here's how to set it up.

You'll need an Android device and the Quick Remote app to link Google Home and your Roku.

Connect Google Home to Roku With Quick Remote

Download and install the Quick Remote app on your Android device from the Google Play store.
Make sure your Android device and Roku are on the same wireless network. If they're not, they won't be able to talk to each other.
Open the Quick Remote app and accept the end-user license agreement.
Quick Remote will automatically discover Roku devices on your wireless network. Tap the small Select a Roku text at the bottom to view the search results.
Select the Roku device you want to use.

Integrate Your Roku with Google Home

Now that you've linked Quick Remote and your Roku, it's time to integrate your Roku with Google Home.

In Quick Remote's main screen, tap Sign into Google Home.
You should see a window displaying the Google accounts you have registered on your Android device. Select the Google account linked to your Google Home.
You can now use Roku with Google Home.

How to Control Roku With Google Home

Now that you've connected your Google Home and Roku devices, it's time to start trying out voice commands to confirm everything works as it should. Quick Remote comes with 50 free commands per month. If you want unlimited access, you'll need to upgrade to the Full Pass subscription.

Say, OK Google, let me talk to Quick Remote to activate the Quick Remote interface with Google Assistant.
You can begin issuing commands now. For example, try Hey Google, Ask Quick Remote to Go Home to access the Home screen, or Hey Google, Ask Quick Remote to Start Netflix.
Experiment with some simple commands to see how it works for you.

Quick Remote's integration with Google Home only supports basic commands at the moment, so if you're an experienced smart speaker user, you may find that a bit limiting.

Troubleshooting Roku and Google Home

As you probably know if you've used a smart speaker to control various devices in your home, glitches can unexpectedly pop up. Here's how to troubleshoot some of the most common problems.

If your voice commands are getting lost in translation:

Launch the Quick Remote app, then tap the menu button in the upper right corner.
Choose Channels.
Every channel you have configured on your Roku, like Netflix or Amazon Video, will appear.
If the Google Assistant is having a hard time hearing your voice command for a specific channel, open it and assign it up to five alternative names.

If the Quick Remote app on your Android is having trouble connecting with Roku:

Open your Android's Wi-Fi settings and make sure Wi-Fi is set to be always on, even during sleep. Otherwise, your Android may not receive commands from Google Home and send them to your Roku after it goes to sleep.
If you're still having difficulty keeping your Android connected with Roku, turn off battery optimization for the Quick Remote app in Android Settings > Battery Optimization.