Home Theater & Entertainment > TV & Displays How to Fix It When Your Roku Remote Is Not Working Quickly fix your remote problems from your couch By Lisa Mildon Lisa Mildon Facebook Twitter Lifewire Technology Review Board Member & Quality Team Editor Southern New Hampshire University Lisa Mildon is a Lifewire writer and an IT professional with 30 years of experience. Her writing has appeared in Geekisphere and other publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 11, 2020 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email TV & Displays Remote Controls Samsung Projectors Antennas HDMI & Connections There aren't too many things that can go wrong with a Roku remote. If yours stops working, work through this list troubleshooting steps. You'll be using your Roku TV remote to binge-watch in no time. How to Fix It When Roku TV Won't Turn On Causes of a Roku Remote Not Working There are many reasons why a Roku remote stops working, and some are easier to diagnose than others. Usually, it's because of something simple, like dead batteries or a blocked signal. Other times, the problem may be with the remote. More often than not, the problem only reveals itself with the corresponding fix. How To Fix It When Your Roku Remote Is Not Working Follow these steps, in order, to get your Roku remote working properly again. Check for a blocked IR (infrared) signal. IR remotes require a direct signal free from obstructions. If there are objects, walls, or other obstructions blocking the line of sight between the Roku and the Roku remote, the remote won't work. If you can't move the obstacle, lift the remote higher to get a clear signal and point the remote at the front of the player. Check the batteries. Weak or dead batteries can make the remote malfunction. First, remove the batteries, then re-seat each battery. If the remote is unresponsive, replace the batteries and try again. Reset your Roku box or stick and Roku remote. Remove the batteries from the remote, then remove the power cable from the Roku streaming device. Wait 5 seconds, then reconnect the power to the device. When the Roku logo displays on the home screen, reinstall the batteries in the remote. Wait 30 seconds to see if the remote re-establishes a connection with the Roku device. Re-pair the Roku remote. Repeat the pairing process. Follow the instructions to set up the remote to recognize the Roku device and vice versa. Check the HDMI connection. Roku Streaming sticks install in a TV from the HDMI port. If your device is plugged into the HDMI port, you could get some interference. To remedy this, you'll need an HDMI extension, which is available free from Roku. Make sure you have your Roku serial number handy. It should be on a sticker on the device. You could also move the streaming stick to a different HDMI port if the TV has one to spare. Moving the Roku device to a different HDMI port may mean you'll have to set up the Roku again. However, it may eliminate a faulty HDMI port from the list of potential issues. Check the network connection status of your wireless devices. Depending on whether you have a Roku player or a streaming stick, your Roku device has at least one network connection. On Roku players, most have both wired and wireless options. Streaming sticks only have wireless network connectivity. Download and install the Roku app. If you can't get the remote to work at all, download the Roku remote app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app has all the features of a Roku remote, plus it makes it easier to enter a text search. Roku Replacement Remote If your remote is hot to the touch, stop using it immediately. Place the remote on a non-flammable surface to cool. Once cooled, remove the batteries. Malfunctioning or leaking batteries can cause overheating and can damage or render the remote useless. If this is the case, replace the remote. You can go to Roku's website or a site like Amazon that sells licensed Roku remotes and third-party compatible remotes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit