Connect a Roku TV to Wi‑Fi without a remote
A Roku TV with no remote and no Wi‑Fi is awkward, because many Roku TVs have a button that only switches them on and off, so you cannot reach the network menu. Phone apps need the TV online. These are the ways to get past it.
Why the TV's own button may not be enough
On many Roku TVs the single button on the TV does not let you move around menus. It switches the TV on and off or changes input. If yours is like that, you cannot choose a network with it. Some models may offer more, so check the guide for yours.
Option 1: a cable
Many Roku TVs have an Ethernet port on the back, though some small ones do not. If yours does, connect it to your router. The TV usually goes online by itself. Your phone, on the same router, can then reach it, and Tuned can connect.
Option 2: the hotspot trick
If the TV already knew your Wi‑Fi, set your phone's hotspot to the same network name and password and switch it on. Restart the TV and it should join. Your phone is then on the same network as the TV, so you can open Tuned and use the remote to move the TV to your real Wi‑Fi. If the TV does not join within a couple of minutes, move on.
Option 3: another way to press buttons
- A replacement or universal infrared remote. A simple Roku remote needs no pairing, and a universal remote set to your TV's brand can handle the menus.
- An Android phone with an infrared blaster. Tuned has an infrared mode for these. iPhones have none.
Roku's own mobile app also needs the TV on the same network, so it cannot get an offline TV online either.
Once the TV is online
Go to Settings, System, Advanced system settings and make sure Control by mobile apps is Enabled. Then tap the TV in Tuned. You get a full remote and your phone's keyboard, which makes typing the Wi‑Fi password easy. Tuned cannot get an offline TV onto Wi‑Fi by itself.
Questions about Roku Wi‑Fi without a remote
Can Tuned connect my Roku TV to Wi‑Fi?
No. Tuned talks to the TV over your network, so the TV has to be on it first. A cable, the hotspot trick or a replacement remote gets it there.
Can the Roku mobile app do it?
Not for a TV that is offline. The app needs the phone and the TV on the same network.
How do I know if my Roku TV has an Ethernet port?
Look at the back panel, near the HDMI sockets, for a socket that looks like a wide phone jack. Not every Roku TV has one.
Does the TV remember my Wi‑Fi after a reset?
No. A reset clears saved networks, so you would need to join again.
Get Tuned
Free to download for iPhone and Android.