Roku remote won't pair
A Roku enhanced or voice remote works by radio and has to be paired with the TV. If yours has stopped working, re-pairing usually fixes it. Remotes without a pairing button are infrared and are not paired at all.
Pair a Roku enhanced remote
- Take the batteries out of the remote.
- Unplug the TV from the wall. Wait about five seconds, then plug it back in.
- Wait for the Roku home screen to appear.
- Put the batteries back in the remote.
- Press and hold the pairing button inside the battery compartment until the light on the remote starts to flash.
- Give it up to half a minute. The remote should then control the TV.
If the pairing light never appears, the remote has a flat battery or has failed.
If it still will not pair
- Try new batteries.
- Keep the remote close to the TV while you pair it.
- If the remote has no pairing button, it is an infrared remote. Point it at the sensor on the TV instead.
- If it pairs and then drops, replace the batteries and try again.
Control the TV in the meantime
Roku's own mobile app is a remote for a TV on the same network. Tuned does the same, without a Roku account. First, turn on Control by mobile apps: Settings, System, Advanced system settings. Then tap your Roku TV in Tuned. There is no code. You get the D-pad, volume, apps, and typing from your phone. The TV must be on and on the same network. Tuned does not pair or repair the Roku remote.
Questions about pairing a Roku remote
Where is the pairing button on a Roku remote?
Inside the battery compartment, on remotes that have one. Remotes with no button inside are infrared and do not pair.
Why does my Roku remote work for a minute and then stop?
It is likely a battery fault or a weak link. Fit new batteries and pair again. If it keeps dropping, replace the remote.
Do I need to unplug the TV every time?
Not every time. It is the step to try when pressing the pairing button on its own does nothing.
Does my iPhone work as a Roku remote?
Yes, through Tuned or Roku's own app, over Wi‑Fi. The phone and TV must be on the same network.
Get Tuned
Free to download for iPhone and Android.