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All Roku media players come with a simple but effective remote control. Though the remote isn’t essential — you can also control your Roku via a smartphone app on your iPhone or Android device — it’s pretty convenient.
But if your Roku remote isn’t working, you might need to reset it. You can also reset the remote if you want to use it on a different Roku player.
Here’s how to do it.
What to know before you reset your Roku remote There are two kinds of Roku remotes:
Enhanced remotes: This is a “point anywhere” remote that controls the screen no matter which way the remote is pointed — Roku’s “enhanced voice remote” and “gaming remote,” as advertised on the Roku website , both fall into this category. Standard infrared remotes: This simpler remote requires a direct line of sight to operate — Roku’s “voice remote” and “simple remote” both fall into this category.
You can only reset an enhanced remote — the infrared remote can’t (and doesn’t need to) be reset, as it will work with any compatible Roku player just by being pointed directly at it. If an infrared remote isn’t working, try replacing the batteries.
Most Roku models come with the enhanced remote. These models include the Roku Streaming Stick, Roku 2, Roku 4, Roku Premiere, and Roku Ultra.
How to reset the Roku enhanced remote To reset your Roku remote, you need to take out the batteries, unplug your Roku device and plug it back in, replace the batteries, and hold down the reset button until the remote re-pairs.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
Remove the batteries from your Roku remote.
Unplug the power cable from your Roku player, wait for 5 to 10 seconds, and plug it back in again.
When you see the Roku home screen on your TV, insert the batteries back in the remote.
Press and hold the reset button, which is located in the battery compartment, for about 5 seconds.
The pairing light on the remote should start flashing. The re-pairing process may take up to 30 seconds to finish — a notification will appear on the screen when it’s complete.
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