Roku is a well-known brand for providing hardware digital media players such as streaming media content from multiple online services. As a Roku streaming device user, you can easily notice that depending on the few models you’ll also receive a different type of remote control such as IR Remote or Voice/Enhanced Point Anywhere Remote. But if in case, the Roku Enhanced Remote not Working, you can follow this guide.
The Roku Voice/Enhanced ‘point-anywhere’ Remote control uses radio frequencies or ‘RF’ to control the Roku device via the Wi-Fi network. We’ll have to pair this remote with a specific compatible Roku device (one at a time). If you’re not sure whether you’re using an IR remote or another one, make sure to open remove the battery cover and there you can see a pairing button on the Roku enhanced remote control.
Whereas the Roku IR remote doesn’t have this pairing button on the battery compartment. If you’re still not able to open the battery compartment or can’t recognize the type of remote control for some reason, check whether you’re using any of these mentioned Roku devices or not.
- Roku 3
- Roku 4
- Roku Express+ (model 3931)
- Roku Premiere
- Roku Premiere+
- Roku Streaming Stick (model 3600, 3800)
- Roku Streaming Stick+ (model 3810)
- Roku Ultra LT
- Roku Ultra / Ultra (model 4670)
- Roku Smart Soundbar
- Roku TV (model series 6000X, 7000X, C000X, 8000X, A000X)
If you’re not using any of these mentioned devices then it should be the IR remote control.
How Does an Enhanced “point anywhere” Remote Work?
Your enhanced “point-anywhere” remote control easily connects over a Wi-Fi network and then you can point it anywhere to start using it, unlike the IR remote which needs to be pointed out directly to the Roku streaming device. That means you can easily operate the remote actions no matter whether your Roku device is placed in a TV cabinet behind the door or behind the TV.
During the initial setup, you can establish the connection with the Roku device by using the pairing button on the battery compartment. While using the Roku Enhanced Remote control, you can see a pairing message on the TV screen during the setting up. Once the pairing process completes, your remote is ready to rock.
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How to Fix If Roku Enhanced Remote not Working
So, as we’ve already mentioned above, if you’re not sure which remote control you’re using with the Roku device, then simply open the battery compartment of the remote and you can see the pairing button that basically used to pair with the Roku device. A remote with a pairing button is called a Roku Enhanced Remote.
If your Roku Enhanced Remote isn’t working as you’re expecting such as it doesn’t work properly or can’t connect to the Roku device or pairing gets failed or even unable to control your Roku device then you can follow the troubleshooting steps below to easily resolve the issue.
1. Restart your Roku Steaming Device and Remote
- Make sure to open the battery compartment on the Roku enhanced remote and remove the batteries too.
- Remove the power cable from your Roku device > Wait for around 5 seconds > Then reconnect the power cable and check for the issue.
Pro Tip: All Roku devices (except for Roku Streaming Sticks) can be controlled with a Roku IR remote as well. Therefore, if you also have the IR Remote then you can use it to access the settings menu and restart your Roku device [Go to Settings > System > System Restart > Restart].
- Once your Roku device displays the home screen, just re-insert the batteries in your Roku remote.
- Finally, you’ll have to wait at least 30 seconds to see if your Roku remote establishes a connection with your Roku device or not.
2. Re-Pair the Roku Enhanced Remote
- First of all, open the battery compartment and remove the batteries from your Roku Remote.
- Now, remove the power cable from your Roku device > Wait for around 5 seconds > Then reconnect the power cable.
- Once your Roku device displays the home screen, re-insert the batteries in your Roku remote.
- Next, press and hold the pairing button inside the battery compartment of your Roku remote for around 3 seconds or until you see the pairing light on the remote start blinking. If the light doesn’t blink, make sure to try again.
- If the light still doesn’t blink, then you should replace the batteries from the Roku remote.
- Now, wait for around 30 seconds to complete the connection between the Roku remote and your Roku device.
- Finally, the remote pairing dialog should appear on your TV screen.
3. Replace the Remote Batteries
- Open the battery compartment and remove the old batteries from the Roku remote.
- Remove the power cable from the Roku device > Wait for around 5 seconds > Then reconnect the power cable.
- When the Roku device displays the first screen, insert new batteries.
- Now, wait for around 30 seconds to complete the connection between the Roku remote and your Roku streaming device.
- The Roku remote pairing dialog should appear on your TV screen now.
4. Install an HDMI Extension Cable (Streaming Stick+ only)
While using a Roku Streaming Stick or Roku Streaming Stick+ make sure that it’s connected directly to an HDMI port on your TV. Additionally, you should also connect to the Wi-Fi network properly.
If you’re facing the same kind of issue then try moving the Roku device away from the HDMI connector on your TV by installing a free extension cable to connect your Streaming Stick to your TV. make sure to contact Roku Customer Support to order the extension cable.
5. Connect your Roku Device to the 5 GHz Wireless Network
Pro Tip: Try attempting this method if you’re aware of setting up the configuration with your networking device.
- First of all, make sure to go through the user manual for your particular Wi-Fi router model or simply contact the Wi-Fi router manufacturer to check whether your Wi-Fi router supports both 2.4GHz and 5 GHz or not.
- If in case, the Wi-Fi router supports the 5 GHz network frequency band then turn it on from the settings menu.
- So, head over to the Settings menu on your Roku device > Select Network > Select Set up connection > Choose to Wireless > Then make sure to connect your Roku device to the 5 GHz wireless network (For example; SSID_5GHz).
6. Change the Wireless Channel on your Wi-Fi Router
Pro Tip: Try attempting this method if you’re comfortable with your networking device to change settings or options. However, you can read the user manual or contact the support team of the manufacturer.
- Make sure to sign in to the admin dashboard of the Wi-Fi router from the mobile or PC browser.
- You can see the login URL, default username, and default password on the router. But if in case, you’ve changed the username or password according to your preference, then login with the same.
- Once you successfully logged into the admin dashboard then you’ll have to go to the Advanced or Wireless Settings menu. [Refer to the user manual according to the specific router model].
- Some specific routers do have an “auto” settings option that will allow users to change to a specific channel.
Note: Channels 1 to 14 are dedicated to the 2.4 GHz range.
- Once the specific channel is selected, make sure to apply changes and restart your Wi-Fi router to start using it.
- If in case, the performance doesn’t improve even after rebooting the Wi-Fi router, then sign in to the router account again and try using a different channel.
Please Note: If you change the wireless channel on your Wi-Fi router and any wireless extenders installed on your network then it should automatically adjust to channel. But it doesn’t change until the network name (SSID) does not change. For that also, you can read the user manual.
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7. Replace the Roku Enhanced Remote
If in case, none of the above methods worked for you, try replacing the Roku remote as a final resort.
Make sure to check the list of compatible products for your Roku device before purchasing the remote control.
8. Warm or Hot to the Remote
Sometimes it may possible that the back of your Roku remote gets warm or hot even while using it normally. if that’s the reason, then follow the steps below:
- Do not use your Roku remote for a while.
- Then make sure to place the Roku remote on a hard non-flammable surface (like on the floor) to let it cool for a couple of minutes.
- Also, do not attempt to Roku remove remote batteries when the remote is hot.
That’s it, guys. We assume you’ve found this guide useful. For further queries, you can comment below.
Credit: Roku Support