If you’ve recently cut the cord and have decided to do your TV streaming on a Roku device, you’re joining a large group of highly satisfied viewers who love their Roku players. Over 100 million households around the globe stream with Roku, which offers a large selection of streaming players for essentially every price point.

But even the most intuitive and straightforward of streaming players takes a little time to get used to, especially if you’re switching over from an old-style cable box. And as with every other streaming player out there, the Roku remote will be your key to navigating your player and watching your favorite titles.

If you need a little help getting to know your Roku voice remote, keep reading. We’ll give you all the details you need to know about using the Roku remote, its layout, how it’s powered, and more to keep you streaming like a professional with your new device.

Everything you need to know about the Roku voice remote

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What buttons does the Roku remote have?

The Roku remote has a fairly standard layout of buttons. Starting at the top of the device, users will find the power button that turns the Roku on or off, the Home button that will return you to the Roku home screen from your chosen app, and a back button that will navigate back a single screen.

Below comes the directional pad, with buttons for navigation and an OK button to select. Under that, users will find a skip-back button, a microphone button, and a star-shaped settings button. Next come playback controls, with fast-forward, rewind, and play/pause buttons. Volume controls are found on the side of the remote control housing.

At the bottom of the remote come app buttons for popular streaming apps, such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and Hulu. Lastly, if you purchased a Roku Ultra device, you get two personal shortcut buttons on the Roku Voice Remote Pro that comes in the box; these can be programmed to open your favorite app with just a single press.

How is the Roku remote powered?

Most Roku remotes use a pair of AAA alkaline batteries as their power source, though the Roku Ultra uses AA batteries instead. All Roku devices will include a pair of batteries in the box, so you can start using your remote as soon as possible.

How to pair your Roku remote with your device

Once you’ve pulled your Roku out of the box and connected the stick to the TV, it’s time to pair your remote so you can actually use it. The good news is that most Roku remotes will be paired with their device automatically when installed. But if you need to reset your Roku remote at any time, follow the instructions below to put your voice remote in pairing mode:

• Open the battery compartment on the back of your Roku remote.
• Press and hold the pairing button.
• Wait five seconds until the status light flashes.

Does the Roku remote include TV controls?

If you purchased a smart TV with the Roku operating system pre-installed, your remote will naturally include the ability to control all basic TV functions, including power, volume, a sleep timer, channel changing, etc.

Roku voice remotes also include TV controls for supported sets, as well, but you’ll have to set this up manually once you’ve got your Roku streaming player all the way up and running. To begin using TV controls on a Roku remote:

• Press Home on the remote.
• Open Settings, then navigate to Remotes & devices.
• Choose Remote, then pick your Roku voice remote.
• Click Set up remote for TV control
• Follow on-screen prompts to finish setting up

Customers with the Roku Voice Remote Pro can also control their TV hands-free. To set this up:

• Ensure CEC is enabled in your TV’s settings (you may have to search online for instructions based on your TV’s manufacturer)
• Open the Settings menu on your Roku device
• Open Remotes, then choose your Voice Remote Pro.
• Set up the voice remote for TV controls.
• Test out your voice commands

Can your Roku remote control soundbars or receivers?

No, Roku remotes cannot exercise direct control over other connected devices, like soundbars or receivers. However, if everything is connected through HDMI and HDMI-CEC is turned on, your Roku player can control sound.

Does the Roku remote have a remote finder?

Only the Roku Voice Remote Pro features a remote finder feature out of the box. Its voice-activated seeking feature allows the owner to say, “Hey Roku, where’s my remote,” and the remote will create a beeping sound to lead the user to it. The Roku Ultra also has a physical remote finding button.

Can you plug headphones into a Roku remote?

All generations of Roku Voice Remote Pro include a headphone jack for wired private listening. Most Roku devices allow viewers to pair wireless headphones via Bluetooth for solo listening, but only the Roku Voice Remote Pro lets the user physically plug in a headset.

What connection type does the Roku remote use?

Modern Roku voice remotes use an RF connection, meaning you can point the remote in any direction you want and still control the Roku device. If you have an older, simple Roku remote with no voice controls, it may use an Infrared connection, requiring a direct line of sight to use.

Does the Roku remote have voice control?

All modern Roku devices, including the Roku Streaming Stick HD, come with a Roku Voice Remote in the box. This allows customers to navigate their Roku interface, open their favorite streaming apps, and execute other commands without having to click around. Just press the microphone button on a Roku Voice Remote to use voice controls.

The Roku Voice Remote Pro, which comes in the box with a Roku Ultra device or can be purchased separately, also comes with hands-free voice controls that allow the user to put down the remote in one location and control their Roku from anywhere — pretty handy if you find yourself losing your remote often.

Can you use your phone as a remote with Roku?

Yes! Downloading the Roku mobile app on your iPhone or Android device is always free, and doing so will allow you to use your phone as a remote. This is especially handy if the Roku remote feels a little too small for smooth usage or is constantly getting lost.

To use your phone as a Roku remote:

• Download the Roku app on your device
• Log in to the app with your Roku remote
• Open the app and select Remote

That’s it! Once you’re set up, you can use your phone to activate Headphone Mode, use the microphone button to activate voice controls, and even use your keyboard to enter channel numbers or login credentials for streaming apps. You can even configure the remote on your phone’s touchscreen with a traditional D-pad, or a swipe pad to navigate with finger gestures.

Troubleshooting your Roku remote

If your Roku remote stops working with your streaming player, your first solution should be to try to reset and re-pair the remote with your device. To do this:

• Open the battery compartment on the back of your Roku remote.
• Remove the batteries.
• Press and hold the pairing button.
• Wait until the status light flashes.

If that doesn’t work, you can try the following method to pair your remote with the Roku again:

• Press and hold the Home and Back buttons on your Roku remote.
• Wait until the light on the front of the remote flashes green.

If your Roku remote does not have a pairing button under the battery housing or a home and back button on the front, take the batteries out of the remote and wait for 30 seconds. Then, re-insert the batteries, and your remote should be paired once again.