How to pair an old roku remote

Roku players come with an already synced remote control right outside the box. However, from time to time, you might need to replace your remote.  

Once you get a new remote, you’ll have to pair it so that it can sync with your player. If the remote has a pairing button, the process is relatively simple. But what if your Roku remote does not have a pairing button?

Without a pairing button, you will need to sync your Roku remote manually. The process is quite simple – pointing the remote to the Roku player and pressing a button to get it recognized.

In the article below, we will take a detailed look at a Roku remote pairing process without the reset button. We will also look at how to fix any challenges you might encounter during the process.

Do all Roku remotes have a pairing button?

No, not all Roku remotes have a pairing button. They are two types of remote controls for Roku players:

• The enhanced remote
• The infrared (IR)

The enhanced (“point anywhere”) remote is a Smart Roku remote control that connects with your device over a wireless network. It needs to be paired with a specific device to function. It comes with a pairing button found in the battery compartment.

On the other hand, the Roku IR remote uses an infrared light beam to control your Roku player. It can work with multiple devices, as long as they have an IR sensor. The IR remote does not have a pairing button.

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How to pair a Roku remote without the pairing button?

If your remote does not have a pairing button in the battery compartment, you are working with an IR remote.  You can still pair it with your Roku player, i.e., getting it recognized by the device.

To pair an IR Roku remote:

• Connect your Roku player to a TV, then power it on
• Select the correct input source on your TV for your Roku player
• Insert batteries into the IR remote control
• Press on any button while pointing the remote to your Roku device
• Wait for a few seconds for the syncing process to complete

You can now use your new remote. If using an enhanced remote, the process is similar, only that you will press the pairing button in the battery compartment.

Note: The IR remote will only work with some specific Roku devices. For example, it is possible to pair a TCL Roku remote without a pairing button as it has an infrared sensor.

However, if using another device without an infrared detector, say a Roku stick, you will have to find an alternative remote.

Luckily, a few alternatives exist, one of them being to use the Roku mobile app to turn your smartphone into an enhanced Roku remote.

To use your smartphone as a Roku remote:

• Download the Roku app to your specific Smartphone
• Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as the Roku player
• Launch the Roku app and follow the on-screen set-up instructions
• Go to Devices
• Allow the app to find all the connected devices
• Select the Roku device you want to control
• Tap on the Remote icon

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You should now be able to control Roku right from your smartphone.

How to fix a Roku remote that won’t pair?

Is your Roku remote refusing to pair with your player? There are a few issues that could be causing the problem.

They include:

• Faulty batteries or wrong battery placement
• Obstruction between the remote and the Roku player (for IR remotes)
• Minor glitches in the Roku player or the remote control
• A faulty remote

Fixing a Roku remote that won’t pair is pretty simple. First, you need to check that your batteries are working – which means installing new batteries. It would help if you also made sure that the batteries are installed correctly in the battery compartment.

If the batteries check out, but pairing won’t occur, the next step is to check for obstructions. Ensure that there are no physical objects between the remote and the player, then try pairing.

If the pairing problem persists, you can try resetting your TV. Unplug the Roku device from the power outlet, wait 30 seconds to one minute, then plug it and power it back on. Try pairing the remote again.

Note: For an IR remote, there is no reset option. However, if using an enhanced remote, you can reset your remote by removing and replacing the batteries, then pushing down on the pairing button until re-pairing happens.

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If you are still having issues pairing your IR remote, then one of two things is the issue – your remote is faulty, or your device does not support infrared. It would be best to consider replacing the remote you are using with another one in such a case. Here’s a great replacement.

Wrapping up

Have you lost or damaged your Roku remote? Switching to a new one will require you to pair it with your device to function. The above article looks at how you can pair an IR remote without a pairing button with your Roku player.

However, you should note that the IR remotes only work for devices with infrared sensors. Any other device will require you to either buy an enhanced remote or turn your smartphone into one using the Roku app.

Can I use an old Roku remote?

How do I pair my Roku without the pairing button?

How do I reset my Roku old remote?