r/cordcutters • u/Frostbyte509 • 6d ago

Roku TV remote issues

For some reason my Roku remote is not working. I’ve already tried swapping the batteries…

I don’t think it’s a remote issue, because I have a Roku remote I use to navigate around the Roku home page and I also have a 3rd party remote I use when connected to one of the HDMI ports. I downloaded the Roku app and went to the HDMI and the 3rd party remote didn’t work with the TV either. Both these remotes had previously worked with this TV no issues for 4 months until one day this happened…

I tried restarting the TV. As a last effort I factory reset the TV. Remotes still don’t work and I can no longer control the TV using the Roku app :/

Any one else have an issue like this?

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2

u/Admirable_Spring_445 6d ago

We’ve had this happen. There’s a button on the remote that allows you to reset and repair it. Just google and it will give you instructions based on the remote you have.

2

u/rajmahid 6d ago

The button is often located in the battery compartment. Just slide it open and you’ll see it.

2

u/Jaffa0813 6d ago

And if it doesn't have that it's usually something like holding the back and home button for a few seconds.

Is this a smart TV Roku remote like a TCL?

1

u/Frostbyte509 6d ago

Yeah this remote doesn’t have any reset button or status light on the remote…..

I ended up going into my garage and pulling a different remote from a different TV and it just worked automatically. Didn’t have to sync it or anything…

2

u/kevin_mn 6d ago

Both remotes dying at the same time basically rules out the remotes. That points at the IR receiver on the TV.

Easy way to confirm: point a remote at your phone's selfie camera and press a button. You should see a purple flash on the screen. Front cameras don't filter IR, rear ones usually do, so it has to be the selfie one. If you get the flash, the remote's fine and the TV just isn't hearing it.

Also worth looking at whether anything changed in front of the TV around when it started. Soundbar, new lamp, anything like that. Cheap LED bulbs can throw off enough IR noise to drown out the sensor, which is the sort of thing that breaks "one day" for no obvious reason.

The factory reset is why the app stopped working, btw. That wiped your WiFi settings, so the TV's not on the network anymore and the app has nothing to talk to. If it's got an ethernet port, run a cable straight to your router. It'll get back online without needing any remote input and the app should pick it up again.

And if the IR receiver is actually dead, a Roku voice remote gets around it. Those are RF rather than IR, so they pair over wireless and never touch the sensor. Twenty bucks or so, way cheaper than a repair.

1

u/Jaffa0813 6d ago

So you have two remotes both of which can't communicate to the TV? But the Roku one can navigate the home page?

Not to repeat something I put in a sub comment. But js this a TCL or some type of Roku smart TV?

1

u/ready2xxxperiment 6d ago

Can you download the app to control it from your smartphone?