How to pair a new roku remote without pairing button

Being a tech enthusiast, I like to keep my gadgets and electronics updated. Over the past few years, I have upgraded most electronics in my house to smart products except the TV in my home office. Instead of upgrading the system, I opted for the low-cost workaround and installed a Roku. There are plenty of other ways to convert a normal TV into a smart TV as well.

I have been using a Roku device with the TV for over a year now. Although the system performed seamlessly all this while, a few months into using the remote, the pairing button stopped working. This means, every time I replace the batteries, I have to pair the remote with the device using methods that don’t involve the pairing button.

After a lot of research, I came across a few methods that can be used to pair your remote with the Roku device without using the pairing button. In this article, to save your time and effort, I have detailed what you can do if your pairing button is not working or is broken.

Check if the pairing button is in a different location on the remote. If that does not work, get an IR remote that is compatible with your Roku since it doesn’t need pairing. Replacing your remote, using the Roku controller app are the last options.

Roku Remote has the Pairing Button in a Different Location

If you are a new Roku user, there is a chance you might not be able to locate the pairing button. Roku devices come with two types of remote:

• Standard IR remote
• Enhanced “point-anywhere” remote

The standard IR remote does not come with a pairing button. It is a standard remote that requires you to point it at the Roku device to relay commands.

The enhanced “point-anywhere” remote, on the other hand, comes with a pairing button. It connects to the Roku device over Wi-Fi and can be used to control it even if there are barriers between the TV and the remote.

To find if your Roku remote comes with a pairing button, open its battery compartment. The pairing button is located at the bottom of the battery compartment. Depending on the model of the remote, it will either be in the center or the bottom right.

IR Roku Remotes Don’t Need to Be Paired

As mentioned, not all Roku remotes come with pairing buttons; this means not all Roku remotes need to be paired with the Roku device.

If you have an IR censored remote, you are not supposed to pair it with the system. The remote is pre-calibrated according to the system. All you have to do is point it at the Roku device to relay commands. They operate similar to standard remotes.

Roku Models that Support IR Remotes

Almost all Roku products, except Roku sticks, are compatible with IR remotes. Hence, if you have a Roku remote that does not come with a pairing button, it is most likely an IR remote. Some Roku devices that support IR remotes are:

• Roku LT
• Roku Express
• Roku Express+
• Roku N1
• Roku HD
• Roku XD and XDS
• Roku 1, 2 and 3
• Roku Premiere
• Some Roku TVs
• Roku 2 HD
• Roku XS

Your Pairing Button Does Not Work

Although the Roku remote pairing button is tucked away in the battery compartment safely, it can be damaged if the remote is damaged due to liquid spillage or dropping. Either of the situations mentioned above can render the pairing button useless.

Hence, you will not be able to connect the remote to the Roku device using the button. However, you can use the Roku controller app to connect the remote. The method is mentioned later in the article.

As a temporary solution, until you troubleshoot your Roku remote successfully, you can stream content from your iPhone to your TV in seconds or use Chromecast to cast content from other phones or laptops to your TV.

Replace your Roku Remote

If your remote has undergone water or drop damage and it is not functioning properly, you can always invest in a new remote. However, note that trying to make an old malfunctioning device is always dangerous.

Hence, if your Roku remote has an unstable performance, keeps disconnecting, and the pairing button is not working, it is time for you to replace it. Unlike the Roku device, the Roku remote undergoes wear and tear due to rough handling. Hence, it will most likely malfunction before the Roku device does.

Roku keeps upgrading its remotes to add more features. Thus, investing in a new remote will not only be a safer course of action, but you will also get to play with new features.

Alternatively, you can even lookout for smart remote controls with RF blasters. They work like a charm and can be an ideal replacement for your Roku remote or any regular remote.

Unpair Your Old Roku Remote

If you are trying to pair a new remote or a remote from another Roku device, you have to unpair the old Roku remote. Otherwise, the newly paired remote will not function properly. To unpair the old remote, you need the pairing button. Follow these steps:

• Press the home, pairing, and back button at the same time.
• Keep pressing until the LED light blinks three times.
• Wait for a few seconds. The remote will unpair itself.

However, if the pairing button on the old remote does not work, you can unpair it by removing the batteries from the remote. Don’t replace the batteries for at least two minutes.

Pair Your New Roku Remote

To pair a Roku remote with the Roku device, you need the pairing button intact. If you are using a new Roku remote, follow these steps to pair it with the Roku device.

• Turn on the TV.
• Tun on the Roku device.
• After the Roku logo appears, insert the batteries in the remote.
• Press the pairing button in the battery compartment.
• Keep pressing until the pairing light starts flashing.
• The device will automatically start the pairing process. This might take a few minutes.

If the pairing button on your Roku remote is not working or is damaged, you can use the Roku controller app to pair it.

If your Roku Remote is Not Pairing, try resetting it, and checking its batteries.

Use the Roku Controller App

The Roku controller app is an all-in-one system that helps you control the Roku device even if you don’t have a Roku remote. It also allows you to pair a Roku remote with the device in case its pairing button is damaged.

Download the Roku app on your tablet or phone. It is available in both App Store and Play Store.

Ensure that your smartphone or tablet and the Roku device are connected to the same network.

• Open the app.
• Go to settings.
• Press’ Remotes And Devices’.
• Tap ‘Pair New Device’.

The app will automatically detect the Roku remote. If this does not work for you, you can also follow another method.

• Using the buttons on the home screen of the controller app, go to the settings of your Roku device.
• Select Remote from the settings.
• Click on ‘Pair Remote’.
• Press the right arrow. This will open a set of instructions.
• Follow these instructions to connect your remote to the Roku device.

If neither of the methods works, there is a chance your Roku remote has a hardware issue. You might have to invest in a new one.

Final Comments on How to Sync Roku Remote Without Pairing Button

If your Roku device is malfunctioning and the performance is unstable, you can always claim its warranty. However, if the device is physically or water damaged, you will not be able to claim the warranty. In this case, you will have to purchase a new Roku remote.

Moreover, if you believe your remote does not have a hardware issue, the unstable connection and performance might be caused by an unstable Wi-Fi connection. This is because enhanced Roku remotes use Wi-Fi to interact with the device.

Hence, if the Wi-Fi is not working properly or if the signals are scarce, there is a chance that this is affecting the stability of the connection between the Roku remote and the Roku device.

Also, if you’re unpairing your remote because it’s overheating, then keep in mind that you need to wait a couple of minutes before touching the batteries to let it cool down.

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