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RokuMaryEF's avatar
RokuMaryEF
Community Moderator
5 days ago

[Solved] Back button on Roku not working

Hey everyone,

We’ve seen reports where the back arrow button on some Roku remotes isn’t working.

Status update 8/28: We believe the issue is now resolved by performing a system restart.

Follow these steps to restart:

  1. Press Home on your Roku remote
  2. Scroll and select Settings
  3. Select System
  4. Select Power (If you don’t see this, skip to the next step)
  5. Select System restart

After the reboot, the back button should work again. If it doesn’t, let us know!

Thank you,
Mary
Roku Community Team

Fixed

327 Replies

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  • G1521's avatar
    G1521
    Reel Rookie
    6 days ago

    My back button on my Roku is not working. It is not working on the remote that came with the Roku and it also doesn't work when I try to use the remote with my phone using the Roku app. All other buttons on the remote are working. I have already tried a system reset.

    • RokuUser8888's avatar
      RokuUser8888
      Newbie
      23 days ago

      Hello,

      The back button that allows users to toggle between two channels stopped working on all of our Roku devices (5+ devices in same house).  I suspect a faulty firmware update.  I have reset the Roku receiver (unplugged for 60 seconds) and replaced the batteries in the remote control - but that solution did not work.  I would appreciate any help.

      • the6thv3n0m's avatar
        the6thv3n0m
        Reel Rookie
        5 days ago

        Adding the growing pile. Definitely agree that this is related to a recent update. Had some issues with my Roku earlier today. Up until that point it had been working without any issues. Ended up performing a factory reset and initially after restoring all settings and apps it seemed to be functioning as expected until several hours later when in the HBO Max app I attempted to use the back button as I normally would and nothing. Thought the issue was just with the HBO Max app, but also noticed the same behavior with Hulu and Disney, yet it works fine in both the Netflix and Prime Video apps. Also it works intermittently on the Home screen. Been in IT for over 30+ years and if I ever rolled out updates that either broke a system(s) or did not have the capability to roll the updates back in the event of an issue(s) I would have lost my job a long time ago. Have to do better Roku.

    • ponyack's avatar
      ponyack
      Reel Rookie
      6 days ago

      I updated my Roku today August 27th 2025 and now if I'm inside of an app playing a movie and I hit the back button nothing happens.   So I have no way to exit that movie.

      • pasturgis39's avatar
        pasturgis39
        Newbie
        5 days ago

        From user Antharian on another thread ("Known Issues"):

        Further testing shows that if you enter the app via the "Search" menu area, the back button will work.  This leads me to believe they published content to the "Home" Content Well that broke things.

        For this to work, the "Back" button must be functioning; Hit the "Home" button, then navigate to the "Search" menu, and find the app you want to run.  It should function until they get this resolved.

    • OmicsDataGuy's avatar
      OmicsDataGuy
      Reel Rookie
      5 days ago

      Me too.  Two different Roku Ultras, two different remotes, tried resetting, unplugging power to the roku, repairing remotes, etc..  It just happened all of a sudden not too long ago.  The back button (left arrow button to the left of the Home button) simply does not have any effect in any app or even in the main Roku menus like for system settings, etc..  The Rokus register the button press, since I can watch the LED flicker on the Roku, they just don't do anything.  They say I last updated the firmware in early July, so if it is a bad firmware update, it must be some counter/clock that took this long to finally overflow.  One of them has been stuck "Checking for new software" for a long time now (stuck so badly that I just had to power cycle it), so I'm thinking that maybe this is a more widespread issue and Roku's update server is being hammered??  It smells like a firmware bug to me.  I guess we just have to wait for them to release an update.  This is a serious problem, since most of my most commonly used apps are largely unusable without back button functionality.

  • William_D_PHL's avatar
    William_D_PHL
    Newbie
    5 days ago

    This issue is not resolved. Following repower procedure does not work. Please mark this issue UNRESOLVED. Waiting for Roku to download new update to fix. Thanks

    • txjeff's avatar
      txjeff
      Streaming Star
      5 days ago

      Last night I tried a restart and it didn't resolve it with my Ultra.  But I just did it today, 8/28 and now it's working.  Even with the voice button off on my rechargeable remote.  

  • Katx's avatar
    Katx
    Reel Rookie
    5 days ago

    Suspect that something different was done when posting the HOWDY wallpaper than is typically done when posting a normal SPONSORED WALLPAPER. I would start there...

  • Stingray230sx's avatar
    Stingray230sx
    Streaming Star
    5 days ago

    8/28/2025 

    I have two Roku devices and while I did not notice it in the office room on 8/27, last night when I was going to bed, the main bedroom remote the back arrow button would not work. I tried the restart after verifying that the system was up to date. Still no joy, what does work is hitting the * [star] button which brings up the closed caption status, then exiting that and then the back arrow button will work again. Now on 8/28 the second Roku device is also doing the same thing and requires the same star button push to make the back arrow button work, so as of 8/28 YOU HAVE NOT GOT IT FIXED!!!

    It is VERY ANNOYING and I hope you continue to work on this as I do not appreciate it, especially since it's a known issue, SHOULD BE FIXED ALREADY

  • Mark725's avatar
    Mark725
    Channel Surfer
    5 days ago

    Performed stated steps. Back arrow key still not working within any app. I can get it to work if I search for the app and open it that way. Going directly to app via Home screen it doesn't work. 

    • Brocky's avatar
      Brocky
      Reel Rookie
      5 days ago

      Hello Mark725,

      YOU BEAUTY!  What made you try that?  Thanks for this work around!  

    • Mark725's avatar
      Mark725
      Channel Surfer
      3 days ago

      After trying several times the back button now works fine. 

  • Drae's avatar
    Drae
    Streaming Star
    5 days ago

    I used the Roku Media Player today, it has been a couple of days now since I used it.  The Back button is not recognized.  It is recognized by another app, but not the Roku Media Player.

    • AChanceFind's avatar
      AChanceFind
      Streaming Star
      4 days ago

      I also experienced this same issue today where the back button stopped working on one of my streaming apps, but still worked on netflix. I rebooted and then it worked again in the other app. Seeing a lot of reports of freezes on older Roku3 devices, I suspect some update is causing multiple issues.

  • Moniz's avatar
    Moniz
    Newbie
    5 days ago

    I too am having this "back arrow" issue (Rhode Island). Restart changes nothing. The issue forces me to return to "Homepage" just to switch a show on the same app. 

    • Stingray230sx's avatar
      Stingray230sx
      Streaming Star
      5 days ago

      I have found the star button will popup the closed caption status while in an app.

      after closing that popup the back arrow button will work again, at least for a bit. 

      so far that is the only way it will work for me, restarts dont work/update says current, so they are at fault

  • Williamt100's avatar
    Williamt100
    Roku Guru
    5 days ago

    Hello Mary,

    I just did another system restart per your instructions, and the "back" button now works.

    System version 14.6

  • lk111's avatar
    lk111
    Reel Rookie
    5 days ago

     

    I just tried it.

    I can CONFIRM, doing System restart fixes "back" button issue.

    Just performed System restart. The "back" button works perfectly in all streaming apps. I tested:    Hulu, Peacock, Starz, Tubi, Pluto, Rumble, Roku Channel, Fawsome, Xite Music Videos.

    The "back" button even works on Home screan!

    SYSTEM RESTART restores the "back" button to proper function.

    • chazbury's avatar
      chazbury
      Channel Surfer
      2 days ago

      I did same procedure on 2 Roku sticks, but after an hour or so of flipping around and "back" buttoning it reared is ugly head again.