[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.
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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.
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.
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.
Same issue - Roku broke something. To be clear, this is the Back arrow button next to the Home button.
As you said, others are reporting the back button doesn’t even work from the Roku app.
The only workaround I’ve found is toggling on the voice control slider button on the side of the remote (if your remote has one). Toggle it on and see if the back button begins working, then try toggling it off. Play around with it. For me, it fixes the problem temporarily at least. There seems to be some link to voice control.
Roku, please get this fixed.
I can confirm toggling voice search on and off seems to restore functionality at least temporarily.
Confirm that this seems to reenable the back button.
Nice!! I don't know how you found this glitch to the Roku Glitch. But I'm glad you did because this has been driving me insane.
When I read your post, I thought, "Hope that works for people with that slider on the side. But does me no good. I don't have one on my remote."
Then I thought about it and hit the mic button. It brought up the menu for voice. In the app I was in, CBS News, the back button started working again. I don't know about any other apps.
Most important to me, is Plex. I'll try it later and see. If it works, I will edit this reply. My thinking since I started working with the Roku OS back in 2014 was that the [Home] button should take you to the Home of the App first and then the OS Home. But what do I know. I've only been working in IT Systems Engineering for 29years.
Over on the Roku subreddit, there is talk that it is home screen related and that after a reboot immediately move off the home screen And open your desired app via search and it won't hose the back button. Haven't tried it yet myself.
The search option to open the app works even without the reboot. They have got a home screen problem - and it just started for us all. Bad update somewhere in their ecosystem.
The search option seems to be a good temp fix. The back button works now. A bit inconvenient but is a good patch for now.
Hey, that seemed to work. And this is much easier than the toggle voice control on/off (that also seemed to work). Thanks!
Could you help me with this. Reboot my TV or just unplug Roku for a minute? It says get off the Homecare quickly. I have to be on it to go into my Spectrum app. Thank you.
Worked for me too.. Kind of a PITA though.. Roku,,, is anybody home?
No. If they were home, this never would have happened. Their Quality Assurance process obviously is broken.
I am also having these issues has there been any sign of a solution to this at all???
Navigating to apps through the search function on the home menu seems to restore the back buttons functionality within apps. Still needs to be fixed, but thos has been working as a temporary fix.
This is the only valid workaround. Thanks. Sure hope roku fixes this quick.
I am in their chat support. Zero help so far. Basically just rehash of the steps already listed on their remote troubleshooting page.
They have escalated to engineering Team. Doesn't look like this will be fixed soon.
The workaround described by Back Button Stopped Working on All Roku Remotes | Roku Community works for me too (launch the app from the search function - then back works).
Pretty bad QA work on this last update. Seems like a very basic test miss.I just encountered this on one of my 4800x Ultras. Same as described. Back button on the remote and Android app won't work. I also have not gotten a recent update to the OS. Maybe whatever **bleep** they do to update the menus/ads on the home screen broke something. Only my YouTube/YouTube TV app seems to still respond to the back button correctly. Hopefully, this is fixed stat.
Same issue here. The back button top left of remote) stops working just a few minutes/seconds after a reboot. When it dies, it dies on my remote and the phone app. My last update says it was in July, but it worked yesterday.
Rebooted many time, changed batteries, factory reset device. Nothing fixes it.
This is a major issue to navigate anything on the Roku.
What app are you using? By "Back" I assume you mean the "Instant replay" button. The Back button is to the left of the Home button. The "Instant replay" button is the button with the counterclockwise circular arrow that some apps use to toggle back and forth since they don't allow any kind of replay or any other DVR-like controls. I haven't seen an app that uses the Back button for anything other than returning to the previous screen.
I am using the Spectrum app. By "back" button, I mean the button to the left of Play/Pause.
Yep, that's the "Instant replay" button. It's not a Roku issue if it's happening in the Spectrum app. They're taking over it's normal function and may have changed something. Try contacting Spectrum.
I'm on Spectrum as well. Had the same issue last night and tonight it seems the "counterclockwise circle-arrow" button is now working as the back to last channel button.
