I mean the Netflix, Amazon, Sling and Google buttons.It really annoys me if I'm watching something and accidentally hit one of those instead of Rewind.I can get to the channels I use easily enough with Home and a couple of arrows, but if I just want to catch a bit of dialogue I missed and hit one by mistake all of a sudden it's exiting whatever I'm watching and it's firing up Sling (usually that's the one I hit by mistake).IMO It was a poor design choice to put these buttons on the remote in the first place. Despite it being thicker I much prefer the old 2XS remote which I still use on one of my TVs..So far I've found 2 suggestions on other forums around the internet.1: Just put tape over them2: Take the remote apart and and literally destroy the contacts on the circuit board for those buttons.. I don't want to do EITHER of those things. Having the ability to reprogram them would be nice. I could reprogram them to NULL or to just Rewind or maybe even to Volume and Power for my TV. Then I wouldn't need two remotes just to watch TV.I hope Roku got paid well by those 4 companies because it seems to be more of an annoyance than a benefit to customers.In fact I even discovered some models have a button for Rdio which I never even heard of and is apparently a defunct company so the button is useless now anyway.

The fact that Roku only cares about getting advertising revenue by putting specific app button instead of customizable programmable buttons is nauseating. You get a remote with buttons Roku has decided to set for you and if you don't use those channels they are completely worthless, they should just make them programmable preset buttons that you can use to open any channel like your car radio has to set your favorite stations. But Roku would rather get paid by those channels to add 'their button' on your remote whether you are going to use it or not. My favorite is this stupid discontinued Radio channel button stuck on my remote and the channel no longer exists! Nice job on that one Roku! It's sickening that Roku chooses to do this over doing something more useful for the customer. Not to mention their uselessly annoying ad banner that takes up a huge portion of the right side of the screen instead of using that space to show more channels on your account. It's all about the money and not the customer satisfaction.

Hi all,New guy (and Roku victim) here. Regarding the Roku remote, there is just something inherently wrong when the first thing I did was physically remove the Hulu etc...buttons. What's wrong with this picture? This is not about "subsidizing" the cost of the Roku. This is corporate greed running rampant and adding to the company profit line. I can't believe I saw jeffrok suggesting "getting a new remote". WTF?? On top of the cost I just paid for the remote? That statement is absolute asinine...ASININE. Who are you, a Roku employee? And let's make something absolutely clear: This is not about "liking" or "using" these buttons. If that's all it is, then there wouldn't be an issue. This is about those buttons interfering with my use of the Roku. Do you understand? INTERFERING.What's interesting is that these buttons are impacting the company line. I just bought a Roku for my wife. Instead of buying the new Roku Ultra 4660, I got her a used Roku 3 4200R for (40 bucks off of e-bay), without those buttons. So there you go. You've lost a sale. Because of the remote. Buying that used 4200R certainly doesn't help YOUR bottom line.I've been using Roku or about 7-8 years and used to love and adore the Roku remote. Just sheer simplicity. No need to look at the remote to use it. And then you blew it.Should we take a poll? See who supports those four shortcut buttons, and those that want them disabled/removed. My guess would be that 85-90% of the users (Roku employees excluded) would like them gone.Thanks for letting me vent.

"somebody" wrote:...So far I've found 2 suggestions on other forums around the internet.1: Just put tape over them2: Take the remote apart and and literally destroy the contacts on the circuit board for those buttons.. I don't want to do EITHER of those things. Having the ability to reprogram them would be nice. I could reprogram them to NULL or to just Rewind or maybe even to Volume and Power for my TV. Then I wouldn't need two remotes just to watch TV....There is no way in software or settings to disable those buttons but you do not have to disassemble the remote to remove them at least on the two different models that I have. What I have done is use a sharp pointed tool (an pin style pen knife) to pry/pop the buttons out of the sockets. It is not easy to do but it is also not too hard. Once that is done you can leave the hole uncovered of you can use, as I have, an epoxy type filler to fill the holes. Once I did that, and in one case removed the stupid and useless voice search button, the new remote has become my favorite even though I have a old Roku 3 remote that pairs fine with my Ultra.

"jeffrok" wrote:Sickening? Like you're sickened by it?Get a different remote.Why should anyone have to purchase a different remote when they already paid 50 to 100 bucks for a Roku that already comes with a remote? Suggesting 'Get a different remote' is absurd, why should anyone have to pay for a separate remote because of their dissatisfaction with the preset content buttons being an annoyance? Just because Roku decided to set up the remote out of the box as a source for advertising revenue I should have to search and pay for one that's more user friendly if I don't like it? Maybe Roku can just put what's more useful for the customer first and foremost over profit.

I desperately wish the voicesearchbutton could be easily disabled. I'm constantly hitting it, and simply hitting it again doesn't even undo it.Of course I'm also not thrilled that for me 3 of my 4 dedicated channel buttons are useless and un-reprogramable, but at least I never his them by mistake. I'm so tempted to pry the remote open and unplug these 4 buttons.]The Roku (and my Ultra) are both such great products, but maybe it would do Roku good to have more competition to motivate attention to hardware issues and software limitations.

Can I disable the lower 4 buttons on the Stick remote?

88 Replies

Emissary35
Roku Guru
8 years ago
The fact that Roku only cares about getting advertising revenue by putting specific app button instead of customizable programmable buttons is nauseating. You get a remote with buttons Roku has decided to set for you and if you don't use those channels they are completely worthless, they should just make them programmable preset buttons that you can use to open any channel like your car radio has to set your favorite stations. But Roku would rather get paid by those channels to add 'their button' on your remote whether you are going to use it or not. My favorite is this stupid discontinued Radio channel button stuck on my remote and the channel no longer exists! Nice job on that one Roku! It's sickening that Roku chooses to do this over doing something more useful for the customer. Not to mention their uselessly annoying ad banner that takes up a huge portion of the right side of the screen instead of using that space to show more channels on your account. It's all about the money and not the customer satisfaction.
Binarygeek
Visitor
8 years ago
Hi all,

New guy (and Roku victim) here. Regarding the Roku remote, there is just something inherently wrong when the first thing I did was physically remove the Hulu etc...buttons. What's wrong with this picture? This is not about "subsidizing" the cost of the Roku. This is corporate greed running rampant and adding to the company profit line. I can't believe I saw jeffrok suggesting "getting a new remote". WTF?? On top of the cost I just paid for the remote? That statement is absolute asinine...ASININE. Who are you, a Roku employee? And let's make something absolutely clear: This is not about "liking" or "using" these buttons. If that's all it is, then there wouldn't be an issue. This is about those buttons interfering with my use of the Roku. Do you understand? INTERFERING.

What's interesting is that these buttons are impacting the company line. I just bought a Roku for my wife. Instead of buying the new Roku Ultra 4660, I got her a used Roku 3 4200R for (40 bucks off of e-bay), without those buttons. So there you go. You've lost a sale. Because of the remote. Buying that used 4200R certainly doesn't help YOUR bottom line.

I've been using Roku or about 7-8 years and used to love and adore the Roku remote. Just sheer simplicity. No need to look at the remote to use it. And then you blew it.

Should we take a poll? See who supports those four shortcut buttons, and those that want them disabled/removed. My guess would be that 85-90% of the users (Roku employees excluded) would like them gone.

Thanks for letting me vent.
Elijah_Baley
Visitor
8 years ago
"somebody" wrote:
...
So far I've found 2 suggestions on other forums around the internet.

1: Just put tape over them
2: Take the remote apart and and literally destroy the contacts on the circuit board for those buttons..

I don't want to do EITHER of those things. Having the ability to reprogram them would be nice. I could reprogram them to NULL or to just Rewind or maybe even to Volume and Power for my TV. Then I wouldn't need two remotes just to watch TV.

...

There is no way in software or settings to disable those buttons but you do not have to disassemble the remote to remove them at least on the two different models that I have. What I have done is use a sharp pointed tool (an pin style pen knife) to pry/pop the buttons out of the sockets. It is not easy to do but it is also not too hard. Once that is done you can leave the hole uncovered of you can use, as I have, an epoxy type filler to fill the holes. Once I did that, and in one case removed the stupid and useless voice search button, the new remote has become my favorite even though I have a old Roku 3 remote that pairs fine with my Ultra.
- KCinID
  Channel Surfer
  2 years ago
  I cut them out. Such a stupid design flaw, I don’t know a single person who likes or uses those buttons
  - atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    2 years ago
    It's not a design "flaw". It's a source of revenue for Roku, selling those buttons to the various companies. That's why they can't be disabled or reprogrammed, because that company has paid for those buttons. And yes, some people actually use those buttons. If one subscribes to any of those services, then the button has value for the user.
Emissary35
Roku Guru
8 years ago
"jeffrok" wrote:
Sickening? Like you're sickened by it?

Get a different remote.

Why should anyone have to purchase a different remote when they already paid 50 to 100 bucks for a Roku that already comes with a remote? Suggesting 'Get a different remote' is absurd, why should anyone have to pay for a separate remote because of their dissatisfaction with the preset content buttons being an annoyance? Just because Roku decided to set up the remote out of the box as a source for advertising revenue I should have to search and pay for one that's more user friendly if I don't like it? Maybe Roku can just put what's more useful for the customer first and foremost over profit.
- RXB
  Reel Rookie
  2 years ago
  It would have not been so bad if they had left like a 1/2 inch between the regular buttons and the advertised buttons, but I think their intention was to make you click them by accident and end up purchasing something. It's so stupidly obvious.
  Also, they could've put some glow in the dark type paint on the control buttons too to make things helpful, but like I said, it's intentional. I used to recommend Roku to everyone, but this makes me question their putting the customer first. I hope they read these comments and change it.
coyote2
Binge Watcher
8 years ago
I desperately wish the voicesearchbutton could be easily disabled. I'm constantly hitting it, and simply hitting it again doesn't even undo it.

Of course I'm also not thrilled that for me 3 of my 4 dedicated channel buttons are useless and un-reprogramable, but at least I never his them by mistake. I'm so tempted to pry the remote open and unplug these 4 buttons.]

The Roku (and my Ultra) are both such great products, but maybe it would do Roku good to have more competition to motivate attention to hardware issues and software limitations.
- Larry79
  Reel Rookie
  3 years ago
  I pulled them out with a pair of sharp nosed pliers. The buttons are just thick pads that sit on top of plastic push buttons on the circuit board. They are not wired to the circuit board.
  - atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    3 years ago
    Larry79 wrote:
    I pulled them out with a pair of sharp nosed pliers. The buttons are just thick pads that sit on top of plastic push buttons on the circuit board. They are not wired to the circuit board.
    That doesn't disable the buttons. Just makes them a bit more difficult to hit by mistake, and that might be all one needs. Just note that you've left space for dirt/debris to enter the remote, and could (eventually) cause issues with the other buttons.
Emissary35
Roku Guru
8 years ago
"mikebdoss" wrote:
"Emissary35" wrote:
"jeffrok" wrote:
Sickening? Like you're sickened by it?

Get a different remote.

Why should anyone have to purchase a different remote when they already paid 50 to 100 bucks for a Roku that already comes with a remote? Suggesting 'Get a different remote' is absurd, why should anyone have to pay for a separate remote because of their dissatisfaction with the preset content buttons being an annoyance? Just because Roku decided to set up the remote out of the box as a source for advertising revenue I should have to search and pay for one that's more user friendly if I don't like it? Maybe Roku can just put what's more useful for the customer first and foremost over profit.

I think we're taking issue with language like "sickening" and "nauseating" . We're sorry you don't like that the remote has some buttons you don't use. But your language is kinda strong for talking about a remote control.

Feel free to ignore my language if you don't like it.
- Guamguy
  Newbie
  6 years ago
  I will never purchase another ROKU product at all stemming from the remote. Great job!
  - atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    6 years ago
    Guamguy wrote:
    I will never purchase another ROKU product at all stemming from the remote. Great job!
    Certainly your privilege, but I think that's a bit over the top solely because of the remote. The remote for my Shield is annoying, and Nvidia must have agreed since they redesigned it for their newly released model. But the player itself does so much I like that I can deal with the remote.
    The lower four buttons allow Roku to keep the player price at a lower amount. How much? I have no idea. Maybe $1, maybe $10. But in the business world cost matters. I'm more annoyed with the half screen advertisement than the buttons on the remote, but I spend so little time on the home screen it really doesn't matter to me.
- UserUserUserIII
  Newbie
  2 years ago
  I’m literally getting rid of Roku because of these buttons.
  - JimL
    Streaming Star
    2 years ago
    When you find something better, please share. I wouldn't get rid of Roku because of the buttons though, since they now confirm if you really want to leave the channel you're on to go to whichever button you accidentally pushed. I'm now only using Roku TV live and that's where I see this. Admittedly, not accidentally hitting the buttons does take a lot of practice.
    Getting on my soapbox, I would like to find something better than the Roku TV live since I despise the swearing in the commercial shown on a few channels, such as the Mysterious Worlds channel, but the powers at Roku must enjoy filth. Besides, it's not like they have any support staff left that can fix anything broken. Look how long it's been since favorites worked. Ay suggestions for live TV channels would be appreciated!
captivater
Roku Guru
8 years ago
It is possible to remove the contacts underneath the buttons. It involves unscrewing screw near battery slot. Then prying open the remote shell top from bottom with a smooth metal pry tool, or hobby screwdriver if you want to chance scraping the shell or damaging the circuit board.

If this doesn't make sense to you, it's advisable to just be more cautious with where you place the remote.
reddice
Channel Surfer
8 years ago
Maybe you are better off getting a older Roku 3 remote, no voice or stupid shortcut buttons if it will pair with the new Ultra.
sicjedi
Streaming Star
6 years ago
I just got a new Ultra, and I hate those four buttons so much that I began to think negative thoughts about the companies labeled on them every time I looked at the remote or hit those freaking buttons. Here's what I did to rectify the situation...
On the Ultra, those buttons are mostly solid rubber. So I took a sharp blade and I cut them out, pretty much to be level with the surface of the remote. Then I put a small strip of paper and a strip of electrical tape horizontally across the whole area of the buttons, with the ends of the tape just lapping over under the battery cover on the remote. It looks relatively nice, and the remote works fine. No annoying buttons. 8^)
Don't tell anybody!!! ;^)
beq
Channel Surfer
8 years ago
Just hypothetical... what if Roku provides a secret screen menu to switch what app each shortcut button launches?

Doesn't have to be user friendly at all, just 4 blank fields to enter the target App ID's that we'd have to look up ourselves (see Remoku favorites -- xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:8060/query/apps). Or enter "0" to disable the button.

Roku should be able to keep the same revenue from button affiliation deals, as the secret menu wouldn't be mainstream knowledge. Besides, changing the launch targets would NOT change the imprinted labels on the buttons themselves, so this would only attract people who can live with the button labels no longer corresponding to the actual functions 🙂