How to UNPAIR a voice remote to disable Device Connect?

Yes, it seems in your case and Sunfox case the aftermarket remote can't get over the hurdle of dismissing the pairing screen. I suggest you get a true Roku IR remote. In the link to ebay below any remote with cross cursor pad and no power key is true IR Roku remote. Stay away from any with round cursor pad that's an aftermarket brand. 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=roku+IR+remote&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=roku+remote&_sop=10

Okay, I can confirm that this is indeed a problem with the universal remote - but a very specific and obscure issue that traces back to the Roku Voice remote in IR mode.

The reason is, the Roku Voice Remote transmits different infrared codes than a standard Roku infrared remote. And, any universal remote maker that used a Voice remote in infrared mode as its donor, or if you tried to learn the codes off of one like I did, will end up with a very slightly different set of codes than if they had used a true Roku IR-only remote.

Which codes you use makes absolutely no difference to the Roku, except in one very tiny place: the remote pairing screen. And I suspect the entire reason for this slight difference in codes is to specifically PREVENT the Voice remote from being able to dismiss the pairing screen.

For example, someone pops the batteries in their Voice remote, up comes the pairing screen, they hit a button knowingly or unknowingly, the pairing screen disappears and the remote seems to work… except for some reason the Voice button doesn’t work. And neither do the headphones. So they call into customer support and complain.

I’m guessing this was either a problem, or someone foresaw it being a problem, so they crippled the remote’s ability to dismiss that screen, unless you were truly using a real Roku IR remote and definitely wanted IR mode.

Which kind of makes me wonder… why even have a backup IR mode on the Voice remote? Under normal circumstances it’s not even usable…

At any rate, I located learned code captures from a real Roku IR remote, downloaded them to an advanced remote, and then taught them to the cheapie remote I’m using with the Roku, and now I have no problem dismissing the pairing screen. And I was then able to disable Device Connect, and now WiFi is truly off.

In my mind this would make all third-party Roku IR remotes potentially suspect, as you really have no idea which code version they’re using, and unless the maker was specifically aware of this issue, they would have no reason to care.

Sunfox wrote:

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Which kind of makes me wonder… why even have a backup IR mode on the Voice remote? Under normal circumstances it’s not even usable…

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On every (non-Stick paired) WiFi Direct ("Voice") Roku remote, pulling the paired-device power results in the remote reverting to IR mode (fallback IR mode by design), thus allowing you to IR control any (IR-enabled) Roku device - aside from the paired device, which can be forced into IR-only mode by disabling Device Connect (convolutedly through the Factory Reset process as you've discovered).

(Stick-paired WiFi Direct ("Voice") remotes do not fall back into IR mode because Sticks do not have any IR to fall back to)

So, the purpose of the IR-mode is to be able to communicate with (non-Stick) devices, either that its paired to (but cant WiFi Direct communicate with for whatever reason), or not paired to (when the paired device cant be WiFi Direct communicated with for whatever reason).

So it definitely has utility value, whether in "normal" or "abnormal" circumstances:  Is the paired device being off normal/abnormal?  Is a WiFi Direct interference/connection problem normal/abnormal?  Is Device Connect disabled normal/abnormal? etc...

(Side note:  Why do Stick models even have the Device Connect UI option functionality at all, considering they can only be used with paired WiFi Direct remotes?  Surely not a(nother) device-specific OS/UI design flaw...)

As to the UNPAIRING problem as outlined in the OP and subsequent posts:   Roku have absurdly and poorly designed the UNPAIRING procedure such that effectively it must be done on BOTH the device AND the remote, and on the device end, the "Forget" option is ONLY available when MORE THAN ONE WIFI DIRECT REMOTE IS PAIRED TO THE DEVICE.

(This of course excludes using a Factory Reset to remove a device-side pairing)

Yes, you read that correctly:  The "Forget" UI option (for all paired remotes) is only available if more than one remote is paired to the device.  So, as long as you have 2 or more paired remotes, you can "Forget" any of them; however, as soon as you "Forget" them until only one paired remote remains, you cannot "Forget" the last paired remote. 

To further complicate the unpairing procedure, even if you "Forget" the remote on the device side, the remote itself is still paired to the device, unless/until you "Forget" the pairing on the remote itself, either by pairing it with another device or removing the pairing via Home+Back+Pairing.

Thats right -  in order to fully UNPAIR a remote from a device, you must: 1) "Forget" the remote on the device side, AND 2) "Forget" the device on the remote side - two entirely separate procedures.

So, yes, Roku has some significant/severe remote-related design flaws (amongst many others), including the unpairing process/procedure, though the availability of fallback IR mode isnt one of them (though it could be improved, perhaps with a manual/button(s) toggle "IR Only" mode on the remotes themselves).

The issue is, if you remove the batteries from your WiFi remote and perform a factory reset, and your universal/IR remote cannot bypass the remote pairing screen, then that is an issue with your IR remote. It has the wrong codes.

The best solution would be to purchase an original (not third party) Roku Standard remote and use that to get past the pairing screen. After that you will be able to disable Wifi and Device Connect.

UserOfStreamers 

Hello,

I have the same issue as the OP. Can you please explain your excellent solution in layman's terms? How do I locate the options for the device side and the remote side to "forget" both sides? Do I need to factory reset the Roku first? I have a Sofabaton R2 Universal remote and the Roku remote that came with the Ultra that I just purchased at Best Buy. According to your solution, I should pair both of these remotes first.

Any help you can provide is most appreciated. I am sensitive to EMF and need to be able to use the disable device connect feature. I called Roku support yesterday and was told it is not possible to unpair the Roku remote. Thank you in advance.

Thank you, I'll give it a try!

An original Roku IR remote worked! Device Connect is now disabled. Thank you so much!

Two questions: How do I program a universal remote without reconnecting the voice remote (was I supposed to do that step before resetting the ROKU to factory settings)? Second, do I need to save the voice remote or can I sell it; I have two of them.

I’m not sure what you mean by programming the universal - you can just use whatever codes it has built-in from now on, as the “important” part for the Roku original remote is to get past the pairing screen.

If your universal remote is learning, I would take the codes from the Roku IR remote as they are more useful than the voice remote in IR mode. I would also keep at least one voice remote around, as well as the Roku IR remote, should you need to do anything with them in the future.

The only way is (after a factory reset) to bypass the remote pairing screen with your IR remote. If your IR remote won’t let you do this, then it has the wrong IR codes - namely, the same codes that the WiFi remote has when it’s unpaired, which are designed to prevent you from “accidentally” not pairing your RF remote.

You need an original Roku IR remote or a third party remote with different codes.

This obviously demonstrates Roku's total disregard for the health and safety of their customers.   Can anyone recommend alternate streaming devices?

Sorry, that just doesn’t work. Maybe it once did. But it never has for me.

With the batteries out of the wifi remote (and buttons pushed repeatedly to ensure it’s good and dead), I perform a factory reset using the IR remote. A few seconds later it comes up with the “choose your language” screen. The IR remote does nothing. About 5 seconds later a “Pair your remote” graphic appears describing hitting the button inside the battery compartment. All buttons on the IR remote do nothing, and there is no way to get past this screen without pairing a wireless remote.

Placing batteries back into the wireless remote at this point forces it to operate in IR mode (verified). None of its buttons yet do anything to control the Roku. It does not automatically pair until I hit the pairing button.

At that point the remote pairs and it returns to the language screen. The IR remote still doesn’t work! It’s only immediately after picking a language that the IR remote begins to function as one would expect.

What is the model number of this IR remote? Can you post a picture? 

I took the batteries out of my 4800 ultra remote, factory reset the 4800, screen turn to language, using an IR roku remote I clicked English, the pairing screen came up, tap the back key it went away never to return, finished setting up the ultra with IR remote. No problems. Never asked for wifi remote again. 

It’s just a generic learning remote that captured the codes from the Roku wireless in IR mode. It works 100% normally once a language has been selected. And based on no IR commands working on that screen at all (directions, OK, back, whatever, even using that Roku original remote transmitting IR codes), but working perfectly once I’ve gotten past that screen, I’m at a loss.

What is the exact firmware version of your Roku? As mentioned, mine is 10.5.0 build 4208-C2.

Same, 10.5.0 build 4208-C2. 

Sunfox 

Try the factory reset again. Press and hold the reset button for at least 30 seconds. Ignore anything the Roku does. Hold for a continuous 30 seconds. Then try again.

Nope. I tried taking the batteries out, putting the remote in the microwave (faraday cage) so it wouldn’t detect it, and use my IR remote to do factory reset. Holding the button on factory reset for 30 sec does nothing- it continues on as if it was pressed for one second. Then when I get to the “pair your remote” screen, it is frozen there and the IR remote does not work. I can not hit the back button, that does nothing. The ONLY way to continue is to pair the RF remote. I’m going back to my aluminum foil.

Btw, mine is model 4662RW Roku Ultra Lt; 10.5.0.Build 4208-46

Jen41 

Does anything show onscreen when you’re holding the reset button on the Roku Ultra? Any messages, text, anything?

Jen41 

You're not OP, we are trying to help two posters at the same time, alright what is the model number of your Roku IR remote? If it has Roku Tv written on it, it will never control your Ultra. 

By the way, the IR remote is a Sofabaton R2 Universal remote with programming extension for Roku. Available on Amazon for less than $20. 

It just goes to the circle showing it’s working and then to the language/ English screen. From there it goes to the “pair remote” and freezes until I pair the RF remote. I don’t remember it saying anything and I’m not going through the factory reset and setup again. I’ve done it about 7 times already. Enough. 

The Sofabaton R2 IR remote works perfectly with the Roku Ultra all the time EXCEPT when the “pair remote” screen is up. Then it does nothing. 

Going into the service menu you can actually attempt to forget the primary WiFi remote -- there's an option -- but it either doesn't work or is only temporary,.

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Sunfox wrote:

Going into the service menu you can actually attempt to forget the primary WiFi remote -- there's an option -- but it either doesn't work or is only temporary,.

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Yes, there is an option in Platform SS/RF Remote Menu/Misc Settings to "Forget All Remotes", but it doesnt actually remove the registration/pairing info from either the device or the remote  (it just "forgets" their current session activeness, and as soon as you press a button, it activates it per session).

In effect, it doesnt address unpairing.

UserOfStreamers 

All remotes included with Roku sticks since they added tv controls do switch to IR when the stick power is disconnected. It's useless when it comes to sticks but it's there. Reason? Stick use the same wifi remote as other Roku models like the premiere+, express+ and so on. 

As for Device Connect on sticks, it's cheaper to have the same UI in all Roku devices. There is no danger of you disabling Device Connect and not having remote be able to communicate with the stick. Because you can't disable Device Connect with wifi remote still paired to the stick, even after factory reset when the stick doesn't have wifi paired, you still have to go through settings to turn off Device Connect, with no wifi remote paired that won't happen.