Forum Discussion

Art_N's avatar
Art_N
Reel Rookie
10 months ago
Solved

Previous channel button not working

I've been thru the posts on this topic but haven't found the solution to my problem. I recently bought a TCL / Roku TV & the remote control that came with it has the previous channel button -- top left in the middle set of buttons. I also installed the app on my phone & the remote control feature in it is identical. Everything has worked just fine (including previous channel) until this evening.

When the previous channel button on the remote quit working I assumed it was the remote, but then I tried using the function in the phone app & got the exact same results -- all the other buttons still work fine, just that one (previous channel) button quit working. So it seems the problem is with the TV itself. I've run thru all the normal troubleshooting / reset steps, but no change.

remotes
  • RokuJharra-Q's avatar
    RokuJharra-Q
    10 months ago

    Hi, Art_N Welcome to the Roku Community! 

    Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. We would like to offer some additional information regarding the functions of our Roku remote buttons, as there may be some confusion about the specific button you are referring to.

    Please visit our Roku page remote buttons functions, to learn more about the buttons on the Roku remote, their functions, and the typical behavior users expect when pushing them.

    Hope this helps!

    Thanks,
    Jharra

7 Replies

  • renojim's avatar
    renojim
    Community Streaming Expert
    10 months ago

    Roku remotes don't have a previous channel button.  I believe you're speaking of the Instant Replay button (a counterclockwise circular arrow).  Some apps may repurpose the button, but that's out of Roku's control.

    • Art_N's avatar
      Art_N
      Reel Rookie
      10 months ago

      >> I believe you're speaking of the Instant Replay button (a counterclockwise circular arrow).

      OK, that's what you call it. I've never used that button for instant replay, but often use it as a previous channel button. For example, there's an NFL game I'm interested in, but there's a show on another channel I want to keep watching. So I can select the game from the menu, use the button to go back to the show I've been watching & use it again to check in on the game. You can go back & forth between 2 channels as often as you want.

      Electronic problems don't fix themselves, but something happened -- the button is working again! I can't explain it & it wasn't anything I did, but I'm sure glad it's working again!

  • Dutch37's avatar
    Dutch37
    Newbie
    24 days ago

    The rewind/ previous channel button on both my remotes stopped working a month ago and I've hounded them ever since and still no resolution. I can't go to previous channel pressing the rewind button. I've been promised a resolution weeks ago and still no fix. Come on Roku. Fix it

    • renojim's avatar
      renojim
      Community Streaming Expert
      23 days ago

      Dutch37​ , if it's not happening in an app that Roku developed (and I'm sure you're speaking of an app that Roku didn't develop), Roku can't and won't fix it.  Contact the developer of the app.

    • RokuHaz-M's avatar
      RokuHaz-M
      Community Moderator
      23 days ago

      Hi there! Dutch37​

      We understand you're having trouble with the rewind or previous button on your Roku remote.

      If you can let us know which app you're using when this happens, we can try to find their support site and share it with you—it might help sort things out.

      Cheers!
      Roku Community Team

  • Strega2's avatar
    Strega2
    Roku Guru
    10 months ago

    By any chance was a USB flash drive added to the TV? I believe some TVs default to repurposing the replay button to be previous channel (on Over The Air viewing.) But they also allow you to add a flash drive to buffer OTA TV. However, once you do that, they revert the replay button to its normal function, since you now have a buffer to jump back in.

    Of course, an even simpler explanation is that you're watching streaming TV, where the replay button will usually function as Roku intended. (Unless, as renojim says, some app has overridden the function.)

  • RokuJharra-Q's avatar
    RokuJharra-Q
    Retired Moderator
    10 months ago

    Hi, Art_N Welcome to the Roku Community! 

    Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. We would like to offer some additional information regarding the functions of our Roku remote buttons, as there may be some confusion about the specific button you are referring to.

    Please visit our Roku page remote buttons functions, to learn more about the buttons on the Roku remote, their functions, and the typical behavior users expect when pushing them.

    Hope this helps!

    Thanks,
    Jharra