Remotes are cheap and break regularly
Maybe you are only because I am using two Roku devices on one of them I use Instagram Pro, and have never replaced any remote. They are working well and good. Hopefully an expert will get you soon on this.
Forum Discussion
20 Replies
So the purpose of the OP was spam all along.
Yes the remotes are garbage. I have two Roku TVs I purchased four remotes in 3 years. None have been trouble three while they were working either..
Welcome, and thank you for posting here in the Roku Community, Cmcrow76!
Thank you for bringing to our attention the issues you have been encountering with your Roku remote. We are committed to investigating the matter thoroughly and providing you with further information.
Please note that if you are using a Roku-branded TV such as TCL, ONN, Hisense, or any other brand, we strongly advise you to contact your TV manufacturer for assistance with the remote control. This is because each TV brand designs its own remote controls that are optimized to work with its specific TV hardware. Our support is limited to the software operating system of your TV only.
Refer to this link to help you contact the right support: Contacting Support for Your Roku TV
Furthermore, if you have a Roku TV Pro Series, Plus Series, or Select TV, please don't hesitate to let us know if you're having issues with your Roku remote, or you may refer to our website to look for replacement remotes.
We hope you find this information helpful.
Happy Streaming!
Best regards,
Carly
YES, they are! I too have had 3 or 4 remotes (for 2 different devices) go bad (I'm losing track because both remotes for both devices are just breaking every few months). Until this point, I would tell the chat and be sent another one. Now I'm being told that I have to buy the next one. This is for a device that is less than 2 years old. I'm upset and will not buy my next device from Roku unless they send me a remote that doesn't break. I have been a loyal roku customer for years (have bought 3 devices in that time). This is really frustrating.
Thank you for posting here in the Roku Community, luit.
We appreciate you letting us know about the remote issues you've experienced. We'd like to look closely into this and determine the cause.
Could you please specify the indication of it being broken? Do certain buttons malfunction? Are you unable to pair it? Or are there any lights flickering when you try to press buttons on your remote? Also, please let us know the following details:
- Specific Roku player the remotes were connected to.
- The specific Roku remote you are having these issues with.
With more detailed information, we will be able to assess your concern better and provide you with an accurate resolution. Once again, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you.
We'll be anticipating your response!
Best regards,
CarlyI have had 3 or 4 remotes for my two devices break by going "dead". Meaning, no response to any of the trouble-shooting steps. With the previous ones, I have been provided replacements, but now the replacements are doing the same thing, and I'm being told by agent support that I will need to purchase the next one. The one currently not working was connected to an express 4k+. The remote is a Voice Remote.
I've had two go bad as well now! One I had for quite a while, this last one I just got in December of 2023. It's only April of 2023 and the right arrow button is nearly impossible to press. Super frustrating! Tried new batteries, re-pairing it to the roku device, NOTHING. The right button still seems almost incredibly hard to press. The quality now is so poor it's ridiculous!
A warm welcome here in the Roku Community, SassySharkie!
We appreciate you taking the time to report about the right arrow button of your Roku remote being unable to function well and our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you. No worries! We're here to find you the best resolution possible.
We'd like to gather further information about this so we can provide you with an accurate resolution possible:
- What specific Roku player this remote were connected to?
- Is this the remote that comes with that Roku player?
- Where did you purchase this?
We'll be anticipating your response!
Best regards,
Carly
Oh my gosh, it's true, remotes are really cheap and often break. Am I the only one who's tired of these cheap remotes that always break without a reasonable way to replace them? Have you had a Roku device several times and the remote keeps breaking within a year, and the only "replacement" option is just downloading the app and using your cellphone? Are you serious? We think big companies like this can make small items like accessories with good quality, but they always disappoint us.
This Roku remote brand was discussed in an article, if I'm not mistaken, the name of the ngobrol games website, they discussed this Roku brand, which is very good and beautiful, but I also wonder why this remote is always broken for a smart TV that is very good to use in the past 3 years.
And there is no one to contact/report. For yourself, it's better to buy a decent smart TV or firestick than this cheap one.- ??????>?> Really?? I can't keep one longer than 2 months. is there a "best" one to get?
The Roku mobile app is pretty good for turning your phone or tablet into a Roku remote in order to control your device, and it will add the voice function and private listening feature if your current Roku remote doesn't have those things.
But you can't use it as a full substitute for an actual Roku remote because if you ever needed to do a factory reset on your Roku device you can't set up the Roku with the mobile app remote, you need a real Roku remote. But aside from that one thing I think that the Roku mobile app remote feature is pretty cool.
I haven't tried it yet with private listening enabled, but I am willing to bet you can listen for a lot longer on your mobile device as opposed to an actual Roku Voice Remote which has private listening, because those will drain your double A batteries pretty quick.
Also I would suspect that you won't get the annoying battery notification popping up on your TV screen since the mobile remote is not an actual Roku remote paired to your device, I don't know that for certain I'm just assuming.
That battery notification is so annoying because a lot of the time it malfunctions and pops up when you don't want it to. After all the complaints over the years Roku still will not update the Roku firmware to include an option to disable this broken notification.
I am with you I have to Roku and remotes one is new other is 3 years old. The remotes never work new batteries, repairing nothing. I did put app on my phone but you have to pay monthly for hardly anything you use it for. Mad can't watch TV..
This page links to the actual Roku phone apps from the Roku company. They are free to use. (Also, based on what I see in the Apple and Android apps stores, they are highly rated and downloaded by tens of millions of people.)
I've had the exact opposite experience.
I've never had a Roku remote break, going back to my Roku 2 XS 3100R devices starting in 2012.
I'm currently using (2) Roku Express 4K+ 3941R (2021), (2) Roku Streaming Stick 3800R (2017), and (2) Roku Streaming Stick 3600R (2016) devices, and I've never had any trouble with any of those remotes, either.
Also, if you DO break a remote, if you don't want to use the app, you can simply buy a replacement remote.
I have not had an Roku wireless (RF) remote go bad. A couple of the remotes have even been chewed on by a puppy. One was to the point in which the battery door barely stays on. However, the remote still works.
The one situation in which I have seen a Roku official remote go bad was the simple infrared remote that came packaged with the Roku Express (the non-4K model). The buttons felt spongy and it took several presses of the button just to get it to eventually register. We tried replacing the batteries and tried holding up close to the front of the Roku Express.
I recommended replacing it with a Roku Express 4K+ which comes bundled with a wireless RF remote. Ever since then they have not had any problems.
If you need an universal remote (and are *not* using a Roku Stick) then the Sofabaton U2 works fine. It is infrared so it requires line of sight to the front of the Roku. Mostly I only recommend if for people that need to also be able to control an A/V receiver. However, if you lost faith in Roku remotes the maybe it will work as alternative.
Thank you for the Sofabaton U2 info. I will keep it in mind.
