Why is Roku, whos worth 40 billion USD still doing nothing2 fix their defective remotes after years?

I'm new to Roku and am so dissapointed with them currently. I was in love after taking a chance on pulling th plug with cable. I thought it was an issue with the batteries at first when I noticed that I was changing the batteries frequently. I thought that I must have been using old batteries. Consequently, I purchaed a pack of new batteries and then proved that it wasn't an isuue with old batteries, it was the remote draining the batteries. I've had all kinds of remotes over the years as many adults have had in their homes and I have never experienced changing out batteries so frequently.

I'm so glad to find out that others are experiencing the same issue-unfortunately, or fortunately, that fact validates my issue. I'm glad that others have not experience this issue-good for them. However, for those of us experiencing the problem, we are not crazy nor imaging the issue-and it's frustrating. It is happening to us and the darn remote is sucking up the life out of batteries at an unbelievable rate.

And yet it is not a universal problem.  Over the last 10 years or so I've had five or more different Roku models, all connected via WiFi, and none of them have had batteries that didn't last 3 months or more, even with heavy daily use.  I don't know of anyone reporting they figured out why some people's remotes eat up batteries prematurely and others don't.

One thing known to reduce remote battery life is on those few remote models that have a built-in headphone jack.  Headphone use does reduce battery life.  The remote's internal headphone amplifier is energized any time there is something plugged into the headphone jack, even when the Roku is not in use, so one should always unplug the headphones when done using this feature..

There is a bit of anecdotal evidence from a few people who have found that by changing their router configuration to use a less congested WiFi channel they have improved remote battery life.

I see a lot of responses seem to dispute the issue; I understand both sides based on my experience:

- I have 4 "Rokus"; 2 TV's and 2 devices

- One of those devices is a Streaming Stick+.   The remote for IT (only) has been an absolute nightmare.  I'm on my 2nd remote for Stick+ and while this one goes through batteries slower than the first, it's still dramatically faster than the other three.

However, IT (only) constantly has a problem where it disconnects from the device.  It can still operate the (Panasonic) tv functions, but I need to do the whole "remove batteries, unplug Roku, replug Roku, reinstall batteries" thing on nearly a daily basis - sometimes, more than once a day.

Yes, I do have the app on my phone which I use as fallback, but it's ONLY ever this Stick+ remote with the issue.

Dealing with Roku support was a NIGHTMARE in getting the first remote replaced (inc it being shipped to the wrong address then insisting I had received it).

It was such a hassle that I am just making due with this replacement remote since it at least eats batteries at a slower pace than the first.

Based on this, I am no longer recommending Roku.

For a variety of reasons, I get asked my opinion a lot on this, but as much as I believe Roku functionality is substantially better than the competition, this issue with the Stick+ remote(s) along with the subsequent bad customer service experience have just been too much.

Roku has so much going for it; this has been SUCH a disappointment.

I have six Roku remotes.  They all work just fine.

WillowSpirit 

All mine work great. I wonder what I'm doing wrong.

I don't have an answer, just wanted to agree with you 100%. I replaced a device a few weeks ago (this took several hours, with many different employees - terrible CS is another Roku feature), and days later my other device failed. I just went to Best Buy and paid for it myself, because it wasn't worth most of a day for a $40-50 device. I have remotes for multiple other devices in my home, and none have given me any trouble. Roku clearly doesn't care about us as customers. I'm looking for another option to stream TV.

I don’t think it’s the remotes because I paired the remote on my other TVs and it worked 

I think some of the Roku devices were partially fried when they updated the software to 10.0.0

I have 5 devices in 2 locations and only 1 was hit 🤔

It is frustrating. I have 3 roku devices, all of which have eventually started making a high pitched sound and draining batteries within a day or two. The first time roku sent me a comparable replacement. Second time they sent me a less nice remote (the replacement is not able to control the TV volume/power). The third remote just went bad today so we'll see what happens. 

We've had ROKU over 15 years, and the remotes are WEAK.

Why are they so lame? Who knows, but they could surely 

make a remote that puts out a stronger signal. You almost have to be

on top of the thing for it to work sometimes, and that's with

BRAND SPANKING NEW BATTERIES.

Most remotes have been fine.  The latest Stick doesn't work.  But hey, they are probably having 12 year olds in India code for them so it's not gonna be great.