Remotes

[WomanOfWords]

My original simple remote stopped working. I ordered a new one, which arrived today. It's an IR simple remote that doesn't have the pairing light like my old one. But it doesn't work, either. There are no obstructions. The best I can get is the Home screen after I unplug the Roku. I have a stick. On the Home screen, neither emote will let me choose anything. 

I tried downloading the app to my phone, but it won't download (my phone eats apps).

[Tivoburkee]

You can not use an IR remote on a roku stick, do you see an IR sensor on the stick? NO! Roku sticks can only be controlled with roku wifi remote that has to have a pairing button in the battery compartment. You can go to walmart or best buy and buy a Roku voice remote. That's if your roku stick isn't purple!! No current roku wifi remotes work with 3500 purple sticks. 

[WomanOfWords]

Thanks. How nice it would have been to have had that knowledge when I was buying a remote. I guess that would make too much sense. 

I do appreciate your help, but it wasn't clear to me that this remote was IR and couldn't be used for my Roku. I knew I had a simple remote and I wanted another simple remote. I don't really want a voice remote. 

[atc98092]

No Roku Stick has ever come with a "simple" remote. As mentioned, the Stick does not support IR remotes, which is what all Roku simple remotes are. Even my old 3600 Stick has a WiFi Direct remote. Now those older models didn't come with a remote with volume controls, but they were still WiFi Direct. As @Tivoburkee mentioned, if you have a purple Roku Stick, you can't buy a new replacement remote, as they are no longer available. But if you have a 3600 or later Stick, then the basic WiFi Direct remote will work on it. I bought one from a local department store that has an Electronics area, and you can get them from a place like Best Buy. They are usually about $20. 

[WomanOfWords]

I didn't know that. This is the only Roku thing I've had and it was a gift. No, it isn't a purple stick. I never had a problem in five (I think) years I've had it. The remote kept eating batteries, then suddenly it was OK and then it was working fine one night then dead the next. I'll know next time - thanks! 

[Tivoburkee]

Roku sticks are slender with a hdmi connector built-in. Roku express and premiere aren't considered  sticks but are slender but accept a hdmi cable, and the express and premiere do accept IR remotes. So what does your roku look like? 

[WomanOfWords]

It's black and it looks like a long thumb drive. 

[WomanOfWords]

It plugs into the HDMI port on my TV and says HDMI on it. I just noticed it has a little RESET button. When I pushed it, it brought me to the pairing screen, but my old remote wouldn't light up. 

[atc98092]

That certainly sounds like a Stick. Don't press that reset button or you'll set the Roku back to factory defaults. You'd have to set it back up from scratch. It takes a full 30 second hold on the button to reset, so you should still be fine. 

If' you've had it for 5 years, and it's not purple, it's likely to be the model 3600. Any of the WiFi Direct remotes will work on it, but it will need to be paired. 

[RokuDanny-R]

@WomanOfWords 

Thanks for the posts.

As stated in this thread, the IR remote you purchased is not the correct replacement remote that you need for your specific Roku device.

The proper replacement remote (Voice Remote) that you will need for your Roku device can be found here: https://www.roku.com/products/accessories/streaming-stick

Thanks,
Danny