Remotes

[Art_N]

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.

[renojim]

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.

[Strega2]

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.)

[Art_N]

>> 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!

[RokuJharra-Q]

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