Remotes

[carloandres]

So i had a roku that i just connect to the TV via HDMI cable and i reset it since the last person to use it had the account on it and couldn’t contact them. I hard reset the ROKU and got a new remote that has voice input, it’s not letting the remote pair and i’ve seen some that has a special pairing button but my remote doesn’t have that. 

how do i get this voice remote to pair to a factory reset roku..

[carloandres]

Also my roku is Model 3700X

and the new remote i got today is #https://www.roku.com/products/accessories/roku-voice-remote 

clearly not a simple remote and this voice one does not have any pairing buttons

[makaiguy]

@carloandres-

Roku has started releasing Voice Remotes with no pairing button in the battery compartment. The first such remote is model RC-GZ1. This comes with installed batteries and a pull tab you must remove to engage them.

To put these remotes into pairing mode, after pulling the battery tab, press and hold both the BACK and HOME buttons near the top of the remote for 5 seconds or more.

Reference: https://support.roku.com/article/360011621473

Voice Remotes control the Roku via WiFi so must be linked to the Roku they are to control.  They also issue power, volume, and mute commands via infrared (IR) to the TV, so must be configured to issue the correct set of IR commands for your TV brand.

Your Roku 3700, however, is the first Express model, released in 2016.  Per the chart on this page, voice remote capability was not introduced until the Roku Express 3900 was released the next year.

Your Express 3700 will respond to any infrared (IR) Roku remote from Roku ($20) or many third parties (often under $10). Amazon has a bunch of them.   Universal IR remotes that say they will control Roku can also be used.  Roku TVs (those with Roku capabilities built in) use a different set of IR control codes, so be sure that what you get supports Roku devices/players and is NOT for Roku TVs only.

I have no experience with it, but this one looks interesting as it can both control the Roku by IR, and add IR volume, power, and mute controls for many TV brands like the Voice Remotes do.

On the other hand, the current Roku Express 3960 is now on sale for $25 from Roku  (maybe a buck cheaper elsewhere).  It would give you a more up to date Roku and it would give you an IR remote you could use with your current 3700, plus a second Roku that can be controlled by the Voice Remote you already have, that you could use on a second TV. 

Or for $5 more you can get the far more capable Roku Express 4K+ 3942 that comes with the rechargeable Voice Remote Pro.  Unless you also buy an IR remote you still wouldn't be able to control the 3700, but you could use the 3942 instead, have a faster unit, and have two Voice Remotes.  You can keep one remote as a spare, or do as I do and pair both Voice Remotes to the same Roku (handy for two people not seated together).