I purchased a new "Roku Streaming Stick 4k" with voice remote. The product model is well hidden, but the product box calls it SKU# 3820R2 and that matches the Amazon listing. The initial step of pairing the remote isn't working. I have found other threads where others have had the same problem; I haven't seen anyone solve it, and I've tried the various suggestions to no avail. I have the voice remote without a pairing button. The Roku is plugged into an HDMI behind the TV and the Roku's USB is plugged into power. The TV is an LG.
Upon turning the TV and Roku on, I get a Roku splash screen, followed by a language selection screen - this starts on English, but without a paired remote, you can't change or select the language. That's ok because after a few seconds it proceeds. The next screen describes what to do in pictures - phase 1, pull the tab out of the battery compartment in the remote (effectively putting in the batteries), phase 2, press and hold back and home for 5 seconds, and phase 3 the green light should then start flashing.
What happens for me - once there are batteries in the remote, the green light just starts flashing. Pressing and holding back and home doesn't change anything, it keeps flashing. Holding for 5 seconds changes nothing - it keeps flashing and it isn't paired to the Roku. Even though this product is designed to work without line of sight (since the Roku is plugged in behind the TV, I tried doing this with line of sight between the remote and the Roku and that doesn't matter either.
I have seen a suggestion to try Duracell brand batteries rather than the ones that came with the Roku or any other brand. This made no difference.
I have seen multiple suggestions by Roku staff to order the free HDMI extender. While it was unclear to me how that would make the remote pair, I ordered it anyway, it came today, I connected the Roku to the extender and the extender to the TV and it made no difference.
I have seen suggestions to try different HDMI ports. It's unclear why that would matter - the Roku is clearly communicating with the TV fine. I tried it and it made no difference.
I have seen suggestions to try a different TV. This is my only TV. Again, though, the Roku and TV appear to be communicating with each other just fine.
I have seen suggestions to factory reset the Roku, possibly with the app. I don't see how to set the app up to connect with this Roku - the Roku can't get past the screen of not pairing with its remote.
Is this just a bad batch of remotes out there? Is there a button combination to "factory reset" the remote? What should I try next? I've had prior Rokus and they just worked.
