I just got a Roku Soundbar 9101x, second hand, but it seems to be a working unit, the person I got it from had been using it. It didn't come with a remote but I figured one of the other Roku remotes I have would pair with it and everything would work, but I am currently having no luck after trying four different remotes I own and even purchasing a brand new Voice Remote, which states on the box it supports Roku Audio, I've had no success. Is there really something I just missing or doing wrong or do these units only work with a specific model remote.
Does anyone know what I'm possibly doing wrong or have an idea I can try. Maybe someone knows the model of remote that was shipped with these soundbars. If you want the model numbers for the remotes I have tested I can add that.
I just don't understand what I'm missing.
Any wifi voice remote should pair with Roku Smart Soundbar 9101x if in working condition. This is used? The original remote model included with 9101x was rc-al7 remote.
There is an option in the settings if disabled would prevent you from pairing any voice remotes, this is in Advanced System Settings, and it's called Device Connect.
Your Roku Soundbar also accepts Roku IR commands, but of course Roku simple IR remote wouldn't have volume and mute keys. But it will allow you to get through the settings and see if Device Connect is disabled.
if the voice remote cannot pair with the soundbar...how can we get into the settings as you suggested
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Hi, @toddschmieding
Welcome to the Roku Community.
We appreciate your inquiry regarding the remote pairing with a Roku Streambar/Soundbar, and we're here to help.
As advised by @Tivoburkee, one of our Community Streaming Experts, a Roku Voice Remote (Radio-Frequency) or a Roku Streaming Players remote (Infra-Red) are both compatible with the Roku Streambar/Soundar.
To pair your Roku Voice Remote, you can follow the steps below:
Restart your streaming device to enter pairing mode
If you do not have a second Roku remote that already works with your streaming device, or the Roku mobile app installed, you can restart your streaming device to put it in pairing mode. When your streaming device is powered on, it will automatically enter pairing mode and look for remotes.
Use the following steps to restart your streaming device.
Once you see the Home screen, follow the steps in the next section to put your voice remote into pairing mode and complete the pairing process with your streaming device.
How to set up a voice remote with a pairing button
If your voice remote has a pairing button, it will be located either on the back of the remote or under the battery cover.
Press and hold the pairing button for 5 seconds, or until you see the status light begin to flash, to put your voice remote into pairing mode.
How to set up a voice remote without a pairing button
If your voice remote does not have a pairing button, press and hold the Back and Home buttons for 5 seconds, or until you see the status light begin to flash.
For more information, you can visit this support article on How to set up and pair your Roku voice remote
We hope this helps, and let us know if you have further concerns or inquries.
Thanks,
Kash
Another thought I had, if the voice remote isn't paired with a current Roku device or if the Roku is unplugged from the power, the voice remote should switch to IR and should just control the Soundbar when pointed at the front of it. If it doesn't there might be something wrong with soundbar itself? You could try factory reset of the soundbar, with it powered press and hold the reset on the back of the soundbar for at 30 seconds and release. See how it pairs or just responds to Roku remote?
I appreciate all the help so far but still no luck, I know the remotes work, they work with my other Rokus so I think there might be an issue with the soundbar. I've tried to factory reset the bar, I press and hold the button and it restarts but goes right back to what I've been dealing with.
I tried moving the soundbar to another tv in the house but I noticed a different issue, I get the Roku boot animation and then the screen goes black, the led is on, solid red, would this be normal? The other tv shows everything up to the menu to connect the remote. This just doesn't seem normal.
If the Soundbar did reset it wouldn't be connected to the internet, and so the red light should be on until it has internet connection. Which you need a working remote paired to it to set the wifi network credentials. The screen it should be on after a reset is language screen.