I moved to a new city recently, but some little things were lost during all the packing and moving.

One of the misplaced things was my Roku remote. I searched my bags and boxes for a couple of days, but it was a lost battle from the start.

In the end, I purchased a new remote.

But as fate would have it, I wasn’t able to connect it to my TV without Wi-Fi, and the local Internet service provider was taking its sweet time to set up a connection in my new home.

Running a bit thin on patience, I started searching for ways to connect the Roku remote to my TV sans Wi-Fi.

After checking out several YouTube videos and forum discussions, I finally found a method that worked like a charm.

To connect a Roku remote to a TV without Wi-Fi, connect the TV to the Internet using either a mobile hotspot or Ethernet cable, and pair the remote to the TV using the Roku app on a smartphone. 

Get Your Roku Remote Ready to Pair

Before you connect the Roku remote to your TV, you need to set it up in pairing mode.

To get your Roku remote ready to pair, press the Pairing button located either at the back or inside the battery compartment of the remote.

You can also sync your Roku remote without the pairing button. 

Use the Roku App to Connect Roku Remote to TV

The Roku app acts as a virtual remote for your TV and allows you to access its settings to pair the physical remote.

You can use this app on both iOS and Android devices.

However, before using the Roku app, you will need to connect your TV to the Internet using a mobile hotspot or an Ethernet cable. 

Connect Your TV to the Internet Using Mobile Hotspot

If you remember the SSID (Service Set Identifier) or network name and password of the previous Wi-Fi network your TV was connected to, you can trick the TV into connecting to it again using a mobile hotspot.

To connect your TV to a mobile hotspot: 

1. Turn on Hotspot on your phone.
2. Open your phone’s Settings and select Portable Hotspot under Connections. Alternatively, you can press and hold the Hotspot icon from your phone’s notification panel.
3. Click on Set up portable hotspot or Configure mobile hotspot.
4. Set the network name (or SSID) and password of your previous Wi-Fi network.
5. Choose Save.
6. Turn on your TV using its Power button. It will detect the hotspot you created and connect to it, thinking it’s your previous Wi-Fi. 

Note: For this to work, your previous Wi-Fi settings should be saved on your TV. 

Connect Your TV to the Internet via an Ethernet Cable

In case your TV does not connect to the mobile hotspot, you can provide Internet access to it via an Ethernet cable.

Even if you have a new Wi-Fi connection, you need to access your TV settings to connect the two. However, navigating through settings without a remote can be challenging, and that’s where the Ethernet cable comes in handy.

Note: Your TV must have an input port compatible with an Ethernet cable. 

1. Connect an Ethernet cable to your Wi-Fi router.
2. Plug the other end of the cable into your TV.
3. Turn on your TV using its Power button. Your TV should have Internet access now. 

Connect Your Roku Remote Using the Roku App

Once your TV is connected to the Internet using either the mobile hotspot or Ethernet connection, you can use the Roku app to connect your Roku remote to the TV. 

1. Download and install the Roku app on your phone. If you have connected your TV to the mobile hotspot from a phone, you need to open the Roku app on a different phone.
2. Create a Roku account in the app if you don’t already have one.
3. Connect your phone to the same hotspot or network as your TV.
4. In the app, select Remote. Your phone will now act as a virtual remote for your Roku TV.
5. Press Home.
6. Use the arrow buttons in the app to navigate through the TV’s menu and go to Settings.
7. Select Remotes and Devices.
8. Click on Pair New Remote.
9. Your TV will now search for nearby remotes. Once your remote is located, click on the Pair prompt. 

Your Roku remote is now ready to operate your TV.

Connect Roku Remote to a TV Using Its Physical Buttons

If your TV doesn’t support an Ethernet cable or it’s not connecting to your mobile hotspot following the above-covered method, you can try setting up an Internet connection on it using its physical buttons.

Depending on the model of your Roku device, it can have one or more physical buttons. Some Roku models are also equipped with a gamepad-style joystick.

You can typically locate these buttons on the bottom, side, or back panel of your Roku TV.

While some button arrangements only allow you to turn on your Roku without a remote, others also let you navigate through the TV’s menu.

If you have arrow buttons on your TV, you can use them to operate it and access its settings.

To pair a Roku remote with your TV, you will first need to connect the TV to a mobile hotspot using the physical buttons via these steps: 

1. Turn on your mobile hotspot.
2. Switch on your TV using its Power button.
3. Go to the Home screen on your Roku TV.
4. Navigate to Settings.
5. Select Network.
6. Click on Set up Connection.
7. Select Wireless. Your Roku TV will now search for a Wi-Fi network.
8. Once it locates your Wi-Fi, select it.
9. Enter the password using the virtual keyboard. 

Your TV will now have an Internet connection, and you can proceed to pair your Roku remote.

To connect Roku remote to a TV using its physical buttons: 

1. Navigate to your TV’s Settings.
2. Click on Remotes and Devices.
3. Select Pair New Remote.
4. Your TV will now search for the new remote. Make sure your remote is in pairing mode.
5. Once the remote appears on the screen, click on Pair. 

Use a Universal Remote to Control Your Roku TV

In case you cannot connect the Roku remote to your TV, you can operate it using a universal remote.

Since universal remotes work on IR (Infrared) technology, your TV does not need to be connected to Wi-Fi to pair with the remote.

The quickest way, in this case, is to use your phone as a universal remote.

Note: This only works if your phone is equipped with an IR blaster.

To use your smartphone as a universal remote: 

1. Download any universal remote app from the relevant app store.
2. Launch the app.
3. Select TV from the various appliances available.
4. Choose your TV brand.
5. Point your smartphone towards the TV.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to pair the app with your TV. 

Once the pairing is done, you can use the app to control your TV, just like a regular remote.

If your phone does not have an IR blaster, you can purchase a universal remote from a nearby electronics store and follow the instructions in its user manual to pair it with your TV. 

Set up Roku Remote to Your TV Within Minutes

When I lost my Roku remote while moving cities, operating my TV became tedious.

I had to pair the new Roku remote with the TV and also needed to connect the TV to Wi-Fi – either of which wasn’t possible without the other.

It seemed like the age-old situation of whether the chicken came first or the egg.

While it was a challenge, I was finally able to pair the Roku remote to my TV using the mobile hotspot. Luckily, I remembered the login details of my old Wi-Fi network.

If you have forgotten the login credentials, you can connect an Ethernet cable directly to your TV and pair the Roku remote. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I fix an unresponsive Roku remote?

If your Roku remote is not working, remove the batteries, reinsert them firmly, and try again. In case it still does not work, replace the batteries and repair the remote to your Roku device. 

How do I resync a Roku voice remote to my Roku device?

To resync your Roku voice remote, power cycle your Roku device, put the remote in pairing mode immediately, and wait for 30 seconds till the connection is established. 

Why isn’t my Roku remote pairing?

Your Roku remote may not pair with your Roku device if the batteries have worn out or if it’s not connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the streaming device.