I enjoy the convenience that the Roku TV has to offer.
The only issue I have with my Roku is that I have to frequently change the batteries.
Last week, I wanted to play my favorite game on my Xbox after a long day at work, but my Roku remote wasn’t working.
Before I could play, I had to change input on Roku TV, for which I needed my remote to work.
This was pretty annoying.
Recently when I complained about this to a friend, he told me that this issue is not common and I have a Roku remote battery drain.
It all made sense now.
I had put up with this issue for too long and decided it was high time to find a permanent solution.
After spending hours crawling through the Roku Community Forums and troubleshooting guides in search of a solution, I finally found what was wrong with my Roku remote.
The Roku Remote Battery Drain is most likely a hardware issue, and the best solution for you is to simply replace the remote. You can also use a universal remote with your Roku device.
What Roku has done to solve the problem
In 2021, the issue of Roku remote battery drain surfaced for the first time.
Roku acknowledged this issue and soon issued a software update to patch it.
The update only resolved the issue for a small group of users.
This obviously points towards the root cause of the problem not being a software glitch.
Many users afflicted with this issue found no improvement in their condition.
If your Roku remote is not working at all, you can try troubleshooting it.
What can be causing the remote’s battery to drain?
After hours of research on the topic, I came to the conclusion that the cause of the battery drain is entirely hardware related.
It may be due to the following:
- Manufacturing defect
- Weak batteries
- Dirty internal components
These present a clear path toward solving the issue.
Ensure you are using fresh batteries
Sometimes you do not even realize that you are using batteries that have already been spent or manufactured a long time ago, which decreases their running time.
You can check your Roku remote’s battery level easily. Follow the given steps:
- Press the Home button.
- Scroll to the Settings menu.
- Scroll to the Remotes and Devices tab.
- The battery life should flash in the top-right corner of the screen.
Exhausted batteries are the bane of all Smart devices, including your Blink camera, but its battery replacement is quite easy.
Check for the software update
It may be possible that the reason behind the battery drain in your particular remote is, in fact, a software glitch.
Ensure that the software patch issued by Roku (which I mentioned earlier), is installed on your remote.
To do so:
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Scroll to the Settings menu and click it.
- Select the System tab
- Scroll to the System Update tab and select it.
- Press the Check now option.
- If an update is available, install it.
Cut the hassle – Replace your remote
Honestly, the easiest and most hassle-free solution is simply replacing your remote.
I know, it can be pretty inconvenient to pay for a remote which came for free with the product, but it is undoubtedly better than popping a couple of batteries out of your remote every few days and putting in new ones.
Get a universal remote.
Not only can you buy a new Roku remote, but you can also use a universal remote that you may already have as a replacement after configuring it.
The steps for configuring it are as follow:
First, you must unpair the current Roku remote.
Follow these steps:
- Simultaneously press the Home, Back, and Pairing buttons, and hold them all down together. Keep holding them for 5 seconds.
- The indicator light will blink 3 times to confirm the unpairing.
- Test pressing some of the remote buttons to confirm completely that the remote has been unpaired.
You can now pair your universal remote.
Follow these instructions:
- Press the remote’s Setup button.
- Hold the button until the indicator light turns red.
- Enter the four–digit code included with your device.
- Test the remote to confirm the pairing.
NOTE: The four-digit code can be found on Directutor.
There are several methods of syncing the Roku remote with your TV without a pairing button.
Use your smartphone
Roku, thankfully, has also put out a Roku remote app on both the Play Store and App Store.
All you need to do is ensure that your smartphone and Roku device are on the same network.
The setup process is as follows:
- Turn on the Roku device.
- Make sure that the Roku device and your smartphone are connected to the same Wifi network.
- Download the Roku remote app.
- Open the app and tap on Devices.
- Tap the Remote button.
You Can Also Give The Roku App A Try
The battery drain issue with my Roku has been annoying, to say the least.
After trying several fixes, I had to replace my remote with a newer one which finally resolved the issue.
However, If you don’t feel like shelling out for a new remote, you can use the Roku app.
It works quite well. You can also turn on the Roku TV without a Remote.
If none of these methods work and your Roku device is under warranty, you should contact Roku’s support.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should batteries last in a Roku remote?
The batteries in a Roku remote should last 2 months or more.
How much does it cost to replace a Roku remote?
Roku currently offers three replacement options, and they work interchangeably:
- Roku Simple Remote ($15): This is the most basic remote. It does not have voice control or volume buttons.
- Roku Voice Remote ($20): This is the standard remote. It supports all TVs and players and has built-in voice control.
- Roku Voice Remote Pro ($30): This is Roku’s top-of-the-line remote. It includes a headphone jack for private listening, hands-free voice control, and a remote finder function.
Can you get a free replacement Roku remote?
You can only purchase a new Roku remote, the prices of which have been mentioned above.
