The pairing button on a Roku remote is located either on the back of the remote or under the battery cover. This small, sometimes recessed button is only found on Roku voice remotes, which connect wirelessly and require pairing to function fully with your Roku device.
Do you even need a pairing button on your Roku remote?
If your remote is a simple infrared (IR) remote, you do not need a pairing button. IR remotes work by line of sight and function immediately when you insert batteries, they never require pairing. Only Roku voice remotes, which use Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth, need to be paired. If you have an IR remote, searching for a pairing button will be fruitless. Check your remote model: if it has a headphone jack, voice button, or rechargeable battery, it is a voice remote that requires pairing.
Where the pairing button is located
On voice remotes that have a dedicated pairing button, you will find it on the back of the remote or inside the battery compartment. It is a small button, sometimes recessed, and may be labeled "Pairing" or marked with a symbol. If you have a rechargeable Roku remote, such as the Roku Voice Remote Pro, charge it fully before attempting to pair. For remotes that use standard batteries, insert fresh batteries before looking for the button. If your remote lacks this button entirely, you can still pair Roku remote without pairing button using a simple button combination. If you have a TCL Roku TV, you can also pair TCL Roku remote with model-specific steps.
How to pair if your remote has no pairing button
Some Roku voice remotes do not have a dedicated pairing button. In that case, you can initiate pairing by pressing and holding the Back and Home buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds until the status light on the remote begins to flash. This method works for voice remotes that lack a physical pairing button, including certain models of the Roku Voice Remote and Roku Voice Remote Pro.
Step-by-step: pairing your Roku voice remote
- Insert fresh batteries into the remote (or ensure a rechargeable remote is fully charged).
- Put your Roku device into pairing mode. If you have a working remote or the Roku mobile app, go to Home > Settings > Remotes & devices > Add devices > Remote > Continue. If you do not have a working remote, restart your Roku player or TV by unplugging it for at least 5 seconds, then plugging it back in. Once the Home screen appears, proceed to the next step.
- Activate pairing on your remote. If your remote has a dedicated pairing button, press and hold it for 5 seconds until the status light flashes. If it does not have a dedicated button, press and hold the Back and Home buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds until the status light flashes.
- Wait for a confirmation message to appear on your TV screen. This message indicates that the remote has successfully paired with your Roku device. A single Roku remote can only be paired with one Roku device at a time.
Troubleshooting: remote still not pairing?
If the pairing process does not succeed, start by checking for a confirmation message on the screen, without it, the remote is not paired. Replace the batteries with fresh ones, even if the old ones seem fine. Restart your Roku device by unplugging it for at least 5 seconds, then plugging it back in. Minimize signal interference by moving other electronic devices, such as Wi-Fi routers or cell phones, away from the Roku device and remote. If you have tried all these steps and the remote still will not pair, you may need to contact Roku support for further assistance.
