As a Roku owner who has become increasingly frustrated with the same buttons being assigned to the same functions, I decided to find out if it is possible to reprogram the buttons on my Roku remote. After doing some research and testing a few different solutions, I’m here to share how I solved this issue and any other solutions I discovered that may be helpful.
Some Roku devices allow you to personalize a pair of shortcut buttons with basic Roku commands and voice input. A few models of universal remotes that work with a Roku have customizable button functions.
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| Reprogrammable shortcut buttons are available on the Roku Voice Remote Pro sold with the Roku Ultra, Roku Streaming Stick, and Roku Streambar Pro. |
| The 1 and 2 buttons on the enhanced Roku remotes can be reprogrammed with basic Roku commands or voice commands. |
| Universal remotes typically do not feature customizable or reprogrammable buttons. |
| Newer remote models like the Logitech Harmony and SofaBaton One for All Streamer Remote are beginning to come with programmable buttons, but they tend to be more expensive. |
| Some universal remotes can pair with a Roku TV or other Roku devices that accept infrared input. |
| Roku has a limited list of remotes that are confirmed to work with its devices and not all of them get access to the full range of Roku commands. |
Table of Contents
Can I reprogram buttons on a Roku remote?
Reprogrammable shortcuts are available on the Roku Voice Remote Pro sold with the Roku Ultra, Roku Streaming Stick, and Roku Streambar Pro. The Roku Touch tabletop remote also features personalized shortcut buttons.
The basic Roku remote is not reprogrammable. The Roku Voice Remote Pro has a pair of customizable shortcut buttons that allow a wide variety of user inputs to be delivered with a single press.
What are the 1 and 2 buttons on a Roku remote?
The 1 and 2 buttons on a Roku enhanced remote are personal shortcut buttons. Users can configure them to complete a number of basic Roku device tasks or repeat previous voice commands.
Holding down either the 1 or the 2 button for several seconds will open up a configuration menu on your Roku device.
The menu will guide you through the available shortcut options, such as opening up a specific app. Use the Roku remote to navigate to your selection, then give the command a try.
Voice commands can also be set to the shortcut buttons. After giving a voice command to an enhanced Roku remote, open up the personal shortcut configuration menu and select the “Last voice command” option.
As long as it’s a valid command, the remote will store that command as the button’s function.
Can you reprogram Roku shortcut buttons?
The 1 and 2 buttons on the enhanced Roku remotes can be reprogrammed with basic Roku commands or voice commands. Buttons with printed channel names cannot be reprogrammed.
If you’re not happy with the personalized shortcut you set to the button, you can follow the steps in the previous section to create a new shortcut at any time.
Unfortunately, you’re stuck with the named shortcut buttons that come installed with the Roku remotes. If you don’t use those services, just try to ignore the buttons.
What remotes allow you to reprogram their buttons?
Most remotes do not feature customizable or reprogrammable buttons. A small number of newer models like the Logitech Harmony or the SofaBaton One for All Streamer Remote have the feature.
Universal remote manuals use the term “program” to refer to pairing the remote with a device, not setting up a new script for a button. In most cases, they do not come with buttons that can learn new tricks.
Newer remote models are beginning to come with programmable buttons, but they tend to be more expensive.
The Logitech Harmony is one of the premier smart remote lines, but Logitech has discontinued production and will only sell its remaining stock while providing customer support.
It’s still a solid universal remote if you manage to get one before they’re gone, but the high price and niche use likely spelled its downfall.
For a less well-known example, this remote from SofaBaton works with your smartphone to allow preprogrammed button presses complete with timing delays.
It can also pull the functions from any other infrared remote and put it onto your button of choice. It works with any Roku device that accepts infrared input, which excludes the Streaming Stick.
It costs a little bit more than a normal remote, but the price is worth it compared to the cost of a Roku Voice Remote Pro. The Logitech Harmony Elite costs twice as much, which may play into the line’s eventual downfall.
Can I program other remotes to a Roku?
Some universal remotes can pair with a Roku TV or other Roku devices that accept infrared input. Roku devices that only accept RF signals have a much more limited set of potential remotes since they use a different input method than more traditional TVs or other media players.
The list of remotes that Roku has confirmed to work with its devices are available on its support website.
As the page notes, not all of the limited list of remotes even get access to the full range of Roku commands. If you’re intentionally buying a new universal remote, select one that gets the expanded list of buttons.
Read more: can you control Roku volume with the app?
