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Your smartphone can function as a simple TV remote, enabling you to adjust the volume of your Roku TV, change channels, and gain access to more sophisticated controls through the TV’s companion app known as The Roku App.
It’s quite simple to pair your devices together and browse media on your phone thanks to the native mobile apps that many well-known smart TV companies like Roku, Amazon Fire, Samsung, and Apple TV already have available.
Many contemporary TVs come equipped with built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas, enabling them to accept direct commands from mobile devices. Each type of smart TV usually requires its own setup and software.
In this article, we will go over the steps on how to use your smartphone as a remote for your Roku TV. Let’s get straight into it!
How to use your smartphone as a remote for your Roku TV
Before connecting your Roku TV or streaming device to the Roku mobile app, check the following:
- You need to have both your phone and your Roku TV or streaming device linked to the same WiFi network.
The WiFi network name that your Roku device is connected to can be checked for under Settings where you check for Network > About or just go to Settings and look for WiFi. Your Roku device’s WiFi name should match your smartphone’s WiFi name.
- Give your Roku device permission to take commands from a WiFi network next.
In the Roku device’s settings, you can turn on this function. Go to Network Access under Control by Mobile Apps under Advanced System Settings on your Roku device’s home screen. You have the choice of the Default or give Permission option. Either of these options will configure your Roku device to receive instructions from a private network.
- Please take note that in the App Stores, the Roku mobile app is only available in the US region.
Therefore, if you are outside of the United States, you must first update your location before downloading it. Or, you might download it from unofficial app stores.
Your Roku Smart TV or streaming device will show up on the Roku Mobile App’s discovery screen once you’ve completed these steps. Consequently, launch the Roku mobile app and select the Devices tab from the bottom menu.
If your Roku player is linked to a WiFi network, you should see it.

A simple breakdown of how to control Roku TV From Your Phone
- Download and Install the Roku mobile app on an iOS or Android device.
- Pair your phone and Roku TV to the same Wi-Fi network. Additionally, you might want to make sure that Wi-Fi control is turned on in the TV’s settings.
- Open the Roku app, then choose the Remote option.
- You may now use your phone to manage things like the volume and channel, the guide, the options, and voice commands.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve made it easier to use your smartphone as a remote for those with Roku TV. Now and then our remotes get misplaced or even malfunction, and your smartphone could be the last thing that saves you.
And, with the Roku app, you may manage many operations using either an iPhone or an Android smartphone.