Roku Remote Battery Drain Fix – Complete Guide

Unsuspecting users of Roku devices have experienced an unfortunate problem with the remote, and search for a Roku remote battery drain fix.

The good news is that there are plenty of troubleshooting options. In fact, some of the options are completely free.

Let’s start by looking at an overview of the most popular troubleshooting solutions.

There are a handful of quick and easy steps you can take to troubleshoot battery drain problems, a few of which avoid the problem altogether. Additionally, know that Roku has issued an automatic bug-fix update that’s supposed to fix battery drain issues, so ensure you have the latest version of code.

Why Your Roku Remote Battery Drains Fast

There are several different reasons why your Roku remote’s battery may drain fast, including the following:

• Constant communication with the Roku device
• Constant jostling and movement of the remote
• Overuse of audio features
• Stuck keys
• Weak batteries

Roku Stick Remote Battery Drain Fix – Best Solutions

Many users have complained that their battery life in the Roku remote has a very short lifespan, and there doesn’t seem to be only one root cause.

Several users have even claimed that their batteries were dead within a week, even though they only used their Roku device once in that time period.

And even though batteries aren’t exorbitantly expensive, the costs can add up. Plus, it’s incredibly annoying having to constantly replace the batteries.

To help you save money and prevent headaches caused by your remote, let’s take a closer look at the top troubleshooting methods to fix the battery drain problem.

Solution #1: Ensure You Are Using Fresh, Fully Charged Batteries

Though it may sound like a no-brainer, you may simply be using old batteries that have a weak charge.

I would recommend trying batteries that are known to be fresh and testing to see how long they last.

There are two ways to check the energy level of batteries in your remote, the first of which is a voice command (which is not supported on all Roku remotes), as follows:

Say, “Hey Roku, tell me my battery level.”

The second method is to navigate through the Roku menu (the home screen doesn’t display battery life), as follows:

1. Start from the home screen.
2. Browse through to the settings menu.
3. Navigate to the remotes and devices option.
4. Wait until the battery life flashes in the top-right.

Note: The battery level indicator only flashes periodically in the top-right corner of the screen, and its measurements aren’t especially accurate.

The output indicates if your remote’s batteries are below 25% or if they are at 25%, 50%, or 75%.

Solution #2: Replace the Remote

It might seem like a crying shame to get rid of a remote, especially because it came free with your Roku device.

However, be aware that Roku remotes are, by and large, interchangeable. There are two different types of Roku remotes (IR and enhanced), though they can easily be replaced.

Believe it or not, some standard cable and satellite remotes can pair with Roku devices.

Plus, the vast majority of universal remotes also pair with Roku. You may already have an old universal remote sitting around the house you can use.

Configuration Steps

The process involves two main steps. The first of which is unpairing your Roku remote, as follows:

1. Press home, back, and pairing buttons.
2. Hold them down simultaneously.
3. Wait five seconds.
4. The indicator light will blink three times.
5. Test the remote’s buttons to confirm unpairing.

The second part of the process is pairing your universal remote with your Roku TV, as follows (varies slightly among different remotes):

1. Turn on the Roku TV.
2. Press the remote’s setup button.
3. Wait until the light turns red.
4. Enter the four-digit code.
5. Test the remote.

Note: The method with which you use to sync your universal remote with a Roku device varies by manufacturer.

If you don’t know the code for your brand of TV, you can easily find it with a quick Google search or by consulting the television’s user manual.

Solution #3: Use Your Smartphone Instead

Where would we be today with the invention of smartphones? They can do just about everything, including acting as a Roku remote.

If you don’t want to buy a new universal remote or just need a quick fix in the short term, using your phone as a Roku remote is a convenient trick.

And there’s more good news: the Roku remote app supports both Android users and iPhone users. Do be aware, however, that your smartphone and television will need to be on the same wireless network.

The quick steps for the setup process are as follows:

1. Turn on your Roku TV.
2. Ensure your phone and TV are connected to Wi-Fi.
3. Download the Roku Remote app from the App store.
4. Open the app and tap on devices.
5. Tap the remote button on your phone.

Solution #4: Don’t Use the Remote’s Headphones or Voice Features

Almost all Roku remotes have an audio out feature, which allows you to plug in headphones instead of sending the audio through a speaker system or your television set.

Unfortunately, the audio output uses more energy than the remote normally would without audio.

Furthermore, if you use streaming playlists or binge queues of television shows and accidentally leave it on, the audio is going to eat right through your battery life.

Though this may not be the only cause of drained batteries, it can be a contributing factor.

In addition, it’s best to disable the voice features to conserve battery life, as follows:

1. Navigate to home, settings, and then accessibility.
2. Select the audio guide option.
3. Select off.

Solution #5: Ensure the Remote is Stationary

This may sound strange at first, but to conserve battery life, you also need to make sure your remote is stationary.

Unknown to most users, the remote sends continuous telemetry data to the TV and Roku device. This feature is important for users who want to play games.

Even small vibrations can cause movement and trigger telemetry communications between the remote and TV.

The solution is to find a solid and stable surface to store your remote. An enclosed space, like a cabinet or drawer, is also ideal.

Solution #6: Check for Stuck Keys (and Optionally Clean Them)

The last solution is simply to make sure a heavy object isn’t resting on your remote.

A heavy object could keep a button pressed down, which would cause the remote to continuously send a signal and drain the batteries.

1. Check that nothing is on your remote.
2. Keep your remote in a drawer for safekeeping.

Note: Also take a moment to check that no heavy objects are resting on top of the remote.

A heavy object may keep a key pushed down, which would make the batteries drain faster.

Finally, be aware that you can simply insert the batteries when you are using your Roku and remove them whenever you are finished. It only takes a few seconds, and it will conserve battery life, although, admittedly, it is fairly annoying.

Read Next: Best Screen Mirroring App for Roku That Actually Works

Bottom Line

The aforementioned solutions and steps for the Roku remote battery drain fix should make you well-equipped to deal with any issues you may encounter with dead batteries.

But if none of the solutions worked for you, though it isn’t a pleasant thought, you always have the option of contacting technical support for more troubleshooting procedures.