How To Connect Roku To Wi-Fi Without Remote

Losing your Roku remote can be quite frustrating as it prevents you from connecting your Roku to a Wi-Fi network.

Luckily, Roku provides a virtual remote app that allows you to access all features of a physical remote. However, there’s a catch—your Roku device must be connected to a Wi-Fi network beforehand.

If your Roku does not have an active Wi-Fi connection, there’s a minor workaround that allows you to still use the virtual remote app.

Using Mobile Hotspot

This method works best if you remember the Wi-Fi SSID (Wi-Fi name) and password of any one of the Wi-Fi networks your Roku was connected to earlier.

Upon extensive testing, I can confirm that if you create a mobile hotspot using the same Wi-Fi name and password as the previously saved Wi-Fi network on your Roku, it connects seamlessly to the mobile hotspot, interpreting it as the same old Wi-Fi network.

Once the Roku is connected to the hotspot, you can then connect another mobile phone to that hotspot and use the Roku mobile app.

Here’re a few things you must have to use this method.

Name (SSID) and password of a saved Wi-Fi network on your Roku.
Two mobile phones(Android or iOS.)
Carrier charges may apply when you are using a hotspot. Make sure you have enough data volume.

Here’re the steps.

Earlier, my Roku was connected to a Wi-Fi network named “TNT WiFi” and its password was “qwerty123”
Now I will create a mobile hotspot on my first phone with the same credentials.
Go to Mobile Hotspot and Tethering settings on your phone.
Configure the name and password accordingly. Make sure you also choose the correct band.
Turn on the hotspot.
If you are on an iPhone, you need to change your iPhone’s name to change the hotspot name. You can do it from Settings > General > About > Name.
However, you can set the password from the Personal Hotspot settings.
Once the hotspot is active, your Roku will automatically connect to this hotspot.
Now bring the second phone and connect it to the same hotspot on the first phone.
Download the Roku mobile app on the second phone.
Open the app and pair your Roku with the second phone by following the on-screen instructions on the app.
Use the virtual remote and navigate to the Network settings of Roku.
You can now connect your Roku to any Wi-Fi network of your choice.
Once you connect the Roku to another Wi-Fi, also connect your second phone to that Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you will lose control of your TV.

Using Ethernet Cable

There are multiple variants of Roku, like Roku Express, Roku Premiere, Roku Streaming Stick, and Roku Ultra.

Although unavailable on the older variants, the latest variants, like Roku Ultra and Roku Ultra LT, come with an ethernet port.

You can directly connect your Roku and router using an ethernet cable. Then download the Roku remote app on your phone. Using this app, you can easily control the TV. Make sure you connect your phone and Roku to the same Wi-Fi router.

Some of the Roku variants even come with a USB port. However, you may not be able to connect a USB keyboard or mouse using this port. The USB interface on your Roku is made to support storage devices only and does not support external input devices.

Note: Consider getting a replacement Roku remote if any of the methods discussed in the post are not convenient for you. If you need any assistance, let me know in the comment section.