How to Connect Roku to New Wi-Fi Without a Remote

The 30-Second Test: How Much Control Do You Already Have?

Before you try anything, check three things. Does the Roku still show a picture and a working home screen? Is it a Roku TV with buttons on the panel, or a small streaming stick plugged into another TV? Does it have a spare USB or Ethernet port on the back?

Your answers decide which method below applies to you. A Roku that still has internet access, even on the old network you're about to replace, can be controlled through the free Roku mobile app. A Roku with zero network access needs a physical workaround instead, like Ethernet, a keyboard, or CEC.

One shortcut worth knowing up front: if your Roku is a Hisense-brand Roku TV, HiRemote gives you a phone-based remote built for that exact hardware. It's covered in Method 5 below if you'd rather skip straight there.

Method 1: Use the Free Roku Mobile App

This is the fastest fix, but it only works if your Roku still has some kind of network connection, even the old Wi-Fi you're trying to replace. Download the official Roku app from the App Store or Google Play and open it on a phone connected to that same network.

• Open the app and tap the Devices tab. It should find your Roku automatically within a few seconds.
• Tap the Remote icon to bring up an on-screen D-pad.
• Navigate to Settings, then Network, then Set up connection, then Wireless.
• Pick your new network from the list and type the password using the app's keyboard.

When this doesn't work: if your Roku has already dropped off its old network completely, the app has nothing to find. Move to Method 2 instead.

Method 2: Bypass Wi-Fi With an Ethernet Cable

Most Roku TVs and Roku Ultra models have a built-in Ethernet port. Roku Streaming Stick and Express models usually don't, though a USB-to-Ethernet adapter plugged into their USB port works the same way.

Run a cable from your router straight into that port. The Roku gets internet access right away, without touching the wireless menu at all. This is the quickest option if your only goal is getting back online. You can deal with Wi-Fi later once you have a working remote again.

When this doesn't work: it only solves internet access, not the underlying new-network question, and it needs a cable long enough to reach your router.

Method 3: Control It Through Your TV Remote (HDMI-CEC)

If your Roku is a streaming stick or box plugged into a TV, HDMI-CEC can turn your TV's own remote into a stand-in. CEC lets connected HDMI devices share basic commands, like arrow keys and OK, over the same cable.

• Check your TV's settings for CEC. It's often called something brand-specific, like SimpLink, Anynet+, or Bravia Sync.
• Turn it on, then switch to the HDMI input your Roku is plugged into.
• Use your TV remote's arrow keys and OK button the same way you'd use the Roku remote's D-pad.

When this doesn't work: some TVs only forward CEC power and volume commands, not full navigation. If the arrow keys don't move the on-screen highlight, your TV's CEC setup doesn't cover this.

Method 4: Plug In a USB Keyboard

Roku TVs with a rear USB port often accept a standard wired USB keyboard as a full substitute for the remote. Arrow keys move the on-screen selection, Enter confirms it, and letter keys type directly into text fields, including your new Wi-Fi password.

Plug the keyboard in, wait a few seconds for it to be recognized, then navigate with the arrow keys to Settings, Network, and Set up connection, the same way you would with a remote.

When this doesn't work: Roku streaming sticks and boxes rarely have a USB port to spare, and some older Roku TV software builds don't recognize keyboard input at all. If you don't have a spare keyboard lying around, Method 5 below needs nothing but your Roku's IP address instead.

Method 5: Use HiRemote or the Free Browser Remote

If your Roku is a Hisense-brand Roku TV, one of the R6, R7, or R8 series, HiRemote turns your iPhone into a full replacement remote. It connects over the same Wi-Fi your TV is already using, so it works as long as the TV still has that old network available. It's a free download, rated 4.4 out of 5 from more than 1,680 App Store ratings.

For any other Roku-powered TV, including TCL, Insignia, Onn, Element, Sharp, and Philips, use the free browser-based remote at hiremote.app's Roku TV remote page. It talks to your TV using Roku's own control protocol over your local network, so there's nothing to install.

• Find your Roku's IP address under Settings, Network, About, before your network changes, while the old Wi-Fi still works.
• Type that IP address into the widget on the page.
• Use the on-screen buttons to reach Network settings and switch to your new Wi-Fi, the same as Method 1.

When this doesn't work: both options need the TV to already be reachable on a network your phone can also see. If the Roku has no network access at all, go back to Method 2, 3, or 4 first.

Which Method Should You Use?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you connect a Roku to Wi-Fi without a remote?

Yes, in most cases. The Roku mobile app, an Ethernet cable, HDMI-CEC through your TV remote, and a USB keyboard all work as substitutes, depending on what hardware you have and whether your Roku still has any network access. Pick the method that matches your situation using the 30-second test above.

Does the Roku app work if the Roku isn't connected to Wi-Fi yet?

No, the Roku app needs your phone and the Roku to already share a network to find each other. If your Roku has no network connection at all, use Ethernet, HDMI-CEC, or a USB keyboard first, then switch to the app once it's back online.

How do I find my Roku's IP address without the remote?

Check your router's admin page and look for a device named Roku in the list of connected clients. Every router lists this a little differently. If the Roku still responds to a remote of any kind, the IP also shows under Settings, Network, About on the TV itself.

Will a universal remote set up Roku Wi-Fi?

A universal remote programmed with Roku codes can usually navigate menus the same way the original remote does, including the Wi-Fi setup screens. It won't help, though, if your Roku has no network access to begin with. That's a hardware problem the remote can't fix.

What if my Roku has no USB port or Ethernet port?

Most Roku Streaming Sticks and the Roku Express fall into this category. Your best options are the Roku mobile app, if the device still has old Wi-Fi access, or HDMI-CEC through your TV's own remote, since neither needs a physical port on the Roku itself.

Related Guides

• Lost your Roku remote entirely? 5 free fixes
• How to connect a Hisense TV to Wi-Fi without the remote
• Hisense TV won't connect to Wi-Fi: 9 fixes
• Roku TV remote without a pairing button: 3 ways to connect
• How to download a Roku remote to your phone

For general Roku troubleshooting beyond this guide, Roku's own support site at support.roku.com covers device-specific menus that change between software updates.