How to Go to Settings on a Roku TV Without a Remote

The 30-Second Test: Is Your TV Already Online?

Every method below depends on one thing: your Roku TV needs to already be connected to Wi-Fi. Check this first.

• Has the TV streamed anything recently — Netflix, YouTube, a local channel? If yes, it's online.
• Is your phone on the same Wi-Fi network as your TV, not cellular data?
• Can you see the TV's name in your router's app under connected devices?

Two yeses means you can skip straight to Method 1 or Method 2. If your TV has never been online, jump to Fix 1 near the bottom first.

If you own a Hisense-branded Roku TV, it's worth installing HiRemote now rather than later. It pairs over Wi-Fi in 30 seconds and covers Roku TV models alongside Hisense's other smart TV platforms, so it's one app for every TV in the house.

Method 1: Use the Free Roku Mobile App

Roku publishes its own free remote app for iPhone and Android. It's the most reliable phone-based option, since it's built by the same company behind the TV software.

1. Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV.
2. Install the official Roku app from the App Store or Google Play.
3. Open the app and wait for it to find your TV automatically.
4. Tap your TV's name, then use the on-screen directional pad to reach the Settings icon on your home screen.
5. Press the on-screen OK button to open Settings.

Honest caveat: the app can only find TVs already on your network. If detection fails, restart the TV once from its power button, then reopen the app. That clears most connection hiccups.

Method 2: Use a Browser-Based Remote

Roku TVs accept simple commands over your local Wi-Fi network. That's what lets a web page act as a working remote, with nothing to install.

Our own browser-based Roku remote works this way. Type your TV's IP address into the widget, and the on-screen buttons start controlling the TV right away, including navigation into Settings.

1. Find your TV's IP address. If you can already reach Settings once, it's listed under Network, then About. If not, check your router's connected-devices list instead.
2. Open the browser remote on a phone or computer connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Enter the IP address when prompted.
4. Use the on-screen directional buttons to move to Settings and select it.

Honest caveat: this only works for Roku-powered TVs, not Hisense's VIDAA or Google TV models. It also needs the TV already on Wi-Fi — it can't run initial network setup for you.

Method 3: Use HiRemote for a Hisense Roku TV

If your Roku TV is Hisense-branded, HiRemote is built specifically for it. The app's listing names Roku TV models R6, R7, and R8 as supported, alongside Hisense's VIDAA and Android TV sets.

1. Download Remote for Hisense Smart TV, the app's App Store name, on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV.
3. Select your Hisense Roku model from the app's compatibility list.
4. Follow the on-screen pairing steps, then use the directional pad to reach Settings.

Honest caveat: this app is built for Hisense-branded sets. It won't pair with a TCL, Insignia, or Onn Roku TV, even though those run the same Roku software.

Once paired, HiRemote also adds a full keyboard for typing streaming passwords and quick-launch buttons for apps like Netflix and Disney+. That's useful well beyond just reaching one settings menu.

Method 4: Borrow a Remote or Try HDMI-CEC

If a phone app isn't an option right now, two low-tech fixes can still get you into Settings today.

First, any universal remote programmed with Roku codes will work. Settings is a core Roku function, not locked to the original remote. Second, if your TV is connected to another CEC-enabled device, like a soundbar or streaming box, that device's remote may be able to navigate the Roku home screen through the TV's HDMI input.

Honest caveat: CEC support varies by brand and by which HDMI port you use. If the other remote only controls volume and power, its CEC implementation doesn't extend to full navigation.

If neither option works, our guide on pairing a Roku remote covers getting a spare or replacement remote working, which is often faster than troubleshooting CEC.

Fix 1: Your TV Has Never Connected to Wi-Fi

Every method above assumes your TV is already online. If you just unboxed it, or moved and haven't reconnected it, none of the phone options can find it yet.

In that case, you need physical access to the TV once. Use a spare remote, a borrowed one, or the TV's own control button if it has one, to get through the initial Wi-Fi setup screen. After that, every method above becomes available.

Our guide on connecting a Roku to new Wi-Fi without a remote covers this exact situation in more depth. Roku's own support site also has general setup walkthroughs if you get stuck.

Which Method Should You Use?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access Roku settings without any remote at all?

Yes, as long as your TV is already connected to Wi-Fi. The free Roku mobile app, a browser-based remote, or a phone app like HiRemote for Hisense Roku models can all open Settings without a physical remote in hand.

Does the Roku app work if my TV was never connected to Wi-Fi?

No, the Roku app can only control a TV that's already on your network. If your TV has never connected to Wi-Fi, you need a physical remote once — borrowed, spare, or universal — to finish initial setup before any phone app can take over.

Is there a free browser-based Roku remote?

Yes, because Roku TVs accept commands over local Wi-Fi, which is what makes a browser remote possible with no app install. Our web-based Roku remote works this way: enter your TV's IP address, and the on-screen buttons start working right away.

Will HiRemote work with any Roku TV brand?

No, HiRemote is built specifically for Hisense-branded TVs, including Hisense's Roku TV models in the R6, R7, and R8 series. It won't pair with Roku TVs from other brands, like TCL, Insignia, or Onn, even though they run the same Roku software.

What if the Roku app can't find my TV?

First, double-check your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, not a guest network or cellular data. Restarting the TV from its power button often clears a stuck connection. If it still won't appear, confirm the TV has finished any pending software update.

Can a USB keyboard open Roku settings?

Not directly — a USB keyboard mainly helps with typing into on-screen fields, like Wi-Fi passwords or streaming logins, rather than full menu navigation. For actually opening and navigating Settings, a phone-based remote or a borrowed physical remote works more reliably.

Related Guides

• How to Connect Roku to New Wi-Fi Without a Remote
• I Lost My Roku Remote — 5 Fixes That Work (Free in 30 Seconds)
• How to Use a Roku Remote Online (No App, Works in Your Browser)
• How to Pair a Roku Remote (With or Without a Pairing Button)
• Hisense Roku TV Remote Not Working: 8 Fixes (Works on TCL, Onn Too)