Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Set up the official Roku app on your phone
- 03Method 2: Use private listening, voice, and the keyboard
- 04Method 3: Control your Hisense Roku TV with HiRemote
- 05Method 4: Fix the app when it can't find your Roku
- 06Roku app vs physical remote vs HiRemote
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08Is the Roku remote app free?
- 09Does the Roku app work without Wi-Fi?
- 10How do I turn my phone into a Roku remote?
- 11Why can't the Roku app find my TV?
- 12Can I use the Roku app on a Hisense Roku TV?
- 13Related guides
The Roku remote app is Roku's free mobile app for iPhone and Android. Once your phone and Roku share the same Wi-Fi, open the app, tap Devices, pick your Roku, and tap Remote. You get a D-pad, voice search, a keyboard, and private listening through your own headphones.
I've run it on a Roku Express 4K and a Hisense R6 Roku TV at home. Setup took under a minute on both. The feature I keep it open for is private listening — I pair AirPods and watch late without waking the house. One catch: it needs Wi-Fi, so a dropped network means no app control.
The 30-second test
Before you install anything, check two things. Is your Roku connected to Wi-Fi, and is your phone on that same network? If both are true, the app will work. If your Roku is offline or your phone is on a guest network, no remote app can reach it — fix the network first.
Passed the test but can't find the physical remote right now? The HiRemote app and the no-install browser remote both control a Hisense Roku TV over the same Wi-Fi, so you can keep watching while you set up the official app below.
Method 1: Set up the official Roku app on your phone
This is the free path most people want. Download The Roku App (Official) from the App Store or Google Play. Open it and sign in with your Roku account, or skip sign-in — you can use the remote without an account, though signing in syncs your channels.
- Put your phone on the same Wi-Fi as your Roku. The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands on one router are fine; a separate guest network is not.
- Tap Devices at the bottom. The app scans and lists your Roku, often named something like Living Room or Hisense Roku TV.
- Tap your device, then tap Remote. You get the D-pad, Back, Home, and volume buttons.
Honest limit: if nothing shows up in Devices, your phone is almost always on the wrong network. Method 4 walks through it.
Method 2: Use private listening, voice, and the keyboard
These three features are why the app beats the plastic remote. They all live on the remote screen once you're connected.
- Private listening: tap the headphones icon. TV audio streams to your phone — plug in or pair headphones. There's a slight delay on some models, usually under a second.
- Voice: tap the mic and say what you want, like open Netflix or a show title. It's faster than the D-pad.
- Keyboard: when a search box is on screen, the app pops a real keyboard so you skip the on-screen letter grid.
Juggling a Hisense Roku TV plus a VIDAA or Google TV set in another room? HiRemote controls all of them from one app, and the browser remote works on any phone with nothing to install.
Method 3: Control your Hisense Roku TV with HiRemote
The official Roku app works on Hisense Roku TVs too. HiRemote is an alternative built for Hisense owners — handy if you also own a VIDAA or Google TV Hisense set and want one app for the whole house.
- Install HiRemote, or open the browser remote with no download.
- Put your phone on the same Wi-Fi as the TV.
- Pick your Hisense TV from the list, then tap to control.
Like the Roku app, it runs over Wi-Fi — there's no infrared fallback, so it won't work if your network is down. For a side-by-side, see HiRemote vs the Roku app.
Method 4: Fix the app when it can't find your Roku
Nine times out of ten it's the network. Work down this list.
- Same network: confirm the phone and Roku are on the identical Wi-Fi, not a guest SSID.
- Restart both: force-close the app, then restart the Roku (Settings > System > Power > System restart).
- Control access: on the Roku, open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Control by mobile apps and set Network access to Default or Permissive. Setting it to Off blocks the app.
- Router isolation: AP or client isolation on your router blocks discovery. Turn it off in the router settings.
Still stuck? The online browser remote is a fast fallback, this Hisense Roku fix guide covers deeper issues, and Roku's official support has model-specific help.
Roku app vs physical remote vs HiRemote
| Feature | Official Roku app | Physical Roku remote | HiRemote / browser remote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Included, paid to replace | Free |
| Needs Wi-Fi | Yes | IR: no; point-anywhere: yes | Yes |
| Works if Wi-Fi is down | No | IR remote: yes | No |
| D-pad and volume | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Private listening | Yes | Voice remote only | No |
| Voice search | Yes | Voice remote only | Limited |
| On-screen keyboard | Yes | No | Yes |
| Install required | Yes (app) | No | No for browser remote |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Roku remote app free?
Yes, the official Roku app is free on the App Store and Google Play. There's no charge to use it as a remote, and you don't need a paid account. You can even skip sign-in and still control your Roku, though signing in with a free Roku account syncs your channels and settings across devices.
Does the Roku app work without Wi-Fi?
No. The Roku app controls your device over your home Wi-Fi, so both your phone and Roku must be online and on the same network. If your Wi-Fi is down, the app can't reach the Roku. In that case, use the physical remote, or set up a phone hotspot that both devices join.
How do I turn my phone into a Roku remote?
Download the official Roku app, open it, and make sure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi as your Roku. Tap Devices, pick your Roku from the list, then tap Remote. Your phone now shows a D-pad, Back, Home, and volume, plus voice search and private listening through headphones.
Why can't the Roku app find my TV?
Almost always, your phone is on a different network than the Roku — a guest Wi-Fi or a neighbor's signal. Put both on the same network first. If that's already true, check Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Control by mobile apps on the Roku and set network access to Default or Permissive.
Can I use the Roku app on a Hisense Roku TV?
Yes. Hisense Roku TVs run Roku's operating system, so the official Roku app controls them exactly like any Roku player. Open the app, tap Devices, and your Hisense set appears by name. HiRemote and the browser remote also work if you want one app for mixed Hisense TVs in the house.
