Lost your Roku remote? Here are four ways you can still control your TV


Roku Voice Remote Pro 2

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • If you’ve lost your Roku remote, you can still control your TV. 
  • You’ll need your phone and to be on the same Wi-Fi.
  • Replacement remotes are fairly affordable.

Roku has become a name synonymous with smart TVs, and there’s a pretty good chance you have one of the iconic rectangular remotes around your home. If you do, you know how quickly they can slip between the couch cushions, fall into the laundry basket, become a dog chew toy, or disappear into the abyss of a child’s room. 

Fortunately, you don’t need the physical remote to control your Roku TV. If your Roku remote is missing, here are four ways you can still control your TV. 

Also: Roku sued for allegedly bricking TVs – see which models are affected, and your best alternatives

1. Use the Roku app as a remote

The easiest way to control your Roku TV without a remote is with the Roku app [iOS/Android]. If you don’t already have it, you’re missing quite a bit of functionality. You can search for content in the app to cast to your TV or tap to resume watching where you left off, but you can also tap “Remote” at the bottom of the app to pull up a digital remote that works just like the real thing. 

In some ways, it’s a little better than the actual remote. The Roku app has voice search, the ability to quickly turn on closed captions or set a sleep timer, private listening that plays audio through your device or connected headphones, a keyboard that’s a lot faster than typing letter by letter with your remote, and the ability to quickly switch between inputs without heading back to the home screen. It’s not quite as comfortable for me since I have a large phone, but it gets the job done any time my remote goes missing.

Also: Your Roku has hidden settings and menu screens – here’s how to unlock them

Your phone and your TV do need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to do this. 

2. Cast from your phone

In addition to using your phone as a remote, you can also cast from your phone to your Roku TV if you’re watching in a supported app like Netflix, YouTube, or Disney+. You will need to install the matching app on your TV, and you’ll know it’s available when you see the cast button on the content you’re watching. (It sometimes doesn’t appear until you’re actually watching something.) 

Casting from an app is a little different than screen mirroring because you can still use your phone or turn it off entirely, and it shows only your selected content instead of everything that’s on your phone. 

3. Screen mirror with your Android or Windows device

Most Android phones offer a way to mirror your phone’s screen to your Roku device. It’s called different things like Smart View, Cast, Quick Connect, SmartShare, wireless display, or display mirroring, but they all work the same. You’ll usually find it by swiping down the top Quick Settings menu. Once you’re connected, just start content on your phone, and you’ll see it on your TV. Unlike casting, you can’t use your phone for anything else.

Also: Should you upgrade your Roku TV in 2026? Only if it’s to these streaming stick models

4. AirPlay with your Apple device

Like screen mirroring with Android, you can do the same with an Apple device using AirPlay. Both your iPhone and Roku need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. To get started, head to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac’s Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring. From there, pick which device you want to mirror to. Like screen mirroring with Android, you won’t be able to use your phone (since what’s on your screen is shown on your TV), but it’s enough to get you through.

Also: Roku TV vs. Fire Stick: Why I’m looking beyond streaming resolution when comparing the two

Purchase a new remote

All right, it is technically against the spirit of this article to recommend using a remote, but if you’re gone long enough without one, you know there’s often no other option. You can score a basic Roku remote for $10, the Roku remote with voice control for under $20, or the Roku Voice Remote Pro, which is rechargeable, for about $30. You can also get unbranded knockoff Roku remotes for about $5 each. These feel a lot cheaper than a regular remote and probably won’t last as long, but I’ve had success using those for my kids’ rooms. 





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Intelligent Investing, a research-driven market analysis platform, works from the premise that artificial intelligence can expand financial forecasting by processing large datasets, accelerating strategy development, and enabling systematic execution. Alongside these capabilities, human interpretation remains essential, providing the context needed to translate data into meaningful market perspectives. 

This philosophy is reflected in the work of founder Arnout Ter Schure. With a PhD in environmental sciences and more than a decade of experience in scientific research, Dr. Ter Schure applies an analytical mindset to financial markets. His transition into market analysis reflects a sustained focus on data and repeatable patterns. Over time, he has developed proprietary indicators and a multi-layered analytical framework that integrates technical, sentiment, and cyclical analysis. This foundation provides important context for his perspective on how AI fits into modern financial decision-making.

Financial markets are becoming more complex and fast‑moving, and that shift has sparked a growing interest in how AI can play a supportive role,” Ter Schure states. “This has opened the door to exploring how computational tools might complement and strengthen traditional analytical approaches.” 

According to a study exploring a multi-agent deep learning approach to big data analysis in financial markets, modern AI systems demonstrate strong capabilities in processing large-scale data and identifying patterns across multiple timeframes. When combined with structured methodologies such as the Elliott Wave principle, these systems can enhance analytical efficiency and improve pattern recognition, particularly in high-speed trading environments.

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This relationship becomes especially relevant in financial forecasting, where interpretation plays a central role. AI can analyze historical data and identify recurring patterns, yet its perspective remains limited to what has already been observed. The same research notes that even advanced systems encounter challenges during periods of structural change or unprecedented market conditions, where historical data offers limited guidance. In such situations, the ability to interpret evolving conditions becomes as important as computational power.

For Ter Schure, forecasting involves working with probabilities rather than fixed outcomes. AI can assist in outlining potential scenarios, yet it does not determine which outcome will unfold. “Markets evolve through a combination of structure and behavior,” he explains. “A model can highlight patterns, but understanding how those patterns develop in real time still requires human judgment.”

This dynamic also extends to how AI interacts with human assumptions. According to Dr. Ter Schure, since these systems learn from existing data and user inputs, their outputs often reflect the perspectives embedded within that information. As a result, the quality of the initial assumptions plays a significant role in shaping the outcome. “If the initial premise includes a bias, the output often reflects it. The responsibility remains with the analyst to question, refine, and interpret the result,” Ter Schure remarks.

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Within this broader context, Arnout’s methodology illustrates how structured human analysis can complement technological tools. His approach combines Fibonacci ratios with the Elliott Wave principle, focusing on wave structures, extensions, and corrective patterns. These frameworks offer a way to interpret market cycles and map potential pathways for price movement. A key element of his method involves incorporating alternative scenarios through double corrections or extensions, allowing for multiple potential outcomes to be evaluated simultaneously.

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Ter Schure stresses that although AI can assist in identifying patterns within such frameworks, the interpretation of complex wave structures introduces nuances that extend beyond automated analysis. Multi-layered corrections and extensions often depend on contextual judgment, where small variations influence the broader interpretation.

Overall, Ter Schure suggests that AI serves as an extension of the analytical process, enhancing specific components while leaving interpretive decisions to the analyst. Its ability to execute defined tasks with speed and precision complements the depth of human judgment. He states, “Technology expands what we can do, but understanding determines how we apply it. The combination is where meaningful progress takes place.”



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