How to use your phone as a Roku remote

If your physical Roku remote is lost, broken, or out of batteries, your phone can do everything it can — and more. As long as your phone and your Roku are on the same Wi-Fi network, Roly connects over the network and works as a full replacement remote.

Set it up in under a minute

1. Make sure your iPhone or iPad is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku TV or streaming player.
2. Download Roly: Remote Control for Roku from the App Store and open it.
3. Roly automatically scans your network and lists the Roku devices it finds — tap yours to connect.
4. Use the on-screen D-pad, Home, Back, and volume buttons just like the plastic remote.

What you can do from your phone

• Navigate menus with the directional pad, OK, Back, and Home.
• Adjust volume and mute (on supported Roku TVs and devices).
• Type with your phone keyboard instead of pecking letters on-screen.
• Launch your favorite channels with one tap.
• Use private listening to route the TV audio to your headphones.

If you have no remote at all

To find the Roku, your phone has to be on the same Wi-Fi network the Roku uses. If the Roku is already on your Wi-Fi, join that network, open Roly, and tap your Roku when it appears.

A brand-new Roku that has never been set up hasn't joined any Wi-Fi yet, so the app can't reach it. A physical or replacement remote is the simplest way to finish first-time setup; after that, your phone can take over.