Roku Remote Power Button Not Working Starts With CEC
A Roku remote power button not working is a TV control problem before it is a remote problem. Roku’s own page on it opens: “Some Roku voice remotes can control both your Roku device and your TV using infrared (IR) or consumer electronic control (CEC). If TV controls aren’t working, use these tips to fix the problem.”
The fixes below are quoted from two Roku support pages: test whether the remote is using IR, switch it to CEC, redo the TV control setup, and get the player off the TV’s USB power.
Find out if the remote is using IR or CEC
Under its heading “Power/volume not working sometimes”, Roku’s page says: “Your remote may be using IR”, “which needs a clear line of sight.”
Roku’s test: “Point remote at the TV. Does the volume work?”
Then: “Cover the front of the remote and point away. Did the volume stop working?”
Roku’s reading of the result: “If volume stopped working, your remote is using IR.”
Switch the remote to CEC
Roku’s heading reads “To switch to CEC (which does not require aiming):” and its two steps follow.
- “Turn on CEC on your TV”. Roku adds: “You can usually find this in your TV settings.”
- “Go to Roku Settings > Remotes & devices > Remote > Add a new remote and follow the instructions to add your remote again.”
One limit travels with this fix, in Roku’s words: “Some TVs only support CEC for power, not volume.”
Roku’s TV Off page gives the TV side with its own caveat: “Turn on CEC on your TV. CEC names vary by brand and may be in System or Advanced Settings.”
Redo the TV control setup
When power and volume both fail, Roku’s page says to update first: “Update your Roku player’s software:” at “Settings > System > System update > Check now”.
Then: “After the restart, set up TV control again:” at “Settings > Remotes & devices > Remotes > [Your remote] > Set up remote for TV control”.
Roku’s TV Off page names the same setup under a different menu label. Its six lines: “Press Home on your Roku remote”, “Scroll and select Settings”, “Select Devices > Remotes”, “Proceed through the "Control TV" setup flow”, “Press Power to turn the TV off”, “Press volume buttons to change volume.”
That page adds: “This method controls the TV directly through the Roku remote.”
Two labels, one job. Open Settings and look for Remotes under either name your screen shows.
Our walkthrough of navigating Roku settings covers the menu itself.
If the player is powered from the TV’s USB port
This is the cause that looks like a dead button. Roku: “If your Roku player gets its power from your TV’s USB port:” “Power may turn off when the TV turns off, so it can’t send the signal to turn the TV back on.”
Roku’s fix: “Plug your Roku device into a wall outlet instead so it always stays powered.”
The TV Off page says the same thing for the app: “In order for the mobile app to power on the TV, the Roku player needs to be powered on. The best way to guarantee this is to plug your player directly into the wall.”
If power works but volume does not, or the reverse
In Roku’s words: “You’ll repeat the sound test, but this time you’re purposely skipping the code you already tried so you can test a new one.”
Roku’s six lines, in order:
- “Watch for when the music stops.”
- “Don’t select anything yet.”
- “Turn your TV volume back up until you hear the music again.”
- “Select No to tell the Roku player to skip that code and try the next one.”
- “Wait for the music to stop again.”
- “Select Yes if the music stops.”
If the volume side is the one that failed, our guide to a Roku remote volume not working covers that half.
Turn the TV on with the player instead
Roku’s TV Off page describes player side settings, with conditions attached: “Most TVs turn on and switch to the Roku player input when you press any button on the Roku remote (except volume or mute) if 1-Touch Play is on and CEC is enabled on the TV.”
The setting: “Enable 1-Touch Play”, “Press Home”, “then go to Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC)”, “Turn on 1-Touch Play and TV Power”. Roku adds: “These settings allow your Roku player to turn off your TV and adjust volume, including when you use the Roku Mobile App”.
Roku’s checklist when that does not work has four lines: “You are using a High-Speed HDMI cable”, “Your Roku player is connected directly to your TV (bypass soundbars/receivers to test)”, “1-Touch Play, TV Power” “and TV Volume are enabled in the Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC) menu”, and “Make sure CEC is turned on in your TV’s settings. The exact steps vary by TV manufacturer, so check your TV’s settings or follow the instructions in the CEC setup guide”.
If the remote feels hot
Stop here and read Roku’s warning: “Your batteries may be damaged.” and “Do NOT remove hot alkaline batteries.”
Roku’s steps: “Stop using the remote.”, “Unplug the charging cable (if rechargeable).”, “Place the remote on a hard, non-flammable surface and let it cool.”
Questions readers ask
Is there a pairing button I should press
Neither Roku page cited here mentions a pairing button. The paths both pages print go through Settings, under “Remotes & devices” on one page and “Devices > Remotes” on the other. If nothing on the remote works at all, our guide to a Roku remote not working covers that wider problem.
Should I change the batteries first
Neither Roku page cited here lists a battery change as a fix for the power button. The only battery passage on either page is the hot remote warning above.
Why do voice commands fail to turn the TV off
Roku: “Voice commands use CEC”, “not IR. So if CEC is off, voice commands won’t work even if the buttons do.”
Does this apply to a simple remote without TV buttons
Roku’s page scopes itself to voice remotes: “Some Roku voice remotes can control both your Roku device and your TV”. Neither page cited here names any other remote type.
Can some TVs refuse the setup
Roku prints the answer under “If mute doesn’t work and Roku asks for your TV brand:” with an example: “Some TV brands (like Bang & Olufsen” “may not be supported. Contact the manufacturer for details.”
Sources
- Why is my Roku voice remote not controlling power and volume on my TV?, Roku Support, last updated July 22, 2026. Read October 11, 2026.
- How to use the ‘TV Off’ shortcut and control your TV with a Roku streaming player, Roku Support, last updated September 14, 2026. Read October 11, 2026.