Taming Your Roku Remote: Reclaiming Those Pesky Shortcut Buttons

Roku remotes are generally praised for their user-friendliness and intuitive design, especially those equipped with voice control. However, a common frustration among Roku users revolves around those four prominent buttons located at the bottom of the remote, each emblazoned with the logo of a popular streaming service. These "quick shortcut" buttons are intended to provide one-press access to services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

While the concept of quick access is appealing, the reality is often less convenient. Many Roku users don’t subscribe to all four of the advertised services simultaneously. Even if they do, the pre-programmed services might not align with their actual streaming preferences. It’s no secret that streaming services pay Roku to secure these coveted shortcut placements, prioritizing revenue over user customization.

So, what can you do about these inflexible shortcuts? Unfortunately, you can’t simply reprogram them to launch the streaming services of your choice. While some resourceful individuals have resorted to physically dismantling the remote and disabling the buttons with a screwdriver, this drastic measure isn’t recommended for the average user. It voids any warranty and carries the risk of damaging the remote.

Thankfully, Roku does offer a solution for users who crave personalized control: remotes with programmable "personal" shortcut buttons. These buttons allow you to assign custom actions, effectively transforming your remote into a truly personalized command center.

Roku Remotes with Programmable Shortcuts

Several Roku remotes feature personal shortcut buttons, offering varying degrees of customization:

The Original Roku Voice Remote Pro

This remote features two dedicated personal shortcut buttons, labeled "1" and "2," conveniently located above the branded streaming service buttons. These programmable shortcuts allow you to record and execute voice commands with a single button press. For example, you can program button "1" to open Max and button "2" to launch Peacock.

The Second-Generation Voice Remote Pro

The newer version of the Voice Remote Pro boasts a sleek design and backlit buttons, but it sacrifices one personal shortcut button. It features a single programmable button with two personalization slots, requiring an extra click to access the second slot. While it requires a slight adjustment in workflow, it offers the same core functionality as its predecessor. This remote is often bundled with the latest Roku Ultra player.

The Enhanced Voice Remote

This remote bridges the gap between the standard voice remote and the Voice Remote Pro. It retains the two programmable shortcut buttons found on the original Voice Remote Pro but omits features like a rechargeable battery and headphone jack. The Enhanced Voice Remote was typically bundled with older Roku devices and is no longer available for individual purchase.

The Legacy Roku Touch Tabletop Remote

This unique remote, designed for tabletop use, also offered personal shortcut buttons. However, it’s a legacy device and is no longer available for purchase.

Programming Your Roku Remote’s Personal Shortcuts

Roku offers two methods for programming your personal shortcut buttons:

Method 1: Starting with a Voice Command

This method leverages the power of Roku’s voice control to create custom shortcuts.

1. Press the microphone button on your Roku remote and issue a voice command. This could be anything from "open Pandora" to "launch Paramount+" or even more specific commands like "show me comedies" or "look for thriller movies." For the purpose of creating streaming service shortcuts, stick to commands like "Open [streaming service name]."

2. Wait for your Roku player to execute the voice command. Ensure the desired action is performed correctly before proceeding.

3. Press and hold the personal shortcut button you wish to assign the command to.

4. An overlay will appear at the bottom of the screen, prompting you to select an option for the shortcut. For example, it might display "Select an option below for shortcut 1."

5. Using the remote’s arrow buttons, navigate to and select "Last voice command."

6. After a brief pause, a confirmation message will appear, indicating that the shortcut has been successfully programmed.

Method 2: Starting by Pressing and Holding a Shortcut Button

This method provides a more direct approach to assigning functions to your personal shortcuts.

1. Press and hold the personal shortcut button you wish to program.

2. An overlay will appear at the bottom of the screen, presenting a variety of options. These options typically include "Channel" (for launching a streaming service), "The Roku Channel," "Live TV Guide," "Sleep Timer," and "Enable Closed Captions."

3. Select the option you wish to assign to the shortcut.

4. A confirmation overlay will appear, displaying the selected option for the shortcut.

5. Wait for the countdown timer to finish, or press the "Back" button to make changes.

Reprogramming Personal Shortcuts

If you decide to change the function of a personal shortcut, simply repeat either of the programming methods outlined above. The new assignment will overwrite the previous one.

Conclusion

While the pre-programmed streaming service buttons on Roku remotes can be frustrating, the availability of remotes with programmable personal shortcuts offers a welcome degree of customization. By utilizing these personal shortcuts, you can tailor your Roku remote to perfectly match your streaming habits and create a truly personalized entertainment experience. Whether you choose the original Voice Remote Pro with its two dedicated buttons, the newer version with its single button and sleek design, or the Enhanced Voice Remote, you can finally reclaim control of your Roku remote and make it work for you.