Lost Roku Remote? How to control your TV without buying a new one.

It happens to the best of us. You sit down with your dinner, ready to watch the latest episode of your favorite show, and the remote is gone. Swallowed by the couch cushions, hidden by the dog, or simply vanished into thin air.

Your first instinct might be to order a replacement remote on Amazon. But that costs $20 and takes two days to arrive. What do you do tonight?

Option 1: The Physical Buttons (If you're lucky)

Some older Roku TV models (TCL, Hisense) have physical buttons hidden behind the screen or under the bezel. However, most modern Roku Streaming Sticks and Express units have no physical buttons at all. If you have a stick, you are out of luck with hardware.

Option 2: The Mobile App (The Battery Drainer)

Roku offers a free mobile app. It works well, but it comes with downsides:

• It drains your phone battery.
• You have to unlock your phone every time you want to change the volume.
• If you are working on your laptop, you have to constantly switch devices.

Option 3: The Windows Solution (Windows Roku Remote)

If you are one of the millions of people who keep a laptop or desktop PC running near their TV, the best solution is a native Windows app.

Windows Roku Remote is designed specifically for this scenario. Because your PC is likely already connected to the same WiFi network as your Roku, Windows Roku Remote can find it instantly.

Why use your PC as a remote?

1. Speed: Use your mouse and keyboard to navigate.
2. Typing: Searching for "The Great British Baking Show" takes 2 seconds on a keyboard vs. 45 seconds on a D-Pad.
3. Multitasking: Windows Roku Remote has a "Mini-Mode" that floats on top of your other windows, so you can mute commercials without minimizing your work.