How to type on Roku using your PC keyboard.

We have all been there. You want to watch a specific YouTube video or log into your Netflix account on a new TV. You are faced with the dreaded on-screen keyboard.

Left, Left, Down, OK. Right, Right, Up, OK.

It is slow, painful, and if you make a typo, you have to find the backspace button and start over. Entering a secure, 16-character password can take five minutes.

The Better Way: Keyboard Bridging

If you have a Windows PC, you have a full-sized keyboard right in front of you. Why can't you use it?

With Windows Roku Remote, you can. We utilize the Roku External Control Protocol (ECP) to send text characters directly from your computer to your TV.

How to do it:

1. Open the search screen (or any text field) on your Roku TV using the Windows Roku Remote arrow keys.
2. Once the cursor is blinking in the text box on the TV, simply start typing on your computer keyboard.
3. Windows Roku Remote instantly translates your keystrokes into Roku commands.

Supported Keys

Windows Roku Remote supports all standard alphanumeric keys, as well as:

• Backspace: Deletes characters on the TV.
• Enter: Submits the search.
• Spacebar: Adds spaces (crucial for YouTube searches).

This feature is particularly useful for setting up new apps, searching for movies with long titles, or browsing the web if you use a browser channel.