Whether your Roku remote has gone missing under the couch cushions, the batteries have died at the worst possible moment, or you simply want a more convenient control experience — your iPhone can serve as a full-featured Roku remote. Here's everything you need to know.
Why Use Your iPhone as a Roku Remote?
There are plenty of reasons to ditch the physical remote:
- Lost or broken remote — the #1 reason people search for Roku remote apps
- Faster text input — typing passwords and searches with a phone keyboard is 10x faster than using arrow keys
- Voice search — speak to search instead of scrolling through an on-screen keyboard letter by letter
- One less thing on the coffee table — your phone is always within reach
- Better for accessibility — larger touch targets and haptic feedback on your iPhone
What You Need
- An iPhone running iOS 17 or later
- Any Roku device (Roku TV, Streaming Stick, Express, Ultra, or Premiere)
- Both devices connected to the same WiFi network
- Advanced Remote Controller installed from the App Store
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Step 1: Check Your WiFi Connection
This is the most important step. Your iPhone and Roku must be on the same WiFi network. On your Roku, go to Settings → Network → About to verify the network name. On your iPhone, check Settings → WiFi. Make sure they match — watch out for separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, or guest networks.
Step 2: Download Advanced Remote Controller
Search for "Advanced Remote Controller" on the App Store, or tap the download link on this website. The app is free to download with optional premium features for an enhanced experience.
Step 3: Allow Local Network Access
When you first open the app, iOS will ask if you want to allow it to find and connect to devices on your local network. Tap Allow — this is required for the app to discover your Roku device. Without this permission, the app can't communicate with devices on your WiFi network.
Step 4: Connect to Your Roku
The app automatically scans your network and shows all available Roku devices. You'll see each device listed by its friendly name (like "Living Room Roku" or "Bedroom TV"). Tap your device to connect. A green checkmark confirms you're connected.
Step 5: Start Controlling
You're all set! Here's what you can do:
- D-Pad — Use directional buttons for precise navigation
- Touchpad — Swipe to navigate (premium feature)
- Keyboard — Tap the keyboard icon to type text
- Voice — Tap the mic icon to search by voice
- Channels — Launch favorite apps with one tap
Pro Tips for Power Users
- Use touchpad mode for faster browsing through long lists of channels or shows — it feels more natural than tapping arrows
- Use the keyboard whenever Roku shows a text input field — entering a WiFi password with your phone keyboard takes seconds instead of minutes
- Use voice search to find content across all your streaming services at once — Roku searches Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more simultaneously
- Channel shortcuts let you jump directly to Netflix, YouTube, or any other app without navigating the Roku home screen
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your Roku doesn't show up in the app, try these solutions:
- Same network check: Double-check both devices are on the exact same WiFi network (not guest vs. main, not 2.4GHz vs. 5GHz on split networks)
- Restart Roku: Unplug your Roku device for 10 seconds, then plug it back in
- Check permissions: Go to iPhone Settings → Advanced Remote Controller → ensure "Local Network" is enabled
- Router settings: Check if your router has "AP isolation" or "client isolation" enabled — this blocks device-to-device communication and must be disabled
- Firewall: Some routers block the SSDP discovery protocol (port 1900) — try temporarily disabling your router's firewall to test
How It Works Behind the Scenes
Advanced Remote Controller uses the Roku External Control Protocol (ECP), which is Roku's official HTTP-based API for controlling devices over a local network. When you press a button in the app, it sends an HTTP request directly to your Roku's IP address. This means:
- No cloud servers involved — everything is local
- No internet connection needed (just WiFi)
- Near-instant response times
- Complete privacy — no data leaves your network
Conclusion
Controlling your Roku from your iPhone is simple, reliable, and often a better experience than using the physical remote. Advanced Remote Controller gives you everything the standard remote does — plus voice search, keyboard input, touchpad navigation, and a beautiful dark interface that's perfect for nighttime viewing. Best of all, at $12.99/year for premium, it costs less than a replacement physical remote.