Everything you need to know about Advanced Remote Controller.
Getting Started
Make sure your iPhone and Roku are on the same WiFi network.
Open Advanced Remote Controller.
The app will automatically discover your Roku device.
Tap your device to connect — that's it!
Yes! It works with all Roku devices including Roku TV, Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Express, Roku Ultra, and Roku Premiere — any device that supports the Roku External Control Protocol (ECP).
No. The app connects over WiFi using Roku's official External Control Protocol. No Bluetooth, no IR — just WiFi.
Absolutely! As long as your Roku is connected to WiFi, you can fully control it with Advanced Remote Controller. It's the perfect replacement for a lost, broken, or missing physical remote.
Advanced Remote Controller requires iOS 17.0 or later. It works on all iPhones that support iOS 17, including iPhone XS and newer.
Features
D-Pad mode gives you traditional arrow buttons for precise navigation. Touchpad mode lets you swipe to navigate — similar to how some premium Roku remotes work. You can toggle between them anytime from the Remote tab.
Tap the microphone button, speak your query, and the app sends the text to your Roku's search function. Voice recognition is handled locally via Apple's Speech framework — no audio is recorded or transmitted to our servers.
Yes! Tap the keyboard icon in the top bar and type using your iPhone's keyboard. This is dramatically faster than using the on-screen Roku keyboard — perfect for entering passwords, search queries, and email addresses.
We include quick-launch shortcuts for popular channels like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Peacock, Paramount+, Tubi, Pluto TV, and more. Tap once to launch directly.
Yes! The remote includes volume up, volume down, mute, and power buttons. Volume control works on Roku TV and devices connected to TVs that support HDMI-CEC.
Troubleshooting
Try these steps:
Make sure your iPhone and Roku are on the same WiFi network (not guest vs. main)
Ensure "Local Network" permission is granted in iPhone Settings → Advanced Remote Controller
Restart your Roku device (unplug for 10 seconds)
Pull down to refresh in the connection sheet
Check if your router has "AP isolation" or "client isolation" disabled — this blocks device-to-device communication
This can happen if the Roku's ECP service isn't responding. Try restarting your Roku by going to Settings → System → System Restart on the Roku menu, or unplug it for 10 seconds. Then reconnect from the app.
Make sure you've granted both Microphone and Speech Recognition permissions. Go to iPhone Settings → Advanced Remote Controller and enable both. Also ensure you're in a reasonably quiet environment for accurate recognition.
This usually indicates a weak WiFi signal between your iPhone and router, or between the router and Roku. Try moving closer to your router, or check if your Roku has a stable WiFi connection in Roku Settings → Network → Check Connection.
The channel must be installed on your Roku for the shortcut to work. If it's installed and still not launching, try restarting your Roku device. Some channels may also require a moment to load after launch.
Subscription & Billing
Premium is $12.99/year — that's about $1.08/month. It unlocks all premium features including touchpad, voice search, keyboard, channel shortcuts, and all future premium features we add.
Premium includes: touchpad navigation mode, voice search, full keyboard input, channel shortcuts, premium dark theme, and all future premium features. Basic remote control with D-pad is available without a subscription.
Go to iPhone Settings → tap your name at the top → Subscriptions → find Advanced Remote Controller → Cancel Subscription. You'll retain premium access until the end of your current billing period.
Refunds are handled by Apple. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com to request a refund for any App Store purchase.
Open the app, go to Settings, and tap "Restore Purchase." Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID you used for the original purchase. Your subscription will be restored automatically.
Yes, the yearly subscription auto-renews unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage this in your iPhone's Subscription settings.
Privacy & Security
No. We do not collect, store, or share any personal data. The app operates entirely on your local network. We have no analytics, no trackers, no ads. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
No. Voice is processed locally using Apple's Speech framework. We never record, store, or transmit any audio data.
Local Network permission is required by iOS to allow the app to discover and communicate with Roku devices on your WiFi network. Without this permission, the app cannot find or control your Roku. No data leaves your local network.
Still have questions?
We're here to help. Send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.