How to Factory Reset Your Roku Stick Without Remote

Your Roku Stick has been running smoothly for a long time, but now everything seems to load more slowly. It even freezes up at times. You’ve tried restarting the device, but that didn’t fix everything. The best thing to do now is a factory reset, but that’s a problem because you’ve lost the remote.

And now you’re reading this article for a good reason. You’re trying to find out how to factory reset your Roku without a remote.

Reset the Remote If You Still Have It

If you still have the remote but it’s just not working with your Roku Streaming Stick, you can try and re-establish the connection. Your Roku Stick has to be on before you move on to the following steps:

1. Remove the plastic that covers the batteries by pulling it down.
2. You should notice a small round button below the battery compartment. This is called the Link/Pairing button.
3. Press the Link/Pairing button. If the issue was with the remote and Stick pairing, this should solve it.

Performing a Factory Reset

If the remote still isn’t working or it’s unavailable, you can try the following:

1. Find the reset button on your Roku Stick. The button should be located somewhere on the back of the device. Some versions of the Streaming Stick come with a pinhole instead of a standard button. You can access the button with something thin and relatively long, like a toothpick.
2. You will have to keep the button pressed for around 20 seconds.
3. After 20 seconds, the light will start blinking. This indicates that the factory reset was successful and that you can release the reset button.

Roku Stick Alternatives

Maybe you can’t or have no desire to fix your Roku streaming stick. You have a more exciting idea on your mind – you are in the market for a replacement. Hey, it’s the best way to reward yourself and support the consumer-driven US economy at the same time. If that’s the case, here are some of the best alternatives to Roku.

Amazon Fire TV

Amazon Fire TV runs on a heavily modified Android operating system designed especially for Amazon Prime content. Although Amazon Prime Video and Prime Music are the featured streaming services, the Fire TV also covers most other well-known services like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and as of recently, Disney Plus.

All Fire TV devices have Amazon’s voice-operated assistant Alexa built-in, including Fire TV sticks. If you like keeping your hands free while browsing through countless content, you might want to check out the Fire TV Cube. The basic version of the Fire TV stick is $40 (add $10 for the 4K version). If you decide to get the Fire TV Cube, it will set you back $120.

If you primarily watch Amazon Prime content, this might be the best option for you.

Apple TV

While it’s still available and a great option for streaming, Apple has recently announced that the company will be going in another direction. This means that they will not be making their own streaming devices but outsourcing them to other companies. Several smart TV manufacturers now have access to media that was previously exclusive to Apple products.

The basic Apple TV costs $150 while the 4K version is $180, so they are on the expensive side. Apart from the streaming features, you also have access to Apple’s voice-controlled assistant Siri, along with apps from the Apple Store. Apple TV is also compatible with other Apple devices, so you can stream on your iPhone or iPad very comfortably.

Since it will be discontinued, you might only want to consider one if the price is right.

Android TV

Android TV devices run on slightly modified Android OS, unlike Amazon Fire TV devices. The original Android TV devices were the first to include Netflix in 4k, although they were relatively big compared to modern devices. The current versions are a lot more compact and offer even more features.

To be expected, you can also use Google Assistant to control the device. They are all Google Cast compatible, which means that you can cast Android TV content directly to your phone or tablet. Some devices work similarly to the Fire TV Cube, where they only respond to Google Assistant.

These are one of the best budget choices, with lots of functionality.

Google Cast

Google is known for non-complicated devices and software, which Google Cast follows to the T. Chromecast is very simple in design and incredibly easy to install. You just have to connect one end of the device to your TV and the other to a power source. Rather than a remote, you can only use the app to control the device.

A big part of the appeal is the ability to stream content directly to your phone or tablet. If you decide to add a Google smart speaker to the mix, you can control everything with just your voice. The standard Chromecast is $35 and the 4k Chromecast Ultra is $70.

Fantastic Streaming Options

The Roku Streaming Stick is pretty great for streaming your favorite content, but it’s not nearly the only one.

Which device is your choice for streaming? Tell us more in the comments!