The main tool for interaction on Roku OS is the Roku Remote.
The Roku Remote is packed with features that enable viewers to quickly find and watch their favorite content. In addition it enables game developers to provide a playing experience for their audience. The following lays out the expected behavoir of remotes and what customers for UX.
Sections:
When building Channels on the Roku platform, it's critical to keep in mind the various styles of remote controls that can interact with Roku devices.
Some Roku devices are able to control the volume settings, instant replay, motion, and voice activated search. In addition, a major feature of select Roku remotes is private listening, which enables viewers to plug in headphones and listen to the channels in real time.
| Button | Description | Expected behavoir |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 | Home | Return to Roku home screen |
| ⬅️ | Return/Back | Return to the previous screen |
| ⭐ | Options | Varies between options, settings & help screens |
Also know as the 'd-pad', the direction pad is meant for navigation through the UI.
| Button | Description | Expected behavoir |
|---|---|---|
| 🆗 | OK | Select an option from menu |
| 🔼 | Up | Move up |
| 🔽 | Right | Move right or skip forward |
| Left | Move left or skip backwards | |
| 🔽 | Down | Move down |
| Button | Description | Expected behavoir |
|---|---|---|
| Play/Pause | Start or pause playback | |
| ⏪ | Rewind | Rewind, scroll left one page at a time |
| ⏩ | Fast Forward | Fast forward, scroll right one page at a time |
| Button | Description | Expected behavoir |
|---|---|---|
| 🎧 | Headphone port | Activate private listening |
| A button | For gaming functionality | |
| B button | For gaming functionality | |
| 🔁 | Instant Replay | Replay last 7 seconds of video |
| 🔎 | Search | Activates Voice Search |
Depending on the exact model of Roku TV, these are additional controls available to viewers:
| Button | Description | Expected behavoir |
|---|---|---|
| 🔇 | Mute | Mute the volume |
| 🔉 | Volume down | Reduce the current volume |
| 📢 | Volume up | Increase the current volume |
| 🌔 | Display Sleep | Sleep timer |
| 🕛 | Power | Turn on/off Roku TV |
| 🎮 | Game mode | Increase TV refresh rate |
Pressing the 🔎 Search button triggers the search interface. Some Roku remotes have audio input and will process the search results on screen. Text base search is a secondary option.
Select channel partners have quick launch buttons from the Roku remote itself. They are self-descriptive buttons for launching a channel deep link.
Some remote controls have the ability to use motion. In addition, select remotes have programmable
For full details on our External Control Protocal and building your own remotes, review our ECP docs
- ECP guide
- Buy a replacement remote
- etc