Switching your TV’s input with a Roku remote is possible, but it depends on one thing most guides skip: whether you’re using a Roku TV (a smart TV with Roku built in) or a separate Roku streaming device (a stick or box plugged into any TV’s HDMI port).
Quick Guide
- On a Roku TV, press Home, go to Settings > TV Inputs, and select your input directly.
- On a separate Roku streaming device plugged into a non-Roku TV, the Roku remote can’t switch your TV’s input at all — unless HDMI-CEC is enabled on both devices.
- No remote? Most Roku TVs have a physical button on the underside or back, or use the Roku mobile app over WiFi.
- Set a default input under Settings > System > Power > Power On so your TV opens straight to it.
- If inputs aren’t detected, check HDMI connections first, then try enabling CEC or power cycling both devices.
Roku TV vs. Roku Device: Why It Matters
If you have a Roku TV, the remote can switch between all your TV’s inputs directly, since Roku is the TV’s own operating system.
If you have a separate Roku streaming stick or box plugged into a non-Roku TV (a Samsung, LG, Sony, etc.), the Roku remote cannot change your TV’s input on its own — that’s controlled by your TV, not by Roku. The Roku remote doesn’t have a dedicated input button at all; the only way around this is if both your TV and Roku device support HDMI-CEC and it’s enabled on both. If you don’t have that set up, you’ll need your TV’s own remote to change inputs.
Understanding HDMI-CEC
HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) turns your existing HDMI cable into a two-way communication channel between devices, letting your Roku remote send input-switching commands directly to your TV. Most modern smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, and Hisense support it — though older or budget models may not. It appears under different names depending on the brand: Samsung calls it Anynet+, LG calls it SIMPLELINK. To enable it, go to Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC) on your Roku device, then turn on 1-Touch Play, and enable the equivalent CEC setting in your TV’s own menu — the exact name varies by brand, so check your TV’s settings if you don’t see “HDMI-CEC” listed directly. System Audio Control is a related setting worth enabling at the same time if you want your Roku to also manage volume through a connected soundbar or receiver.
Changing Input on a Roku TV
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Go to Settings, then TV Inputs.
- Select the input you want, then choose Set Up Input the first time you use it — Roku TVs need an input set up once before it appears as a selectable option going forward.
- Once set up, just select it from the TV Inputs menu (or the Home screen) any time you want to switch to it.
Setting Up Input Tiles for Quick Access
Once your devices are connected, you can add up to four inputs as tiles directly on your Roku TV’s home screen for one-click switching. Go to Settings > TV Inputs > Manage Inputs, select up to four inputs, and toggle “Show TV inputs on home screen.” To rename a tile so it’s easier to recognize (e.g. “Xbox” or “Cable Box”), highlight it, press the asterisk (*) button on your remote, and select Rename Input.
Setting a Default Input
To have your TV automatically open to a specific input every time it powers on:
- Go to Settings, then System, then Power.
- Select Power On, and choose your preferred default input — Home Screen, Last Used Input, or a specific HDMI port.
Note: Roku TVs only support one default input at a time — you can’t set multiple defaults and cycle between them automatically.
No Remote? Here’s What Still Works
- Physical buttons on the TV: most Roku TVs have at least one button on the underside or back — sometimes just a single joystick-style button, sometimes a power button plus directional controls. Location and button count vary by model and manufacturer (TCL, Hisense, onn., Philips, Sharp, and others all make Roku TVs slightly differently).
- The Roku mobile app: install it on your phone, connect to the same WiFi network as your TV, and it’ll find your Roku device automatically. Once connected, it works as a full remote, including input switching.
Troubleshooting Input Issues
- Check that your HDMI cable is firmly connected at both ends.
- Unplug the HDMI cable, wait a few seconds, and reconnect it.
- If you’re getting a “No Signal” message, confirm the input you’ve selected actually matches the port your device is plugged into.
- If CEC-based switching stops working, verify it’s still enabled on both devices, power cycle both for a minute or two, and check whether HDMI-CEC is causing other unwanted behaviour like your TV turning on by itself.
- Try a soft reset: unplug your Roku TV’s power cable, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
Wrapping Up
Whether your remote can switch inputs directly comes down to one thing: Roku TV versus a separate Roku device, and whether HDMI-CEC is set up between your TV and whatever’s plugged into it. If you’re troubleshooting other Roku issues too, our guides to low Roku TV volume and Prime Video not working on Roku cover related ground.
