Is it just me or have you guys had trouble fast-forwarding on Roku, especially with certain apps?
Not to mention the obvious right analog button that users tend to mistake for the dedicated fast-forward button.
In this article, we cover everything there's to about fast-forwarding on Roku.
To fast forward on Roku, click the Fast Forward (>>) button on the Roku remote. Multiple simultaneous presses can ramp up the seeking time by 2x to 4x times. You could also use the Roku remote app to fast-forward content on your Roku device.
Here is an in-depth guide on how to fast forward Youtube, Hulu, and other media on Roku. I have also included a few tricks that you can do using the Fast Forward button.
Button Configuration on a Roku Remote
Before fast-forwarding media and playing around with the buttons, let's know a little about these little devils that make up a Roku remote!
With every Roku product, may it be a Roku stick+ or a Roku TV, you get a feature-rich remote as standard.
Even if Roku remotes vary from model to model, they do share some features and buttons between them.
All Roku remotes communicate with the Roku devices through RF signal communication, a superior medium compared to the omnipresent Infrared mode of communication.
RF-controlled remotes are not limited by the Line-Of-Sight (LOS) requirement, which is a must for all IR remotes. They are also unperturbed by interferences, a major con of IR remotes.
Roku Remotes require batteries to be powered, and unless you have a voice control or an enhanced Roku remote, a couple of batteries are more than enough to power your Remote for a long time.
With that said, let's look at the various buttons on a Roku remote.
Here is a table encompassing the buttons of a Roku remote.
(Note: we have considered a Roku Ultra Remote as the subject of this study since it offers almost all of the buttons(and more) found in most Roku remotes)
Button | Function |
---|---|
Power Button(Optional) | Power ON and OFF your TV |
Side-mounted Volume Buttons(Optional) | Control the volume or mute it |
Back Button | Revert to the previous screen/option |
Home Button | Go to the Roku Home screen |
D-pad with OK select button | Navigation and select options |
Replay Button | Replay the last few seconds of the current media |
Options (*) Button | View additional options/open the options menu |
Voice search Button (optional) | To activate the voice-assisted search feature |
Sleep Timer Button (optional) | Put your device/TV to sleep after a particular period |
Rewind (<<) Button | Seek back a few seconds on the current media (seek time can be incremented with multiple clicks) |
Play/Pause Button | Stop or continue playing the current media |
Fast-Forward (>>) Button | Seek forward a few seconds on the current media (seek time can be incremented with multiple clicks) |
Quick Shortcut Buttons | Two or four shortcut buttons for your favorite apps (can be customized in select models) |
Gaming Buttons (A and B)(optional) | Paired with the D-pad to play games (remember to hold the Remote in landscape orientation) |
Note: Buttons marked as optional may not be present in your Roku remote. The Enhanced, Voice Pro, and Ultra remotes support both RF and IR modes of communication. Hence, enabling them to control and communicate with the TV.
Since you now know the buttons and their functions on a Roku device, let's dive into the methods with which to fast-forward media on a Roku device.
In addition to the many buttons mentioned above, select Roku remotes also host a headphone jack.
Plug your headphones to enable private listening while in a crowded room or on a late-night endeavor.
How to Fast Forward with the Roku Remote
TV is one of the greatest inventions the 20th century has to offer. And what better way to supplement such an invention than with yet another brilliant discovery - the VCR.
With VCRs, for the first time ever, users were able to access playback controls like recording, pausing, and the best of them all, seeking time while playing media.
Then came DVD players, Blueray players, and digital players, all following the steps of a VCR, which has finally led us to streaming services.
Seeking did change the game for enthusiasts and professionals alike, who yearn to enjoy and study that perfect sequence in their favorite movies and shows.
From the complex analog rotary seeking mechanisms of yesteryear VCRs, seeking has since become a hassle-free intuitive process, thanks to a more robust and easy digital alternative.
Similar to how one would fast-forward in the VCR era, you can fast-forward media on a Roku device at the click of a button.
Here's how to properly perform a fast-forward action while playing content on a Roku device.
- First, open a streaming channel or an app from the Roku Home screen.
- Select the show/movie to play.
- Once the show starts playing, press the Fast-forward button on the remote once to seek the media by a few seconds. (Seeking period depends on the channel/app)
- Pressing and holding the Fast-forward button will seek the media to your desired timestamp/location.
- Multiple simultaneous clicks will multiply the seek time by 2x to about 4x or even more.
That's all there is to know about fast-forwarding time using a Roku remote. Now let's look at how to fast-forward with the Roku remote app.
The seeking period may also vary from Roku model to model. For example, Roku Streaming Sticks have a much longer seeking interval than Roku Ultra.
How to Fast-Forward Using the Roku App
If you don't have access to a Roku remote or if you lost it unfortunately, check out the Roku app instead.
The Roku app offers a remote function that helps you control and navigate the Roku interface.
Via this remote, you could also fast-forward content on your Roku device.
But first, you must pair the Roku device to the Roku app to use the said function.
Follow these steps after installing the app on your smart device. Make sure to connect both devices to the same WiFi network.
1. Using the Remote, navigate to the Settings tab.
2. Open the System menu.
3. Then, click and open the Advanced System Settings option.
4. Select the 'Control by mobile apps' option and click on the Network Access' option.
5. Make sure to select the Default or the Permissive option.
6. Exit the menu and open the app on your smart device.
7. If done correctly, the Roku device should pop up on the Home screen.
8. Select the device and start the pairing procedure.
9. A pop-up message will appear on the TV screen. Confirm the pairing.
10. Now click on the Remote button from the App home screen to start controlling your Roku device.
If you have trouble pairing the Roku device through the Roku app, you better check for any updates on the Roku device.
Go to Settings> System> About> System Update> Check now to check and update the device.
Secret Menus on Roku
Finally, let's take a gander at the various secret menus available on a Roku device.
These so-called secret menus allow you to configure and access settings otherwise unavailable on your User Interface.
To access them, you have to press a button sequence on your remote.
Exhilarating as it sounds, most users will never have to access these menus unless under certain circumstances, like when Roku turns slow or when Roku freezes.
So without much ado, let's look at these menus, shall we?
To access the Factory Reset/USB Test/Update options, press: Home button x5> Fast-forward button x3> Rewind button x2.✶
To access Secret Screen 2 which includes AD cycle info, press: Home button x5> Up> Right> Down> Left> Up.✶
To view info about the network, press: Home button x5> Up> Down> Up> Down> Up✶
To reboot the Roku device, press: Home Button x5>Up> Rewind x2> Fast-Forward x2.✶
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, a comprehensive guide on the various methods to fast-forward content on your Roku device.
Included are also the various buttons and their function on a Roku remote.
If you have issues with seeking content on your Roku TV, uninstalling the associated app and reinstalling it may resolve the issue. Updating your Roku device can also be helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you fast-forward through commercials on Roku?
Roku inherently doesn't allow users to fast-forward through live TV or commercials. Although, several apps like Hulu allow such functions with their premium plans.
Is Roku commercial free?
Roku, as a streaming device, adopts an ad-free service principle. The Roku streaming channel is also an ad-free streaming service. You can also limit ads on your Roku device by going to Settings> Privacy> Advertising> Toggle the Limit Ad Tracking option.
How do I turn on my Roku without a remote?
To turn ON a Roku TV without the Roku remote, use the Roku remote app on your smart device instead. But, you'll have to pair the Roku TV with the app first.
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