Roku Speakers or Soundbar Won’t Pair? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• The speaker, subwoofer or soundbar isn’t powered on
• It’s more than 30 feet from your Roku TV or other Roku host
• Wireless interference from a router, microwave or objects in the way
• It’s still paired to another Roku device or TV
• The internet connection dropped while the host was updating it during pairing
• A Roku TV on an Ethernet cable with its Wi-Fi turned off
• A Roku host or setup the device doesn’t work with

Step-by-Step Solutions

Work through the steps in order and try pairing again after each one.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check that your Roku device can host it

   Each Roku wireless audio device pairs only with certain Roku hosts and setups.

   Roku wireless speakers only work with a Roku TV system, Roku Streambar, Roku Streambar Pro or Roku Smart Soundbar. They won’t work with a Roku Streambar SE, other TVs, sound systems or Roku streaming players. They also can’t be paired to your Roku TV while a Roku Streambar, Streambar Pro or Smart Soundbar is connected; pair them to that Streambar or soundbar as surround speakers instead.

   The Roku TV Wireless Soundbar only works with a TV powered by Roku OS. It won’t work with other types of TVs or a Roku streaming player.

   A Roku subwoofer can’t be connected directly to any other TV or existing sound system. To use one with a Roku TV, you must have Roku wireless speakers or a Roku TV Wireless Soundbar set up and working with the TV. The subwoofer won’t work with the speakers built into your Roku TV.

   Good to know

   You can pair two wireless speakers to a Roku TV, one Roku TV Wireless Soundbar to a TV and one subwoofer to a Roku host. If you’re replacing one, factory reset the one that’s currently paired, then pair the new one. A factory reset disconnects the device from its Roku host and resets all its settings.

2. 2

   Step 2: Make sure it’s powered on and in pairing mode

   When you connect the power cable, the device powers on and stays in pairing mode until it connects to your Roku host.

   Look for a status LED that flashes repeatedly. On wireless speakers and the subwoofer, it’s on the back of the device. Speakers repeat their spoken pairing instructions every 3 minutes.

   If you don’t see any light from the LED, check that the power outlet is working and try reconnecting the power cable.

3. 3

   Step 3: Put your Roku TV or host in pairing mode

   Use your existing remote to put the Roku host into pairing mode for the device you’re adding.

   Make sure your Roku TV or other Roku host is powered on. Press and hold Home on your existing remote for 5 seconds, then choose the device:

   • Wireless speakers: select Wireless speakers and confirm.
   • Subwoofer: select Subwoofer.
   • Roku TV Wireless Soundbar: select Wireless soundbar and confirm.
4. 4

   Step 4: Start pairing from the Settings menu

   If the spoken instructions or the Home button don’t work, start pairing from Settings instead.

   For wireless speakers, open Settings, select Remotes & devices, then Set up a new device, then Wireless speakers. For the soundbar, open Settings, select Remotes & devices, then Set up a new device, then Wireless soundbar.

   For a subwoofer, open Settings, select Remotes & devices, then Pair new device, then Subwoofer.

   Once the host is in pairing mode, it moves through setup automatically. With wireless speakers, it connects them one at a time. If your speakers still won’t pair, turn off your Roku device, wait 10 seconds and turn it back on.

5. 5

   Step 5: Check the remote and the Roku software

   If your Roku host won’t enter pairing mode, check the remote, its batteries and the host’s Roku OS version.

   Point the remote directly at the TV screen when you press buttons, and replace its batteries with new matching batteries.

   Check the software version. Wireless speakers need Roku OS 9.2.6 or higher, and the Roku TV Wireless Soundbar needs Roku OS 10.0 or higher. For a subwoofer, the host should be running the latest version of Roku OS.

   Press Home on your Roku remote, select Settings, then System, then System update, and select Check now. If a new software version is available, your Roku downloads and installs it and restarts automatically when finished.

   Good to know

   Your Roku TV may not update the software unless a Roku audio device is detected.

6. 6

   Step 6: Move it closer and away from interference

   Place the device within 30 feet of your Roku host, with a clear path between them.

   Roku wireless speakers, the subwoofer and the soundbar are designed to be placed within 30 feet of the Roku host device, or of your TV for the soundbar. Move the device closer and try pairing again.

   Avoid placing it near other wireless devices, such as your wireless router or a microwave. It’s best to have direct line of sight from the device to your Roku host, with no electronics, metal or concrete in the path. Move it and try pairing again.

7. 7

   Step 7: Pair over Wi-Fi if your TV uses Ethernet

   Your Roku device uses Wi-Fi to find and pair your speakers, and some Roku TVs turn off Wi-Fi when using an Ethernet cable.

   If your TV is connected to the internet with an Ethernet cable and can’t find your wireless speakers or wireless soundbar, temporarily disconnect the cable, connect to Wi-Fi and pair. Once paired, you can reconnect the cable.

8. 8

   Step 8: Stay online until pairing completes

   Each device must receive a unique update, so the host needs an internet connection for the whole pairing process.

   If pairing stops while the host is updating the device, check the connection. On the host, open Settings, select Network, then About, and check that Status says “Connected.” When the host is connected to the internet again, restart the pairing process.

   If pairing mode was exited, restart the pairing process and wait until it completes.

   Good to know

   For a subwoofer, the progress steps are Searching, Pairing, Updating and Restarting. Updating and Restarting only happen when the subwoofer software needs to be updated.

9. 9

   Step 9: Reset it if it was paired to another Roku device

   A device that’s paired to another Roku host or TV must be factory reset before you can pair it to yours.

   A factory reset disconnects the device from its Roku host, resets all its settings and returns it to a state ready for initial setup.

   Press and hold the Reset button on the back of the speaker, subwoofer or soundbar for 10 seconds. A short press only restarts it and doesn’t factory reset it. Each device must be factory reset on its own.

   With wireless speakers or the soundbar, listen for spoken pairing instructions, then try pairing again. If you don’t see a flashing status LED on a speaker or the subwoofer, reset it again, making sure to hold the Reset button for 10 seconds.

10. 10

    Step 10: Factory reset it if pairing still fails

    If you run into a problem during the pairing process, you may need to factory reset the device.

    A factory reset disconnects the device from its Roku host, resets all its settings and returns it to a state ready for initial setup.

    If the device is currently paired to your Roku host, you can reset it from Settings. Press Home on your Roku remote, scroll to select Settings, select Remotes & devices, then Speakers. Select Wireless speaker, Wireless soundbar or Subwoofer, then select Factory reset and enter the code that appears on screen to confirm. Repeat for each wireless audio device.

    If the device isn’t paired, factory reset it with the Reset button on its back instead, holding it for at least 10 seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions