Optimize SEO: Changing Roku’s Shortcut Buttons

For the most part, we really like Roku’s easy-to-use remotes, especially the ones with voice capabilities. But there’s a little snag—four of them, actually—when it comes to the Roku remote: those four buttons at the bottom featuring the logos of popular streaming services.

So, what exactly are these Roku ‘quick shortcut’ buttons? They allow you to quickly access streamers like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video with just a single tap—a handy feature if you’re subscribed to those services.

But let’s face it, most of us don’t have subscriptions to all four services, or if we do, they might not align with the ones on the quick shortcut buttons. And yes, streamers pay Roku to have their logos on those buttons.

Unfortunately, you can’t customize Roku’s quick shortcut buttons on your own. You can disable them by prying the remote open, but you can’t change their function.

However, there’s a bright side. Roku does offer certain remotes with ‘personal’ shortcuts that you can program yourself. The original Roku Voice Remote Pro, for instance, has two personal shortcut buttons labeled as “1” and “2” above the branded shortcut buttons. You can record a voice command like “Open Max” and assign it to either of these buttons for easy access later.

The newer second-generation Voice Remote Pro has just one personal shortcut button with two programmable slots, working similarly to the first-generation remote but requiring an extra click.

The latest Roku Ultra player (released in 2024) comes bundled with the second-gen Voice Remote Pro. Or, you can buy the remote separately for $30. The original Voice Remote Pro, with two personal shortcut buttons but lacking backlit keys, is also available for $30. Additionally, the Enhanced Voice Remote, which comes with two programmable buttons, was included with older Roku hardware and isn’t sold separately.

If you have the legacy Roku Touch tabletop remote, unfortunately, it’s no longer sold separately.

Ready to set up your Roku remote’s personal shortcuts? There are two ways to do it.

Firstly, you can start with a voice command. Just press the microphone button, give a command, and press and hold the personal shortcut button to assign the command. Or, you can start directly by pressing and holding a shortcut button to assign a function.

With personal shortcuts, you can make your Roku remote your own, saving time and streamlining your entertainment experience.