TCL Roku TV Slow To Respond To Remote? (Make it Fast!)

Frustrated with – TCL Roku TV slow to respond to remote issue? Well, keep reading!
The slow response from the Roku TV remote is often a lag-related issue with the Roku system, which is quite straightforward to fix.
In this guide, we’ll carry you through a few tailored solutions.
Some of the best solutions include:
Let’s unwrap each of these steps in detail!
TCL Roku TV Slow To Respond To Remote – Easy Ways to Fix!
Tip: Follow the steps consecutively!
1. Power Cycle the TCL Roku TV

The first and most effective step against the slow remote responses from your TCL Roku TV is the power cycle process.
This is not the same as turning the TV off and on since when you just power off the television it remains in Standby Mode.
The power cycle requires unplugging, which completely reboots the Roku TV operating system!
So, unplug the TCL TV from the power outlet for 60 seconds!
Note: If your TV responds quickly to the remote and the lag is gone after the power cycle, then this is a temporary bug, so there is no need for further troubleshooting.
2. Clear your TCL Roku TV Cache

If your TCL Roku TV is very slow, and you’re facing a severe delay between your remote inputs and the response, you may need to clear the cache.
This is the data that your TV stores, which includes login credentials, app settings, and more, that pile up over time, slowing down the TV.
Warning: Clearing the cache data will sign you out from your TCL Roku TV apps!
Here’s how to clear the TCL Roku TV cache data in easy steps:
- Press “Home” on your Roku TV remote.
- Then press “Home” 5 consecutive times.
- Press “Up” once and “Rewind” two times.
- Lastly, press the “Fast Forward” to times.
This will clear the cache data on your TCL Roku TV.
When the process is ready, reboot your TV using your remote (not via unplugging) and check whether the lagging problem is still apparent.
Note: Feel free to clear the cache anytime you notice that the TV is starting to respond slowly!
3. Declutter the TV from Channels

In many cases the unresponsiveness of your remote comes from the TV, especially when there are too many apps, slowing down the performance.
One of the most efficient ways to speed up your TCL Roku TV operation is to remove unused channels, which will boost the performance.
To remove channels on TCL Roku TV, follow these instructions:
- Press “Home” and go right to review the list of channels.
- Then, highlight a channel that you don’t need or watch.
- Press the “*” (star) button on your TCL Roku TV remote.
- That’ll reveal the options, so choose “Remove Channel.”
Quick Tip: Repeat the steps for as many channels as you don’t need to declutter your Roku TV.
4. Hard Reset the Roku TV Remote

Whenever your TCL Roku TV remote slow to respond to the inputs, you may need to hard reset the remote itself, which often resolves the problem.
This method will not disconnect the remote from the TCL TV, only refresh the hardware, and hopefully resolve the communication problems.
To hard reset a TCL Roku TV remote, follow these instructions:
- Open the battery compartment of the remote.
- Gently remove both remote control batteries.
- Press each button on the remote two times.
- Hold the Power button for 30 seconds straight.
- Reinsert the batteries into your remote control.
When ready, once again, reboot the TCL Roku TV and test whether the problem is now solved!
5. Reprogram the Roku TV Remote

Sometimes the reason why your Roku remote’s inputs are very slow on your TCL TV is due to a problem with the programming.
Different Roku remotes program to the TV in different ways, so you must identify whether the microphone pinhole is below the power button or on the left of it.
Tip: If the microphone pinhole is below the power button, follow Method #1, in turn, if the pinhole is on the left of the power button, use Method #2.
- Method #1 – Open the battery compartment → hold the Pairing button for 10 seconds → verify the light is blinking green.
- Method #2 – Remove the pull tab on the back (if any) → press and hold the Home and Back arrow for 10 seconds → wait for the green light.
When the remote is successfully paired to the TCL Roku TV, check whether the lag is still there!
6. Factory Reset the TCL Roku TV

One of the harshest steps is to perform a factory reset on your TCL Roku TV, which will reinstall the operating system resolving any lagging issues.
Well, we only recommend applying this step if nothing else has helped, because this method will permanently erase everything on your TV.
Here’s how to factory reset TCL Roku TV in easy steps:
- Press the “Home” button and head to “Settings.”
- Go to “System” → “Advanced system settings.”
- Choose “Factory reset” and “Reset everything.”
- Enter the PIN code and confirm the factory reset.
This will reset your TCL Roku TV and you will have to carry out the initialization. When ready, the slow responsiveness should disappear.
If not, there is one workaround that you should try!
7. Use the Digital Roku TV Remote

A very quick way to find out whether the problem is related to the remote or your TCL Roku TV is to download a digital remote app.
There are numerous TCL Roku TV Remote apps that you can install on any smartphone, allowing you to control the TV without using the physical remote.
The only requirement is for your smartphone to be connected to the same Wi-Fi as the TCL TV and the digital remote should work.
Note: If you can control the TCL Roku TV using the digital remote without any lag, the issue is from the remote control, not the TV.
Final Steps: Replace the Batteries!
If nothing works and your TCL Roku TV is slow to respond to the remote, make sure to replace the batteries before rushing into conclusions.
Verify that you are using a fresh pair of two AAA high-quality batteries, and if this doesn’t resolve the problem, your TV might require servicing.

Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.