TV setup
Roku “Control by mobile apps”: which network setting to use
Roku OS 14.1 and later gate selected External Control Protocol keypress commands behind Control by mobile apps. Roku’s current developer rules also restrict ECP commands sent from third-party platforms, including mobile applications. Check both the TV setting and the current Roku policy before choosing a controller.
Published by TV Remotely · Source checked 2026-10-26. Model and firmware behavior can differ; device tests are named only where performed.
Find the setting on the Roku
Roku’s developer documentation locates Control by mobile apps under Settings, System, Advanced system settings. The setting needs to be Enabled for documented ECP keypress commands on Roku OS 14.1 and later. Roku also says ECP commands may not be sent from third-party platforms such as mobile applications; enabling the setting does not grant permission for a third-party integration.
Keep the phone and Roku on a network that allows local devices to reach one another.
Understand what it fixes
The setting gates selected ECP commands such as keypress, keydown and keyup. It does not fix a TV that is offline, hidden by guest-network isolation or using a different IP address. It also does not grant ADB or remove ads. Roku’s developer policy limits how third-party software may use ECP, so check Roku’s current terms for any proposed integration.
If discovery still fails, check the TV and phone IP networks before changing privacy settings.
Check the result and restore
After enabling the option for a Roku-permitted controller, test a harmless navigation key. If the Roku was never visible, use the general TV-not-found guide to test the network path. Turn the option back off when you no longer need local control.
Use the same menu to turn the option back off when no longer needed.
Continue with the relevant guide
Sources and verification
- Roku Developer: External Control Protocol — checked 2026-10-26