What you need before you start
An Anki Remote is a wireless controller that pairs with Anki robots — primarily Cozmo and Vector. The remote communicates with your robot over Bluetooth, letting you drive it around and trigger actions without using your phone or computer. Before you begin pairing, make sure your robot is powered on, fully charged, and within 10 feet of the remote.
You will also need fresh batteries in the remote itself. Most Anki Remotes use two AA batteries. Check that the battery contacts inside the remote are clean and making good contact with the batteries — corrosion or loose connections are the most common reason pairing fails.
The robot's Bluetooth radio must be active and not already connected to another device. If your robot was recently paired with a phone app or computer, disconnect it from that device first. Anki robots can only maintain one active Bluetooth connection at a time.
Key Takeaways
- Power on your robot and make sure it is fully charged before attempting to pair the remote.
- Insert fresh AA batteries into the remote and verify the battery contacts are clean.
- Press and hold the pairing button on the remote until the LED blinks, then wait for the robot to recognize it.
- If pairing fails, disconnect the robot from any phone apps or computers and try again.
- Once paired, the remote will reconnect automatically each time you power it on, as long as the robot is nearby.
Locating and pressing the pairing button
The pairing button on an Anki Remote is typically located on the underside or back of the device. On Cozmo remotes, it is a small recessed button near the battery compartment. On Vector remotes, it may be labeled or unmarked depending on the model year. If you cannot find it visually, consult the manual that came with your remote or check the Anki support website for your specific robot model.
Press and hold this button for about 3 to 5 seconds. You should see the LED light on the remote begin to blink — usually in white, blue, or red depending on the remote version. This blinking indicates the remote is now in pairing mode and broadcasting a signal for the robot to detect.
Do not release the button until the LED starts blinking. If the LED does not blink after 5 seconds, release the button, wait 10 seconds, and try again. A dead battery or a stuck button mechanism can prevent the pairing signal from activating.
What happens on the robot's side
While the remote is blinking and in pairing mode, your robot should detect the signal within 10 to 15 seconds. You may see the robot's lights change color, hear a sound, or see movement on its screen — the exact response depends on whether you have a Cozmo or Vector and which firmware version it is running.
If the robot recognizes the remote, the pairing is complete. The LED on the remote will stop blinking and remain solid, or turn off entirely. The robot will also settle into a normal idle state, indicating it is ready to receive commands from the remote.
If nothing happens after 20 seconds, the robot did not detect the pairing signal. This usually means the robot is too far away, its Bluetooth is disabled, or it is still connected to another device. Move closer, power the robot off and back on, and try the pairing process again.
Troubleshooting a failed pairing
If the remote LED blinks but the robot does not respond, first check that the robot is not already paired with a phone or computer. Open the Anki app on your phone or any software on your computer that connects to the robot, and disconnect the robot from that device. Then power the robot off completely, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on before trying the remote pairing again.
If the remote LED will not blink at all, the batteries may be dead or installed incorrectly. Remove the batteries, wait 5 seconds, reinsert them, and try the pairing button again. If the LED still does not respond, try a different set of fresh batteries. Some older remotes have a small reset button on the back — holding it for 10 seconds can clear a stuck pairing state.
If both the remote and robot are working but still will not pair, move them closer together and try again in a room with fewer wireless devices. Microwaves, Wi-Fi routers, and other Bluetooth devices can occasionally interfere with the pairing signal. Once you are within 3 feet and away from other electronics, attempt pairing one more time.
Using the remote after it is paired
Once pairing is complete, the remote will remember the robot and reconnect automatically each time you power on the remote, as long as the robot is nearby and powered on. You do not need to repeat the pairing process every time you use it.
The remote typically has directional buttons or a joystick to drive the robot forward, backward, left, and right. Action buttons trigger specific behaviors — these vary by robot model but often include sounds, animations, or light patterns. Consult your remote's manual or the Anki app to see which button does what on your specific model.
If the remote stops responding during use, the Bluetooth connection may have dropped. Move the remote and robot closer together, or power the remote off and back on. The robot should reconnect within a few seconds. If the connection does not restore, repeat the full pairing process.
Unpairing or pairing a different remote
If you want to pair a different remote with the same robot, simply put the new remote into pairing mode by holding its pairing button. The robot will detect the new signal and pair with it, automatically forgetting the old remote. You do not need to manually unpair the first remote — the robot will only maintain one active pairing at a time.
If you want to use the old remote again later, repeat the pairing process with that remote. The robot will pair with whichever remote you activate most recently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the remote if my phone app is still connected to the robot?
No. Anki robots support only one Bluetooth connection at a time. If your phone app is connected, the remote will not work. Disconnect the robot from the app first, then the remote will pair and function normally.
How far away can the remote be from the robot?
Bluetooth range is typically 30 feet in open space, but walls and interference can reduce this to 10 to 15 feet. For reliable control, keep the remote and robot within 20 feet of each other and in the same room if possible.
What if the remote batteries are low but not completely dead?
Low batteries can cause the remote to fail pairing or lose connection during use. If you notice the remote becoming unreliable, replace the batteries even if they still have some charge. Fresh batteries ensure consistent Bluetooth signal strength.
Do I need to pair the remote every time I turn on the robot?
No. Once paired, the remote and robot remember each other. Simply power on both devices and they will reconnect automatically within a few seconds, as long as no other Bluetooth device is connected to the robot.
Can I pair multiple remotes to one robot at the same time?
No. The robot maintains only one active Bluetooth connection. However, you can pair different remotes to the same robot one at a time by putting each remote into pairing mode when you want to switch.