Whether you’re a cord cutter or not, you probably want a streaming device for your TV. Roku is a popular choice, particularly as it ramps up its own original content.
There’s a lot of variety and portability when it comes to Roku devices, from the budget Roku Express to the brand-new Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Whether you’ve nabbed a new model or have had the same one for years, there’s more to know beyond the basics of a Marvel marathon. We’ve put together lots of ways for you to get more out of your streaming device.
Watch Free Movies and Shows on The Roku Channel
Video-streaming services are great but they cost money. With The Roku Channel, you can sign in and access those premium channels (like HBO Max and Netflix), but the channel also offers free access to thousands of movies and TV episodes, if you can handle a few commercials. Roku acquired Quibi’s content in January, and is adding dozens of its own shows.
For a cable-like experience without the cost, go to the Roku Channel and scroll down to the Live TV Channel Guide for hundreds of channels. You can also watch in the Roku app whether you have a Roku device or not. Just download it, sign in or create an account, and start streaming.
Search 3,000 Apps at Once
Instead of searching every Roku channel individually to find what you want, you can search across them with Roku Search. Enter your search term via the Roku remote, Roku mobile app, or via voice search, and you’ll get results from over 3,000 channels, whether you have them or not. Search by title, actor, or director and you’ll get a comprehensive list. Similarly, use Roku Search to compare costs of streaming content. Type in a movie, show, or star and you’ll get a list of available titles and their costs across channels and services.
Get in the Zone
Roku Zones, meanwhile, are collections of movies and shows gathered across channels and organized by genre or topic. Go to search, type in a genre like “comedy,” and then scroll over to the zone that pops up.
Discover ‘Secret’ Roku Channels
Not all available Roku channels are listed in the Roku Channel Store. To find private ones that don’t show up under the channel guide and to add them manually, check out the Roku Guide. Clink the link you want, then Add Channel, and you’ll be taken to a Roku account page. Log in, add the code for the channel, and you’re set.
Turn Your Phone Into a Roku Remote
As great as the Roku is, navigating from the remote could use some help. Download the Roku Official Remote Control app (iOS, Android) and get the benefit of a keyboard, easy searching, and streaming from your phone or tablet.
Talk to Your Roku Remote
That said, there are some ways you can talk to your Roku directly. You can do this if you have a Roku Voice Remote Pro, Enhanced Voice Remote, Voice Remote, Gaming Remote, the Roku Touch tabletop remote that comes with Roku’s wireless speakers, or the Roku mobile app. On the remotes, press either the microphone or magnifying glass and hold them while you speak your request. On the app, select the magnifying glass to get to the search page and then tap the microphone, let it go, speak your request, and tap the middle of the screen.
Ask Alexa or the Google Assistant
If you have an Amazon Echo and a Roku, ask Alexa to control your Roku. First, you’ll have to link both accounts by opening the Alexa mobile app, selecting Skills & Games, and searching for Roku. When you find it, tap Enable, sign in to your Roku account, and select the Roku device you want to link (or Select All if you have more than one). Then close your Roku account so Alexa will search for the device on the Device Discovery screen.
Once it finds it, tap Manage, Link Devices, and select the Roku you want to connect to Alexa. Then add the Roku to a group by selecting the Devices icon. Either add it to an existing group or create a new one by tapping the plus button. In the Alexa app, tap on the Roku device and make sure it is enabled. Then you’re set to ask things like, “Alexa, open Netflix on living room Roku.”
Roku has also opened its platform to Google, so you can use Google Assistant to make voice requests. First check that your Roku player is running Roku OS 9.0 or higher or that your Roku TV has Roku OS 8.2 or higher. Set up your Google Assistant on your Google device or app. Open the Google Assistant mobile app, tap Explore > Settings > Home Control > Add Device > Find > Roku. Sign in to your Roku account and then choose which device you want to control with Google Assistant.
Get Your Roku to Talk to Siri
For iPhone and iPad owners, Roku devices support AirPlay and HomeKit, so you can send videos, photos, and music from your device to the TV and supported speakers. Set it up in the Roku menu by navigating to Settings > Apple AirPlay & HomeKit > Launch Apple AirPlay & HomeKit setup. A QR code will pop up. Scan it with your iPhone or iPad’s camera and follow the instructions on your Apple device to finish setup. HomeKit, meanwhile, lets you control your Roku using Siri and the Apple Home app (“Hey Siri, play jazz on the living room TV”).
Roku Screen Mirroring
With AirPlay enabled, you can mirror your iPhone or iPad screen via the Control Center to Roku, though most Roku devices support screen mirroring from Android and Windows devices too. To hook it up, press the Home button on your Roku remote, then go to Settings > System > Screen Mirroring. You’ll have the option to choose between Prompt or Always Allow.
Practice Casting
If you prefer Google’s Chromecast, you can cast music, videos, and photos from mobile devices to most Roku-connected devices easily if both are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open the content you want to share on the device and look for the cast icon. Click it and you should see all available Roku devices pop up in a menu.
Automatic Volume Leveling
How many times have you been lulled into near-somnolence by a show only to be jolted awake by a commercial? On most Roku models, you can turn on Leveling so a commercial or a channel change doesn’t result in a spike in volume. Or choose to have soft sounds increased and loud sounds decreased with Night mode.
You can turn on the feature either from Settings if you have a Streambar or Smart Soundbar or while streaming with other Roku devices. For Streambars and Soundbars, press the home button on the remote and go to Settings > Audio > Volume Modes. For other devices, press the star button on the remote and navigate to Sound Settings > Volume Mode.
Use Roku Private Listening
If you want to watch something on your Roku without disturbing those around you, use Private Listening. The Roku Voice Remote Pro, Enhanced Voice Remote, and Gaming Remote include built-in headphone jacks; just plug in and keep watching. Or download the Roku mobile app, connect your headphones to your device, and tap the headphones icon.
Save That Screen
Maybe you paused whatever you’re watching and walked out of the room. Or you fell asleep and now the Roku logo is just bouncing around, like the flying toasters of yore. Give yourself something nice to look at with Roku’s screensavers. You can get an art gallery viewing, hang out by a crackling fire, or keep an eye on the weather. Click the Home button on your remote then go to Settings >Theme and choose from wallpapers, screensavers, and sounds.
Get Your Game On
So it’s not a Nintendo Switch, but your Roku is still in the game. Hit the Home button, go to Streaming Channels > Games and you can go retro with Pac-Man, connect the dots with Lego Dots Link Edition, or go on a sugar-fueled rampage in Candy Bear. The Roku Enhanced Gaming Remote with Voice Search supports motion-control gaming.
Move the Apps on Your Roku Home Screen
Roku displays channels in the order in which you add them, but you can move them around. Find the app you want to move, press the star button on your Roku remote, and select “Move channel” from the pop-up menu. Use the directional pad to move it to your desired location.
Say What?
If you missed those last few lines, there’s a quick way to catch up. Set up instant replay by going to Settings > Accessibility > Captions Mode and selecting On Replay. Then, when you hit the Instant Replay button on the remote, you’ll also get the text on the screen.
Stream Your Own Stuff Via Plex
Though Roku has a ton of different channels and things to watch, you’ll probably still want to access your locally stored content on your TV. Sign up for Plex Pass ($4.99 per month, $39.99 per year, $119.99 for a lifetime) and you can. Plex organizes your scattered content and lets you watch it from tablets, TVs, phones, and more; you can record and watch live broadcast TV, too.
Download the Plex app. Then install the Plex channel on your Roku, launch it, then go to plex.tv/pin. Log in and enter the code from the Roku Plex channel on the website.
Tap Into Live TV Streaming Services
New live TV services are popping up regularly for your sports and Hallmark movie needs. To see what’s on offer, click the Home button on your remote and go to Streaming Channels > Cable Alternative to log into services like Sling and Hulu, or Streaming Channels > Watch With Cable, to log in with a pay TV provider, like Comcast or Spectrum. You can also go to the Roku Channel and scroll down to the Live TV Channel Guide and flip through hundreds of channels without ever paying for any of them. That includes NewsOn, which streams local news broadcasts from outlets nationwide.
Cloud DVRs
A number of live TV streaming services offer cloud DVR, meaning you can record live TV and access your shows later via the service’s Roku app.
- If you have an antenna to watch live TV, you can also record it with a device like Tablo TV. Set it up; download the app to your Roku; and you can watch, pause, and record.
- If you subscribe to YouTube TV, it comes with a cloud DVR that holds an unlimited number of hours of programming for nine months, but the big caveat here is that you have to access the service from the main YouTube channel on Roku (not YouTube TV) because of a dispute between the companies.
- Sling TV customers can DVR 200 hours of content starting at $5 per month.
- DirecTV Stream comes with a cloud DVR that holds 20 hours of content for 90 days
- Included with Hulu with Live TV is the ability to DVR up to 50 hours of TV and shows
- Philo subscribers can save anything that streams to the service’s included DVR for a year.
- If you have fuboTV, there is a DVR function that can be set even partway through a show’s airing to capture the entire thing. How much is stored depends on your plan.
Be Our Guest
Your guests can make themselves at home by accessing all their Roku settings without disturbing yours. All you have to do is enable Guest Mode (previously Auto Sign Out Mode). Go to my.roku.com/account/PIN, set up a PIN, and then press the Home button on the Roku remote. Go to Settings > System > Guest Mode > Enter Guest Mode. Then enter your PIN and select OK. When guests come to stay, direct them to the Roku guide on using Guest Mode
Stay Up to Date
To get the most out of your Roku, you want to have the latest software version installed. The device generally handles this on its own, but if you’ve recently installed a channel or your Roku has been disconnected for a while, you might have missed an update. In that case, you can update manually by going to Settings > System > System Update.
