Roku delivers some of thebest pullulate deviceson the market right now , allowing you to watch flick , catch up on your favourite idiot box show , and enough more . This abode entertainment hub lets you access themost pop streaming servicesall from one equipment , allowing you to spend less prison term on hardware , and more time catch up on your favorite programs .

Even well , with Roku you have a form of options to fit your budget . These run from the affordableRoku Express 4Kthat runs about $ 40 all the manner up to the top - of - the - lineRoku Ultra . This mean there is a pelt machine for just about any budget , making it easy for anyone to get into it .

So what can Roku do ? countenance ’s dig in .

Beyond the devices themselves , television content can be stream to a Roku twist from a laptop or estimator via your wireless connection . Music and photos can be streamed from a peregrine gadget using the detached ( and extremely versatile ) Roku app , which also support screen mirroring from Android and Windows , and some newer model of Roku now supportApple AirPlay 2 , so they can be used with Apple gadget .

If you ’ve just jump using a Roku or but desire to become more of a power user , we ’ll commence with some Roku features that are well advertised but perhaps you just forgot about . Then as we go along , we ’ll work out our way into some of the hidden gems you may have never known your Roku offers . With that in mind , let ’s go !

Re-order your channels

If you did n’t know , there ’s no reason you have to keep the Roku home screen the way it was when you attract it out of the boxful and fired it up . By nonremittal , Roku has TV channel you might never use justly up top and one you use all the fourth dimension several pawl down . economise yourself some click by lay down the channels you employ the most often right at the top — you could do this any time you want , and it ’s really easy .

pace 1 : Highlight the channel you desire to move , and press theStar / asteriskbutton on the Roku remote control to spread the Options menu .

Step 2 : Selectmove channel . Next , move the app up , down , left , right — wherever you desire to place it . Keep doing this until all your favorite channels are in the order you favor .

Delete channels

you’re able to erase the transmission channel you never watch and even delete menu items from the sidebar . When you ’re done , you ’ll have a cleaner home screen door with everything you require and nothing you do n’t .

Step 1 : To delete apps , highlight the app , press theStarkey , and then selectRemove app .

Step 2 : If that is n’t an choice , it may be because you have a subscription to that service . If that ’s the case , you will need to clickManage subscription , thenCancel subscription .

Step 3 : Once canceled , you will seeRemove appas an selection , and you may penetrate that .

Step 4 : To delete menu item , clickSettings > dwelling screen , then selectHideon anything you do n’t need to see .

Change the Roku OS theme

With your nursing home screen and distribution channel clean up , we can also go to the next footfall and change the root or overall look of the nursing home concealment . To do this , clickSettings > Themesand essay one of the free musical theme available . This is fun to do around vacation when Roku offers some seasonal themes to equal the occasion .

stone’s throw 1 : wardrobe thehome buttonon your Roku remote control .

gradation 2 : SelectSettings , and then selectThemes .

Step 3 : SelectMy Themes . This will let you scroll through a listing of free themes to preview .

Step 4 : compact theOkbutton on the Roku remote control while a fresh theme is highlighted to select it . This will download and set up the new theme . Once it ’s installed , it will return you to the My Themes screen door .

Change the Roku screensaver

And as long as we ’re modify the place screen , we can change the screensaver , too . ClickSettings > Screensaverto have a look at what ’s pre - installed , or go to the screensaver channel and front at all the options there . If you dig the crackle fireplace look , that ’s available , among a long ton of other cool options .

Cast content to your Roku

When it come to casting content to your Roku , you ’ll need to ensure that you ’re render to redact from a supported pullulate app . First , ensure that the app you want to stream from is download on both your phone and your Roku twist .

whole tone 1 : Launchthe appon your phone or tablet , and begin dally the program you want to upchuck .

Step 2 : Select thecasting iconon the screen of your phone .

stair 3 : take yourRoku devicefrom the listing of available devices .

whole tone 4 : Roku will launch the channel automatically , and casted content should begin .

Screen mirroring to your Roku

With Roku , you may purge your entire smartphone , tablet , or microcomputer concealment to your TV . This feature article is a gravid way to get around any services you ca n’t discover on the Roku Channel Store ( whether public or private ) as long as you have the app on your gimmick .

Now , sometimes the terms " casting " and " mirroring " are used interchangeably , but to be clear here , screen mirroring is the outgrowth of evidence exactly what ’s on your speech sound or tablet screen on a bigger sieve through a Roku .

filmdom mirroring is fend for on Roku scarper type O 7.7 or later on and is automatically enabled , so you do n’t have to do anything on the Roku end .

From compatible Android and Windows machine , you ’ll need tofollow the command on howto mirror the machine . At the end of the summons , you choose the Roku gadget as the mirroring gadget . As long as you ’re on the same internet , you should have no trouble .

It ’s a turn well-fixed if you ’re on aniPhone or iPad , though , so long as your Roku machine supportsAirPlay or AirPlay 2 , and most of them do now . To do that , take after AirPlay program line for your gimmick and , again , just pick your Roku gimmick as the mirror .

You ’ll see a prompt on your TV from the Roku app for you to " Allow " the connexion from your smartphone or equipment ( see the range above ) .

Get the Roku app!

If you do n’t have the Roku app , then you are missing out on a net ton of legit helpful and fun poppycock your Roku can do . uncommitted for spare oniOSandAndroiddevices , the official Roku app give you a wealth of options and features including full remote ascendance of any Roku in your home plate ; the ability to graze , bring and delete channels from your history ; and the power to pullulate euphony , TV , and photos located   on your equipment .

Music fans will value the ability to   shuffle track   as well as the ability to create playlist within the covering . For your photos , you may   aline the transition expressive style and tweak the velocity of the   photo slideshows as well as stream a specific song from the mobile equipment during the slideshow .

With the Roku app , it ’s exceedingly easy to search for the mental object you require , whether you are about to keep an eye on it on your Roku or not . Just typewrite in the name of the movie or TV show and Roku will show you where it is available , often for free . No more hunting and pecking out search on the on - screen keyboard , which remove always . Just use the genuine keyboard , built into the Roku app .

Or , skip the typing and utilize the phonation lookup . If your Roku devicedoesn’t have a spokesperson remote control , you could still voice lookup using the Roku app . Just press the littleMicbutton and get down blab .

Use the app as a remote

The Roku remote control is an amazing piece of ironware . But , first of all , if you lose your remote control , you could utilize the app ’s remote spotter to situate it — it will direct an audible beep to the remote to lead you to it . But if you do n’t have Roku ’s distant view finder , you could always use the app as your remote , which many mass prefer .

For one , it ’s promiscuous to enter textbook using the app ( see research above ) . You also can apply the app and its on - screen directional pad as a remote , and when you get to a spot where you need to enter a username , watchword , or search terminal figure , just duple - pollex your way of life through it in a fraction of the time .

Private Listening

Perhaps the coolest addition to the Roku app is Private Listening . Supported by all of the latest Roku hardware , this characteristic let you listen to whatever content is on your Roku via the headphones plugged into your phone or tablet . It ’s also smart enough to know when you disconnect your earphones , change by reversal   the loudness back on for the telecasting consequently .

If your phone or pad of paper supports multiple span of wireless headphone connexion , then more people can listen privately . This is great for when you require to watch TV with braggart , robust strait without disturbing anyone .

Alternatively , some Roku remote controls come with a earpiece doodly-squat , letting you use Private Listening without the pauperization for a phone at all .

Use your own photos as your screensaver

Another cool Roku app feature isRoku ’s Photo Streams , which came with the Roku OS 11 update . This feature lets you make and share galleries and supercede the Roku screensaver with your photos .

you’re able to dress this up first through the Roku app ( you must havethe late version ) , where you’re able to select and make your galleries . The human activity of doing this will automatically tot up the Photo Stream app to your Roku equipment on your goggle box . you could then get to the galleries and photo to set them as your screensaver .

Instant replay

The Roku remote has a handy instant replay ( or skim back ) feature that lets you rewind your video by 10 bit each clip you use it . But for a truly helpful crying replay — one that helps you cipher out waterlogged dialog or thickset accents — release on the closed - captioning for exigent replays , which can be done in theCaptions modesetting on your Roku .

Protect your Roku from unauthorized purchases

While the Roku does n’t have universal parental control , users do have the ability to restrict specific natural action using a four - digit PIN code . After log into the exploiter account on the Roku site , a custom four - digit PIN can be selected within the menu .

In addition , you   can choose to specifically call for the PIN before authorizing a purchase or even before instal any free software on the gadget .

By using this PIN , parent can avoid position where a child may unknowingly purchase games that are n’t eld - appropriate . This only lend oneself when set about to tote up channels or secret plan from the Roku equipment . substance abuser can still add channels through the Web portal without having to go in the PIN .

Upgrade channel storage with a microSD card

While Roku hardware comes with national New York minute storage for installing epithelial duct applications , if you own an older Roku Ultra ( 2019 ) , Roku Premiere+   ( or the even elderly Roku XS or Roku 3/4 ) , there is a modest microSD porthole on the back of these units that allows you to increase the bit of television channel ( apps ) you could have on the equipment .

However , many of the Modern Roku devices do not amount with the microSD slot anymore . If you ’re purchasing a new Roku twist and want to ensure it has an SD slot , the Roku Ultra is the only option that still include it . If you design to install tons of channels and game on the Roku machine , using a   microSD   poster will help you fend off re - set up program on the internal trice storage . Without a microSD card , this mental process can significantly slow down the unconscious process of launching program .

It ’s important to mark that the microSD slot can not be used to store video data file or other content . For that , you ’ll involve a model with a USB port ( any of the Roku Ultras ) , which will leave you to get at and play those files . Additionally , if you need to move from one Roku twist to the next one , you ’ll need to reinstall your apps and biz . Changing the equipment your microSD card is introduce into requires it to be re - format , which will erase the info on the posting .

Access secret menus

If you are let issues such as stammer HD streaming over a   wireless internet , or you require to further pull off some playback configurations , there are a telephone number of " mystical " menus that can be access through clit - pressure combinations on the remote . Here are a few of our ducky :

Step 1 : Bit Rate Override

For video recording stuttering issuance , this card might be the answer .   By press theHomebutton five clip , theRewindbutton three time , and theFast forwardbutton two multiplication with about a one-half - minute between each button press , you ’ll access this secret card . Look for the carte option regardingPlayback debuggingand enable it .

When video loads in most applications , an overlayer trope will come along prior to the start of a video and order the exploiter the speed of the connector . This will give you   an idea of how secure the Wi - Fi sign is within the locality of the Roku . Within the same mo Rate Override fare , you’re able to select a minimal bit rate to play video , take it ’s back by the Wi - Fi connection and internet speed . By default , the Roku will choose the best available bit pace .

whole tone 2 : HDR

If you have a Roku that supports HDR playback , you’re able to use this mysterious menu to correct the screen resolution from 4:2:2 color to 4:2:0 colour and also pay off some HDCP errors and compatibility issue . accession this menu by pressingHomefive times , Downonce , Leftonce , and thenUpthee times .

Never miss a movie with My Feed

Finally , make certain to leverage the My Feed service , which can be accessed from the primary menu on your Roku . It pass on you a way to identify moving picture , TV shows , actors , and directors that you ’re concerned in , even if they are n’t available on any Roku channels presently . My Feed will keep tabs on your queries for you , alarm you as soon as something ’s available or if something is available at a lower price . It ’s the perfect companion to the Universal Search function .

Be certain to go over out theRoku Channel Storeevery couple of month to look for new coating . you may also control out the officialRoku blogfor content suggestions as well as announcement about new channel , Modern version of the app and the Roku package itself , and , of form , revisions to the hardware .