Summary
Whether you are a cord cutter or not, you should most likely consider purchasing a streaming device for your television. Roku is a well-liked option, especially now that it is increasing the importance of its own original content.
There is a wide range of Roku devices available, ranging from the inexpensive Roku Express to the Roku Ultra, which is packed with a multitude of features. No matter whatever one you have, there is additional information to learn beyond the fundamentals. In order to get the most out of your streaming gadget, here are some tips.
1. One List That Will Destroy All Others
You have watchlists for each of your streaming applications, which means that if you want to find anything to watch, you have to browse and scroll until you find it. One alternative is to use a Roku, which allows you to store everything to a one global list. Use the Roku operating system to search for the movies and television series that you wish to watch, and then pick the Add to Save List option on the details page of each one. The list may be accessed by going to the home screen of the Roku and choosing the What to Watch option.
2. Then, continue from where you left off
When you wanted to pick up viewing a movie or program where you left off, but you couldn’t remember which streaming service it was on, have you ever found yourself in this situation? Simply go to the Roku Home Screen, choose What to Watch, and then scroll down until you reach Continue Watching. You will see it already listed there.
3. Utilize the Roku Channel to see free movies and television shows.
Even if video streaming services are fantastic, the vast majority of them are not free. You are able to sign in and access premium channels, such as Max and Netflix, using The Roku Channel. In addition, the channel provides free access to hundreds of movies and television programs, provided that you are able to tolerate a few advertisements. Another thing that Roku has been doing is providing more original content. You may find hundreds more options by going to The Roku Channel and scrolling down until you reach the Live TV Channel Guide screen. It is also possible to view content using the Roku app, regardless of whether or not you possess a Roku device. All you need to do is download the app, sign in or establish an account, and then begin streaming.
4.Thousands of channels may be searched simultaneously.
Through the use of Roku Search, you may search across all of the Roku channels rather than scanning each one individually to discover what you are looking for. As soon as you enter your search phrase using the Roku remote, the Roku mobile app, or through voice search, you will be presented with results from more than 4,000 channels. A thorough list will be provided to you if you search for the title, the actor, or the director. Utilize Roku Search in a similar manner to compare the prices of other streaming entertainment titles: Enter a movie, program, or celebrity to get a list of titles that are currently available, along with the rates for each of those titles across all channels and services.
5.Put yourself in the zone
Collections of movies and programs from a variety of channels that are arranged in Roku Zones according to the type or subject matter of the content. Access the search function, enter a search word such as “comedy,” and then navigate through the zone that appears on the screen. A Live TV Zone has been introduced to Roku, which allows users to quickly access live TV streaming providers such as Hulu, fuboTV, Philo, Sling, and YouTube TV, to mention just a variety of options.
6. Photos that are as Large as Life
You have the option of adding Google Photos to your Roku if you want to have a more in-depth look at your photographs or share them with a group of people. After logging in to photostreams.roku.com (it is possible that you will be required to validate your email address), you will notice a link that allows you to connect to Google Photos.
7. Convert Your Mobile Device Into a Roku Accessory
Even though the Roku is an excellent gadget, the experience of navigating through it with the remote control may be improved. The Roku Official Remote Control software is available for both iOS and Android devices. By downloading this app, you will be able to take use of a keyboard, simple search capabilities, and the ability to stream content from your mobile device.
8. Communicate with the Remote Control of Your Roku
Having said that, you always have the option of communicating with your Roku directly by using a Roku Voice Remote Pro, a Voice Remote, or the Roku mobile app. You may make your request by pressing either the microphone symbol on the remotes and holding it down while you talk. The search page may be accessed by selecting the magnifying glass icon inside the application. After that, you should press the microphone, let it go, say your request, and then tap the center of the screen.
9. Communicate with the Google Assistant or Alexa.
It is possible to ask Alexa to take control of your Roku if you have both an Amazon Echo and a Roku. You will first need to join both accounts by opening the Alexa mobile app, choosing Skills & Games, and searching for Roku. This will be the first step in the process. When you discover it, hit the Enable to Use button, then sign in to your Roku account and choose the Roku device that you wish to connect (or pick All if you have more than one).
After you have closed your Roku account, Alexa will look for the device on the screen that is designated for Device Discovery. When it is located, pick the Roku that you wish to link to Alexa by tapping the Manage button and then selecting Link Devices. The Roku may then be added to a group by clicking the Devices icon from the menu. When you press the + button, you can either add it to an existing group or create a new group from scratch. It is necessary to ensure that the Roku device is activated by tapping on it inside the Alexa app. After that, you will be able to utilize orders such as “Alexa, open Netflix on Roku in the living room with Roku.”
Making voice queries is another option available to you via Google Assistant. To begin, make sure that your Roku player is operating with Roku OS 9.0 or a higher version, and that your Roku TV is running Roku OS 8.2 or a higher version. Activate your Google Assistant on any device or app that is associated with Google. Open the mobile app for Google Assistant, then choose Explore, then Settings, then Home Control, then Add Device, then Find, and finally Roku. After you have logged in to your Roku account, your next step is to choose the device that you would want to operate using Google Assistant.
10. Track Down That Misplaced Remote Control
A Roku remote control is easily misplaced in the cushions of a sofa or behind a coffee table. There are various alternatives available to you if you have spent an excessive amount of time looking for it.
If your remote has a speaker grille, you may use the Roku app to locate your remote by opening it, tapping the microphone, and saying, “Hey, Roku, find my remote.” A beeping sound will be produced by the remote control.
A beep will be produced by the remote control if you have a Roku Ultra and you push and hold the button located on the right side of the device for a moment.
Say “Hey, Roku, find my remote,” and it will begin to beep. If the remote you’ve misplaced is the Voice Remote Pro, you may use this command to locate it.
Once you have discovered your remote, hit any button on the remote to put an end to the beeping sound.
Launch the Roku app on your television and go to Settings > Remote > Change Remote Finder Sound. This will allow you to modify the sound that your Roku remote makes when it is accidentally misplaced. You may get a sense of how it sounds by clicking on the Preview Remote Finder Sound button.
11. Create Your Own Roku at Home with My Kit
Roku devices support AirPlay and HomeKit, which means that you can stream movies, photographs, and music from your smartphone to the TV and speakers that are compatible. This is especially useful for those who own iPhones and iPads. Set it up in the Roku menu by going to Settings > Apple AirPlay & HomeKit > Launch Apple AirPlay & HomeKit setup. This will allow you to configure it appropriately. You will see a QR code appear. Using the camera on your iPhone or iPad, scan it, and then proceed to follow the instructions on your Apple device to complete the setup process. Additionally, HomeKit enables you to manage your Roku by using Siri and the Apple Home app (for example, you might say, “Hey Siri, play jazz on the living room TV”).
12. Allow Roku and Siri to communicate with one another
You can use your iPhone and Roku to communicate with one another, with Siri serving as the translator. You may use your voice to operate your Roku device by using the Siri Shortcuts that are available in the Roku iOS app. While the app is open on your phone, pick Siri Shortcuts by tapping the account symbol located in the upper right corner of the screen. You have the power to switch on the capability to open the Roku remote, play or stop Roku, search Roku, and turn a Roku on and off for specific models. You may choose to stay with the recommended phrase by clicking on each choice, or you can come up with your own orders.
13. Screen Mirroring on Roku Devices
You can mirror the screen of your iPhone or iPad to Roku using the Control Center if you have AirPlay enabled. However, the majority of Roku devices also allow screen mirroring from Android and Windows devices. It is necessary to click the Home button on your Roku remote in order to connect it. After that, go to Settings > System > Screen Mirroring. For your convenience, you will be able to choose either the Prompt or Always Allow option.
14. Train yourself to cast
In the event that you favor Google’s Cast technology, you will have the ability to effortlessly transfer music, films, and photographs from mobile devices to the majority of Roku-connected gadgets, provided that each of these devices are joined to the same Wi-Fi network. Look for the symbol that looks like a cast when you open the material that you wish to share on the device. If you click it, a menu that contains all of the Roku devices that are currently accessible should appear.
15. Leveling of the Volume Automatically
The number of times that you have been jerked awake by a commercial after being lulled into a state of sleep by a program is hard to count. It is possible to activate Leveling on the majority of Roku models, which ensures that a commercial or a change in channel will not cause a sudden increase in loudness. When Night mode is on, you also have the option to raise the volume of gentle noises while lowering the volume of loud sounds.
You may activate the function by going to Settings, if you have a Streambar or Smart Soundbar, or by connecting it to other Roku devices while you are streaming content. Select Settings > Audio > Volume Modes from the menu that appears after pressing the Home button on the remote control for Streambars and Soundbars. To adjust the volume or volume mode for other devices, hit the star button on the remote control and then browse to the Sound Settings menu.
16.Utilize the Roku Private Listening feature.
Utilize the Private Listening feature on your Roku device whenever you want to view anything on your device without bothering individuals who are nearby. There are built-in headphone ports on the Roku Voice Remote Pro, Enhanced Voice Remote, and Gaming Remote; all you need to do is plug them in and continue viewing what you’re watching. The Roku mobile app can also be downloaded, then the headphones can be connected to the device, and then the headphones icon can be tapped.
17. Save the Current Screen
It’s possible that you stepped out of the room and stopped whatever it is that you were viewing. Alternately, you may have fallen asleep, and now the Roku logo is bouncing about your screen like the flying toasters of previous generations. With Roku’s screensavers, you may provide yourself with something more pleasing to look at. After you have pressed the Home button on your remote, go to Settings > Theme > Screensavers after that.
18. Get ready to play the game.
Even if it is not a Nintendo Switch, your Roku is still a part of the competition. You can go on a sugar-fueled rampage in Candy Bear or journey back in time with Snake if you hit the Home button and go to the Streaming Channels > Games setting on your device. Motion-controlled gaming is supported by the Roku Enhanced Gaming Remote with Voice Search.
19. Rearrange the applications that are shown on the home screen of your Roku device
The channels that you add to Roku are shown in the order that you added them, but you have the ability to rearrange them. The first step is to locate the application that you want to relocate, then click the star button on your Roku remote and choose “Move channel” from the menu that appears. Take use of the directional pad to move it to the area of your choosing.
20. Say what you will?
If you were unable to catch the last few words of a movie or television program, there is a simple method to get caught up. To enable instant replay, go to the Settings menu, then click Accessibility, then pick Captions Mode, and finally select On Replay. After that, the text will appear on the screen whenever you press the Instant Replay button on the remote control or the remote control.
21. Stream Your Own Content Through Plex
Despite the fact that Roku provides a vast array of channels and material to view, it is very likely that you will still choose to access the content that you have locally saved on your television. This is possible if you sign up for Plex Pass, which costs $4.99 per month, $39.99 per year, or $119.99 for a lifetime subscription. You can record and watch live broadcast television using Plex, which also helps you manage your dispersed material and allows you to view it from a variety of devices, including tablets, TVs, phones, and more.
The Plex app may be downloaded. After that, you will need to activate your Roku, install the Plex channel, and then go to plex.tv/pin. Enter the code that was provided by the Roku Plex channel on the website once you have logged in.
22. Make Use of Streaming Services for Live Television
On a regular basis, new live TV services are being introduced to cater to your need for Hallmark movies and sports. Simply press the Home button on your remote control, then go to the Streaming Channels > Cable menu to see the available options. An alternative method of logging in to services such as Sling and Hulu is to go to the Streaming Channels > Watch With Cable menu option. This will allow you to log in with a pay TV provider like Comcast or Spectrum. As an additional option, you may go to the Roku Channel, scroll down until you reach the Live TV Channel Guide, and then navigate among hundreds of channels without having to pay for any of them. Included in this is NewsOn, which provides live streaming of local news programs from venues all throughout the country.
23. Show Your Support for the Team
On Roku, you may follow your favorite sports teams by heading to the Home screen on your device, scrolling down to Sports, doing a search for an upcoming game, navigating to that page, and then choosing the heart symbol that is located next to the name of your club. All of the forthcoming games will be included in the My Favorites row that will be created under Sports.
24. DVRs hosted on the cloud
There are a lot of live TV streaming providers that offer cloud DVR, which means that you may record live TV using the Roku app of the service and then view your recordings at a later time.
You can record live television using a device such as the Tablo TV if you have an antenna that allows you to see live television. Once you get everything set up and the software downloaded to your Roku, you will be able to record, stop, and view content.
Subscriptions to YouTube TV come with a cloud-based digital video recorder (DVR) that can save an infinite number of hours of programs for a period of nine months.
Sling TV subscribers are eligible for a free DVR storage of fifty hours. You may upgrade to DVR Plus for a starting price of $5 per month and get 200 hours of storage space.
A cloud-based digital video recorder (DVR) that can save twenty hours of information for a period of nine months is included with DirecTV Stream.
The ability to record an infinite amount of live news, sports, programs, movies, and events is a feature that comes standard with Hulu with Live TV. These recordings may be kept for a period of up to nine months.
All content that streams on Philo may be saved to the service’s built-in digital video recorder (DVR) for a period of one year.
Subscribers to fuboTV have access to a digital video recorder (DVR) feature that allows them to record the whole of a program, even if it is only halfway through its broadcast. Your plan will determine the amount of that is saved.
25. Join Us as Our Guests
In order to make themselves feel more at home, your visitors may access their Roku settings without causing any disruption to yours. Enabling Guest Mode, which was once known as Auto Sign Out Mode, is all that is required of you. Set up a personal identification number (PIN) by going to my.roku.com/account/PIN, and then pressing the Home button on the Roku remote. Enter Guest Mode by going to Settings > System > Guest Mode> Enter Guest Mode. Then, input your personal identification number (PIN), and then click OK. In the event that visitors arrive, send them to the Roku tutorial that explains how to use the Guest Mode.
26. Gain Access to Covert Interfaces
In addition to the capabilities that may be found on the Home screen, Roku also has additional functionality. We have compiled a list of the most helpful ones, which includes instructions on how to do a speed test, how to access a complete list of the channels that you have downloaded to your device, and how to perform a reset when your Roku is not functioning properly.
27. Keep yourself up to date
It is recommended that you install the most recent software version on your Roku in order to get the most out of it. In most cases, the device will take care of this on its own; but, if you have just added a channel to your Roku or if it has been unplugged for a considerable amount of time, it is possible that you have missed an update. Should this be the case, you have the option to manually upgrade by navigating to Settings > System > System upgrade.
