Nine Ways to Get More From Your Roku
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to installing streaming apps on your TV: you have boxes and dongles of all descriptions, as well as built-in software that runs on your actual TV, and most of the time you can also stream video and audio directly from your phone.
Even with so many options available from Amazon, Apple, Google and others, Roku remains one of the most popular options with its affordable boxes and streaming modules . It’s even available as an integrated operating system on some TVs. The platform is fast, simple and supports almost all existing streaming services.
If you have a Roku or two in your life, these tips and tricks should help you go beyond the core business of running streaming apps and help you get more out of your hardware, even if you’ve just unboxed your first new Roku device or you’re already using one for many years.
Watch the credits on repeat
You may not want closed captions all the time, but you can turn them on every time you come back to check something: From the Home screen, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitle Mode > On Playback to turn it on This. Please note that the streaming app you use must also support this feature, so it may not work everywhere.
Organize your channels
It’s a simple and effective trick that you may not have had time to do: You can organize the tiles on your Home screen so that your most frequently used apps are closer to the top and easier to reach. Select any tile on your home screen, press the star button on your remote to open the context menu, and you’ll see the Move app and Move app to top options.
Install the Roku app on your phone
Did you know you can install Roku on your phone? There are official apps for Android and iOS , and they can come in handy in many ways – not least for replacing your Roku remote if you lose it. You can also search for content and apps on your smartphone, which is easier to do using a full keyboard rather than using remote buttons.
Put your photos on the big screen
Of course, you won’t always be watching movies and shows on your Roku—and when your streaming device doesn’t do anything else, you can download images from the Google Photos library to your TV. To set this up, you’ll need to go to the Photostreams page on the Roku website, sign in using your account, and then follow the online instructions.
Enable Guest Mode
It’s nice to have guests, but don’t let them ruin your recommendations and progress review. You can put your Roku device into Guest mode by opening Settings from the Roku main menu, then choosing Guest Mode > Enter Guest Mode . You’ll quit all your apps, and your Roku device will reboot, ready for someone else to use.
Listen through headphones
If you have a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones and a Bluetooth-enabled Roku device, you can pair them together for private audio listening—handy if you don’t want to disturb anyone around you. You can do this by going to Settings from Roku’s main menu, then selecting Remotes & Devices > Wireless Headphones .
Set up a watchlist
There are often times when you see something interesting, but you don’t have time to watch it right away, and that’s when Roku’s watchlist feature can help. Select any movie or show from the home screen, and on the list page, use the Save button to add it to your list: You can then select Save List from the main menu to see what you’ve saved.
Screen mirroring from Apple devices
Roku sticks, boxes, and TVs have built-in support for Apple’s AirPlay standard, so you can stream audio and video from Apple devices or even mirror your Mac’s display on a larger screen. On Roku, select Settings , then Apple AirPlay & HomeKit to make sure you’re set, and then simply press the AirPlay button on your Apple hardware.
Find the cheapest rental options
If you’re in the mood to rent a movie, there are a number of different streaming services to choose from – all of the major ones offer movie rentals on top of the content you get with your subscription. Use the Search option on Roku’s main menu to search for a title and compare different prices for all the services you subscribe to.