How to Connect Windows or MacOS to Roku
Roku streaming devices and set-top boxes are smart little devices that can display all kinds of streaming content on your TV screen, and if you invest in a real Roku TV, you get all the benefits of the software right away, no additional hardware required.
In addition to everything that comes on board Roku devices, you can also quickly connect to them from a laptop or desktop computer. You can simply mirror the screen or display content such as photos, music and movies on a large display.
You just need to make sure that your Roku device and your computer are on the same Wi-Fi network, and that your Roku hardware has the latest version of the Roku software, and you should be able to start using the instructions below.
Connecting Windows to Roku
When it comes to Windows, Roku uses the term “screen mirroring” for the connection. You can set it up from the Settings screen on Roku by selecting System and then Screen Mirroring . There are two options here: Select Screen Mirroring mode to choose whether computers can connect automatically, never connect, or connect with a quick on-screen confirmation every time.
In the Screen Mirroring Devices section, you can better manage this configuration by controlling the devices you have previously allowed to connect or blocked from connecting. For example, you could allow your trusted Windows laptop to connect to your Roku, but then block all other connections—just in case your neighbors get confused and maybe try to connect to your TV.
After this, you can switch to Windows. Click the Volume and Wi-Fi icons in the lower right corner or press Win+A to open Action Center. Next, select Cast (you may have to scroll through Settings to find it), and then select your Roku device. If you’ve enabled screen mirroring prompts on Roku, you’ll get the option to Always Allow , Allow , Block , or Always Block your Windows PC.
By default, your Windows display will be mirrored on Roku. If you return to Action Center and select Project , you can use Roku as your home screen or second screen. It works well for showcasing photos and websites, but video and audio won’t be as smooth as the app running on the Roku app (though they’ll still work fine).
As for streaming video and audio, you can do it from Google Chrome on Windows, but support is limited to YouTube and YouTube Music (so you can’t do it with Netflix or Spotify, for example). Once you’ve loaded YouTube or YouTube Music in your Chrome tab, click the three dots (top right), then Cast, Save & Share, and Cast , and you’ll be able to send the video or audio directly to your Roku.
Connecting macOS to Roku
When it comes to connecting your Mac to a Roku device, you’ll be using Apple’s own AirPlay standard. To set this up on your Roku, open the main Settings screen, then select Apple AirPlay and HomeKit . From here, you can turn AirPlay on or off and decide what approval level you want to set for new devices.
To set the approval level, select Require Code . You’ll then be given three choices: “First Time Only” (new Mac connections require a One-Time PIN), “Every Time ” (new and old Mac connections require a One-Time PIN), and “Use Password Instead” . (each Mac connection requires a password, which you can enter in the input field below).
Connecting from your Mac is as easy as clicking the Control Center button in the menu bar (two toggle switches). Tap Screen Mirroring and you’ll see your Roku listed as long as it’s on the same Wi-Fi network. Select Roku, enter your PIN or password, and you’ll see a copy of your Mac’s display on the big screen. Return to the Screen Mirroring dialog box and you can choose whether your Mac’s screen will be mirrored or extended.
With AirPlay, you can also stream content directly from individual apps, such as Apple Music or the TV app on macOS. Click the AirPlay icon inside these apps (it’s an upward arrow pointing to either a rectangle or a series of concentric rings) and you can select your Roku to send video or audio directly. Many other Mac apps, including the Spotify desktop app, also support AirPlay.
Finally, you can also use the Google Chrome casting trick from Windows on macOS – again, this is limited to YouTube and YouTube Music (at least based on testing I’ve done with other streaming services). Download something to your Chrome tab, click the three dots (top right), then select Cast, Save & Share and Broadcast . You can then select your Roku to receive the audio or video stream.