20 Roku Hacks to Make Your Life Easier
Roku is a fantastic platform for streaming content, but did you know there are several hacks that can make your life even easier? Here are 20 Roku hacks that can save you time and make your streaming experience more enjoyable.
1. Customize Your Roku Screen
Did you know that you can use your own pictures as a screensaver on Roku? Go to the ‘Screensaver’ option in your settings and select ‘Custom Screensaver’. From there, you can use your own photos or choose from a selection of screensavers.
2. Use Your Phone as a Remote
Misplaced your Roku remote? No problem, download the Roku app on your phone and control your device from there.
3. Play Games on Your Roku
Roku has several quirky games that you can play on your device. Check out classics such as Snake and Tetris, or try something new like Go Pub Trivia or Kung Fu Video Poker.
4. Use Your Voice to Control Your Roku
If you have a Roku device that comes with a voice remote, you can use voice commands to search for movies or TV shows to stream. Simply press the microphone button on your remote and start talking.
5. Enable Guest Mode
Do you have visitors coming over and don’t want them to mess with your personal Roku settings? Enable guest mode by going to ‘Settings’ and selecting ‘Guest Mode’. This allows your visitors to use your Roku without accessing your personal content.
6. Control Your TV with Your Roku Remote
If your Roku remote comes with power and volume buttons, you can control your TV with it as well. Check your Roku remote’s compatibility list to see if your TV brand is included.
7. Stream Movies and TV Shows from Your Local Library
If you have a library card, you can download the Kanopy app on your Roku and stream critically acclaimed movies and documentaries for free.
8. Block Content with Parental Controls
If you want to restrict your children from accessing adult content, you can set up parental controls on your Roku device. Go to ‘Settings’ and select ‘Parental Controls’ to turn on this feature.
9. Mirror Your Phone Screen on Your TV
If you have an Android or Windows device, you can mirror your phone screen on your TV using the Roku app. Just select ‘Photos+’ from the app, choose your screen’s orientation, and start mirroring.
10. Watch Free Channels on Roku
Roku has several free channels such as The Roku Channel, Popcornflix, and Crunchyroll that offer a range of movies and TV shows to stream for free.
11. Set up Multiple Profiles
If you share your Roku with multiple people, you can create different profiles to personalize each user’s streaming experience. Go to ‘Settings’ and select ‘Manage Profiles’ to set this up.
12. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
If you stream content regularly on Roku, you can speed up your navigation using keyboard shortcuts. Press the ‘Shift’ button on your remote and scroll through the list of shortcuts displayed.
13. Use Private Listening
If you want to watch a movie or TV show without disturbing your partner, use the private listening feature on your Roku remote. Just plug in your earphones and watch your content without any distractions.
14. Schedule Your Roku Screen Time
If you’re worried about excessive screen time, you can use the ‘Auto Off’ feature on your Roku device to set a specific time for your device to turn off automatically.
15. Use Your Roku Remote as a Headphone Jack
If you have a Roku device with a headphone jack on the remote, you can plug in your earphones to listen to your content privately.
16. Use Roku Channels Not Available in Your Country
If you want to access channels that aren’t available in your country, use a VPN to change your location and access these channels.
17. Set up Notifications for New Content
If you want to stay updated on the latest movies and TV shows available on Roku, turn on notifications in your settings to receive alerts on new content.
18. Access Your Roku Device Remotely
If you’re away from home and want to access your Roku device, download the Roku app on your phone and use it to control your device remotely.
19. Connect Your Roku TV to Amazon Alexa
If you have an Amazon Alexa device, you can use voice commands to control your Roku TV. Just connect your devices and start talking to Alexa to navigate and stream content.
20. Buy a Universal Remote
If you have multiple streaming devices, consider buying a universal remote that allows you to control all your devices from one remote.
In conclusion, by using these simple hacks, you can enhance your Roku experience and streamline your streaming habits. Whether it’s customizing your screensaver or setting up multiple profiles, these hacks are sure to make your streaming experience more enjoyable.