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The 10 Best Ways to Use the Roku Mobile App

Use your smartphone to control your entertainment options

By Robert Silva Robert Silva Writer San Diego State University Robert Silva has extensive experience in consumer electronics and home theater product sales and sales supervision; he has written about audio, video, and home theater topics since 1998. Robert has articles published on HBO.com and Dishinfo.com plus has made appearances on the YouTube series Home Theater Geeks. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 2, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Use the Mobile App as a Remote Control Use the Swipe Pad Find Out What's on Roku Use Keyboard or Voice Search Launch Your Favorite Channels Use Private Listening Add More Channels to Your Roku Share Smartphone Content With Play on Roku Manage Multiple Roku Devices Fast-Start a Roku TV If you have a Roku streaming device, such as a streaming stick, set-top box, or Roku TV, the companion Roku mobile app for iOS or Android provides a wealth of resources, including serving as a remote control, launching channels, searching for content, and more. Here are our picks for the ten most helpful Roku mobile app functions. The Roku mobile app can control Roku-enabled devices but isn't a universal remote capable of controlling other entertainment sources.

Use the Mobile App as a Roku Remote Control

If you misplace your Roku remote control, the Roku mobile app duplicates its directional keypad and other controls. Here's how to access the remote control feature. How to Fix It When Roku Remote App Won't Connect Before you begin, download the Roku app for iOS or Android and make sure your mobile device is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku. Open the Roku mobile app on your iOS or Android device. Tap Remote on the bottom menu. With the on-screen remote, use the arrow keys to navigate the Roku menu just as you would with the physical remote.

Use the Roku Mobile App' s Swipe Pad

The Roku mobile app lets you swap the traditional directional keypad for a Swipe Pad for navigating a Roku's menus. Here's how to activate this feature: Open the mobile app and tap Remote to access the remote control. In the upper-left corner of the screen, tap Controls (three lines). Under Remote Type, tap Swipe. Tap the Back arrow. You're now in Swipe menu mode. Use swipe gestures to navigate the Roku menu.

Use the Roku App to Find Out What' s On

The Roku app makes it easy to check out what's on, highlighting a selection of free, popular, and trending movies and shows. Select a show to play it, share it, and learn more about its viewing options. Here's how: Open the Roku app and tap Roku Channel. Scroll and browse a variety of categories, including Sitcoms, Family Night, Comedies, Crime, Game Shows, and more. Tap any show to display a synopsis, cast information, viewing options, and more. Tap Play to go directly to the show.

Use Keyboard or Voice Search

If you know what movie or TV show you want to watch, use a text search or a voice search to find it. Use text or voice to search for a Roku channel, as well. Use your voice to navigate the home page, launch channels, or play a movie or TV show on selected apps. Issue voice commands like Launch YouTube, Search for dramas, Watch Stranger Things on Netflix, and Tune to ABC. From the Roku remote screen, tap the magnifying glass to launch a search. For a text search, type the name of the show, movie, or channel into the search field. Tap a search result to display more information, including viewing options. Tap an episode or movie to watch the show. For a voice search, tap the magnifying glass, then tap the microphone in the search field. Tap Give Access to let Roku access your device's microphone. Tap OK to confirm. Speak your search term. The Roku app displays your results.

Launch Your Favorite Channels

It's easy to launch a channel directly from the Roku mobile app. Open the Roku app and tap Remote. Tap Channels in the lower-right corner. Swipe to scroll through recent channels on your Roku. Tap a channel to launch it on your Roku-equipped TV. If you have a Roku TV, use the Roku mobile app to switch the TV's HDMI, AV, and antenna inputs.

Use the Roku Remote App' s Private Listening Feature

The Roku mobile app lets you listen privately to your Roku channels using your headphones. For Roku TVs, private listening is available only for streaming apps and digital antenna channel sources. Open the Roku app and tap Remote. Tap Controls (three lines) in the upper-right corner. Toggle on Private Listening to stream audio through your mobile device. Tap OK to confirm that Private Listening is activated.

Add More Channels to Your Roku in the Mobile App

It's easy to add more channels to your Roku by accessing the Roku Channel Store directly from the app. Open the Roku app and tap Devices. Tap Channels. Tap Channel Store. When you're in the Channel Store, check out the featured channels or scroll to browse by genre. Tap a channel to see more information. Tap Add Channel to add a channel to your lineup. Tap OK to continue. Launch the channel immediately or at any time.

Share Smartphone Content With Play on Roku

The Play on Roku feature lets the Roku app share music, photos, and video stored on your smartphone with your Roku device or TV. Open the Roku app and tap Devices. Tap the Media icon to launch Play on Roku. Select Music, Photos, or Videos. Tap Give Access to permit Roku to access your photos and videos. When prompted, tap OK to give access to your photo library. If you selected Photos, tap the album you want to display. Tap the Play button from the bottom. Your photos display on your TV.

Use the Roku App to Manage Multiple Roku Devices

If you have more than one Roku device, control devices one at a time with the Roku mobile app. You must switch to the Roku device you want to control. Open the Roku app and tap Devices. If you have more than one Roku, tap the one that's not currently connected. The selected Roku device is connected, and the Roku mobile app controls that device.

Use the Roku Mobile App to Fast-Start a Roku TV

For Roku TVs, use the Roku mobile app to activate Fast TV Start. This feature allows for faster startup time and lets the TV download and install updates while in standby mode. When Fast TV Start is enabled on a Roku TV, tap the microphone icon and use a voice command, such as Launch YouTube, and the TV turns on and goes directly to YouTube. To turn the TV off, tap the microphone icon and say TV off. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Add Spotify to a Roku Device How to Get Peacock on a Smart TV How to Connect an Android Phone to a Roku TV How to Pair a Roku Remote What Is Roku And How Does It Work? How to Cancel Subscriptions On Roku How to Sign Into HBO Max on Roku 4 Ways to Find Your Roku IP Address (With or Without the Remote) 20 Roku Hacks to Make Your Life Easier How to Watch Twitch on Roku How to Cast to Roku TV From Android How to Fix It When Your Roku Remote Is Not Working How to Mirror Your iPhone to Roku How to Connect Google Home to Your TV The 12 Best Ways to Use a Roku TV Remote 11 Best Free Apps for Streaming Movies in 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies