Roku is the number one streaming media player in the United States; however, many users are likely not taking full advantage of everything the device has to offer.
For over ten years now, I have been using a Roku player and now Roku TVs. Now I want to share my top 5 Roku Tips and Tricks!
#1 Parental Controls
Ever wish you could keep your kids from installing Roku channels or accessing content you don’t want them to? Roku offers Parental Controls that let you require a PIN to install Roku channels or limit the ability to play movies or shows based on the Roku channel rating.
To set up Parental Controls, go to Settings and select Parental Controls.
#2 Use Your Phone to Enter Usernames & Passwords
Roku offers an onscreen keyboard, but entering passwords and usernames with your Roku remote can be rather cumbersome. The good news is you can use your phone or tablet’s keyboard to enter passwords and usernames with the Roku app.
Roku has a powerful and helpful app for Android, iOS, and Fire OS devices. This app will let you cast photos and videos from your phone or tablet to your TV. And you can use your mobile device as a remote for your Roku if you ever lose your remote.
The Roku app also solves one of the most common complaints about all streaming players: The onscreen keyboards are slow and painful to use. With the Roku app, your mobile device can be used as a keyboard for usernames and passwords. Just click on the keyboard icon on your Roku app to type on your Roku.
#3 Screen Mirroring
Wishing you could cast your Android phone’s screen to your TV? With Roku you can do just that thanks to Screen Mirroring. To set this up, go to Settings and enable Screen Mirroring. After that, go to your phone and search for Cast. This will give you the ability to cast your phone’s screen to your Roku.
#4 Use Your Roku with Public Wi-Fi in a Hotel or Dorm
Ever wish you could take your Roku with you when you travel or use it with public Wi-Fi? Roku added the ability to use your Roku with public Wi-Fi like that you find in a hotel.
Here is how to use your Roku on public Wi-Fi:
- Plug your Roku player into any TV with an HMDI port.
- Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll up or down and select Settings.
- Select Network.
- Select Set up connection.
- Select Wireless.
- From the list of available networks, choose the wireless network for the hotel or college dorm. If you do not see the network, select Scan again to see all networks.
- After your Roku player connects to the network, select I am at a hotel or college dorm.
#5 Rename Your Roku Players
The ability to cast video and photos from your phone is great. The ability to send YouTube videos from your computer or phone to your TV is even better. But if you are like me and own multiple Rokus, it can be hard to remember what serial number is the living room Roku and what is the bedroom Roku.
There is good news. Head over to your My Account page on Roku’s website and you can rename your Roku boxes. That way you can easily figure out what Roku is in your living room and which one is in your bedroom without having to go find a serial number.
Bonus! Mute Captions
We have all been there before. The game or show is on and the phone rings, so you hit mute but still want to know what is being said. With Roku TVs, you can enable mute captions so any time your TV is muted the captions will automatically turn on.
Do you have any Roku tips you want to add? Let us know!
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