Roku Power User Guide
Secret codes, hidden menus, and pro tricks that Roku doesn't advertise. These are the features power users know about — and now you will too.
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We find the best Roku tricks so you don't have to.
Every Roku has a hidden diagnostic screen that shows signal strength, system info, and lets you run network tests. Most users never know it exists.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
Use this to check your Wi-Fi signal strength if streaming is choppy. Anything below -65 dBm means you need a better connection.
Stream audio directly to your phone's headphones — completely free, no special hardware required. Perfect for late-night watching without waking anyone up.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
Works with any headphones, including AirPods. The Roku app is 100% free.
The asterisk (*) button on your Roku remote is one of the most underused features. Press it on almost any screen to reveal a context menu with hidden options.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
You can rearrange your home screen apps by pressing * and selecting 'Move'. Put your most-used free apps at the top!
If your free apps buffer constantly, there's a hidden bandwidth setting that can dramatically improve streaming quality on slower connections.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
Disabling auto-adjust refresh rate eliminates the black screen flash that happens when switching between apps.
Toggle closed captions on any app instantly without digging through menus — even on apps that hide the caption settings.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
Setting captions to 'Always on' in system settings overrides individual app settings — useful for apps that make captions hard to find.
Cast your entire phone screen to your TV — photos, videos, websites, anything — completely free without needing Chromecast or Apple TV.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
This works great for showing vacation photos on the big screen or watching videos from apps that don't have a Roku channel.
Roku has hundreds of 'non-certified' channels that don't appear in the Channel Store but can be added with a secret code. These are legitimate channels from real broadcasters.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
These are 100% legal channels — they just haven't gone through Roku's full certification process yet. Many are from legitimate broadcasters testing new content.
Lock down your Roku so kids can only access age-appropriate content — even on free apps like Tubi and Pluto TV that have mature content.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
You can also set up a Kids & Family profile in the Roku Channel (free) which creates a completely separate kid-safe browsing experience.
Fall asleep to your favorite free shows without worrying about wasting electricity all night. Roku has a built-in sleep timer most people never find.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
Combine this with Tubi's 'Are you still watching?' auto-pause feature for the ultimate hands-free sleep setup.
Stop going back to the Home screen every time you want to switch apps. There's a faster way that most Roku users don't know about.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
The double-tap Home shortcut shows your last 5 apps. Much faster than navigating the full home screen grid.
Many people think they're watching 4K but they're actually getting 1080p. Here's how to verify your free apps are delivering the best quality.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
Tubi and Pluto TV do offer some 4K content for free. The Roku Channel has a dedicated 4K section. Make sure you're not leaving quality on the table.
Before blaming your free app for buffering, check if your internet is actually the problem — right from your Roku without any extra apps.
How to do it:
Pro Tip
Free streaming apps like Tubi and Pluto TV sometimes have slower servers during peak evening hours. Try watching earlier in the day for the best experience.
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