Roku is the number one streaming media player in the United States. however, many users are probably not taking full advantage of everything the device has to offer.
For over ten years now I have used a Roku player and now Roku TVs. Now I want to share my top 5 Roku tips and tricks!
#1 Parental controls
Have you ever wanted to stop your kids from installing Roku channels or accessing content you didn’t want them to have? Roku offers parental controls that allow you to require a PIN to install Roku Channels or limit the ability to play movies or shows based on Roku Channel Rating.
To configure Parental Controls, go to Settings and select Parental Controls.
#2 Use your phone to enter usernames and passwords
Roku offers an on-screen keyboard, but entering passwords and usernames with your Roku remote can be quite tedious. The good news is that you can use your phone or tablet keyboard to enter passwords and usernames with the Roku app.
Roku offers a powerful and useful 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: on-screen keyboards are slow and a pain to use. With the Roku app, your mobile device can be used as a keyboard for usernames and passwords. Simply click the keyboard icon on your Roku app to type on your Roku.
#3 Screen Mirroring
Wish you could cast your Android phone’s screen to your TV? With Roku, you can do that through Screen Mirroring. To set it up, go to Settings and enable Screen Mirroring. After that go to your phone and search for Cast. This will give you the option to cast your phone 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 on public Wi-Fi? Roku has added the ability to use your Roku with public Wi-Fi like the one you find in a hotel.
Here’s how to use your Roku on public Wi-Fi:
- Plug your Roku player into any TV that has an HMDI port.
- press the Home button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll up or down and select Settings.
- Select Network.
- Select Configure the connection.
- Select Wireless.
- In the list of available networks, choose the wireless network of the hotel or the dormitory. If you don’t see the network, select Analysis again to see all networks.
- Once your Roku player is connected to the network, select I am in a hotel or a university residence.
#5 Rename your Roku players
The ability to stream videos and photos from your phone is excellent. Even better is the ability to send YouTube videos from your computer or phone to your TV. But if you’re like me and own multiple Rokus, it can be hard to remember which serial number is the living room Roku and which is the bedroom Roku.
There is good news. Head over to your My Account page on the Roku website and you can rename your Roku boxes. This way, you can easily figure out which Roku is in your living room and which is in your bedroom without having to search for a serial number.
Prime! Silent subtitles
We’ve all been there before. The game or show is on and the phone is ringing, so you’ve muted the sound, but you still want to know what’s being said. With Roku TVs, you can enable mute subtitles so that whenever your TV is muted, the subtitles will automatically turn on.
Do you have any Roku tricks you want to add? Let us know!
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