Background

The setup procedure for all Roku players is essentially the same. This document describes the basic setup instructions for any Roku streaming player. There are separate articles explaining how to set up a Roku® Streaming Stick® or a Roku Streaming Stick+.

• Note: Some Roku streaming players support 4K or 4K HDR (models may not be available in all countries); however, you will not be able to take advantage of the 4K resolution without a 4K compatible TV, or 4K HDR without a 4K HDR compatible TV. A compatible television is not the only requirement to stream movies and TV shows in 4K or 4K HDR; learn more about setting up your Roku player for 4K or setting up your Roku player for 4K HDR.

Connecting the Roku player to your TV

All Roku streaming players will work with any television with an HDMI® connection. When connecting your Roku streaming player to your TV using an HDMI connection, we recommend that you use a High Speed HDMI Cable if your TV only supports 720p and 1080p, or a Premium High Speed HDMI Cable if your TV also supports 4K or 4K HDR.

For connecting to older televisions, some Roku models include a standard composite video connection, in addition to the HDMI connection.

Setting up your Roku player

1. Connect your Roku streaming player to your TV using a High Speed HDMI Cable, Premium High Speed HDMI Cable (for 4K or 4K HDR) or composite cables.
   
   Note: To stream 4K or 4K HDR content, your compatible Roku player must be connected to an HDMI input that supports HDCP 2.2. Learn what to look for when trying to identify an HDMI input that supports HDCP 2.2.

2. If your Roku player has an Ethernet port, you can use an Ethernet cable to connect the Roku player to an available Ethernet port on your router or Ethernet switch.
3. Connect the power connector to the Roku player and connect the power adapter to a wall outlet.

   Note: Select Roku players can be powered by connecting the included USB cable directly to a USB port on the TV. The USB port on some TV’s may be unable to power a Roku player.

4. Open the battery cover of your remote and insert batteries.

Make sure the correct TV input is selected on your TV (the input to which your Roku player is connected). You should see the Roku logo on the TV screen as your Roku player powers on. Help is available if you do not see any picture on your TV or you have problems with your remote control.

Going through Guided Setup

1. Choose a language

• • The first screen you see will allow you to choose a language. All text and dialog within the Roku application will be displayed in the selected language.
  • Scroll up and down the list and press the OK button  on your Roku remote to choose a language.
    • Note: It is the responsibility of the channel provider to translate their channel and some channels may not support your chosen language.

2. Connect your Roku player to your network and the internet
   If you are using a wired network, connect an Ethernet cable to your Roku player and set up the wired connection. Otherwise, use the guidelines below to set up the wireless connection.

• • Choose your wireless network from the list of available networks and enter your password. This is most often the same network you use to connect your computer or smartphone to the internet. If you do not see your network, select Scan again to see all networks. For more assistance, see help finding your wireless network and password.
  • If you want to see your password as you type, choose Show password. This can help prevent entering the wrong password. Remember, passwords are case-sensitive. Use the shift button on the on-screen keyboard to enter a capital letter.
  • Once you have entered your password and selected Connect, your Roku player will automatically connect to the internet. You can get more help if you are unable to connect to your wireless network.

3. Wait for your Roku player to download the latest software

• • Once connected to the internet, your Roku player will check to see if a software update is available. If there is, it will download the latest version and then reboot.

4. Set the display type

• • Your Roku player will analyze the HDMI connection to determine the best display resolution so you don’t have to manually configure the settings. To change the display type at a later time, go to Settings > Display type.
  • If support for 4K or 4K HDR is not detected on your compatible Roku player, and you are using a 4K compatible TV or a 4K HDR compatible TV, make sure all HDMI cables are firmly attached and all connections support HDCP 2.2. For more help, review the steps for 4K setup or 4K HDR setup.

5. Set up your Roku Enhanced remote to control your TV
   • Select Check remote settings to automatically set up your Roku Enhanced remote to control the power and volume for your TV. If you skip this step, you can set up your remote at any time from the settings menu. Go to Settings > Remote > Set up remote for TV control.
     • Notes:
       • This setup step only appears if you are using a Roku Enhanced Remote with TV power and volume buttons. Select Roku players released in 2017 include this remote.
       • The Roku Enhanced Remote may not be able to control volume and power on all TV models. With some TV models, you may only be able to control the volume, and not the power.

6. Create a Roku account and activate your Roku player

• • In order to activate your Roku player, it must be linked to a Roku account. Your Roku account keeps track of which Roku devices you own and allows you to add free and purchase channels from the Roku Channel Store.
    • Note: There is NEVER a charge to create a Roku account.
  • Instructions for activating your Roku player will be displayed on your TV, including an activation code; e.g. “XCV5TG”. You will be required to visit roku.com/link on your computer or smartphone, enter the code and follow the instructions to activate your Roku player.
    • Note: Roku does NOT charge for device activation. When entering roku.com/link into your web browser, type it carefully to avoid fraudulent websites.

7. You are done!
   Once you have completed all the activation steps, your Roku player will be ready to use.

Tips: You can personalize your Roku player by changing your theme or screensaver. You can use the Roku Channel Store to add new streaming channels, games, themes, screensavers, and other apps.

Why is the image not displayed in HDR or the picture quality poor when I watch 4K HDR content?

When you specifically watch a 4K HDR movie or TV show on your HDR-capable Roku device, you may notice the image is not displayed in HDR, or the picture quality is poor. If you encounter this behavior, you may need to update the software on your HDR-capable TV. You can typically find instructions how to do this along with the latest software on the TV manufacturer’s website. Once you confirm that your TV is running the latest software, check that it is properly configured to enable HDR on the specific input to which your Roku player is connected. Some TVs that support HDR do not enable this feature by default.