The Roku mobile app offers different features to control your Roku device or improve your overall experience. Using the Roku app makes it easier to watch your favorite content on the go or even give your Roku commands with your voice. Follow these tips if you want to get the most out of your Roku.

1. Replace Your Roku Remote Control

Perhaps the most useful thing you can do with the Roku mobile app is using it as a remote control for your Roku stick, box, or TV. Open the app and tap the Remote icon to display the remote control screen. From here you can:

  • Tap the Home icon to return to the Roku home screen.
  • Use the direction pad to navigate any Roku screen and make a selection by tapping OK.
  • Play, pause, fast-forward, and rewind.
  • Activate voice commands by tapping the Microphone icon.
  • Tap the Keyboard icon to open the on-screen keyboard to enter text.
  • Search for specific programs by tapping the Search icon.

And, if you're operating a Roku TV, you can use the app's remote controls to adjust and mute the volume, as well as turn the TV on or off. Also, you can use your Roku TV and the Roku app to switch inputs and use your Roku remote to control your soundbar if you have one connected.

2. Control Multiple Roku Devices

Did you know that you can control multiple Roku devices with just one smartphone? That's right, you can sync the Roku app to all your Roku devices—Roku sticks, Roku boxes, and even Roku TVs. After you've synced all your devices, all you need to do is tap the Devices tab at the bottom of your screen and select the device you want to control from the list.

3. Listen Privately With Earphones

If you're trying to watch something on your Roku device and you don't want to disturb your family, or if you just want to have more control over what you hear, you can use the Roku app for private listening. Just connect a pair of earbuds or headphones to your phone, open the Roku app, and tap the Headphone icon. You'll then hear the sound from your Roku through your headphones, so you can turn down or off the sound on your TV if you want.

4. Quickly Launch Recent Channels

The Roku app keeps track of what you've been watching, so it's easier for you to continue where you left off. The app displays the channels you've recently watched in a Recent Channels list. This list appears near the top of the Home screen. Scroll left or right to view all your recent channels and tap the tile for the one you want to watch.

5. Browse Programming by Genre

Roku organizes its content by genre—News, Anime, Horror, Comedy, and the like. Tap the Search box at the top of your screen to display a list of each genre available. Tap any genre to view all its available programming.

6. Search for Specific Shows or Movies

If you'd rather search than browse, you can use the Roku app to search for TV shows and movies by using specific keywords. Tap the Search box at the top of your screen and start typing what you want to watch. As you type, the Roku app will display suggestions for what it thinks you're searching for. Tap an item to begin watching it.

You can also search for specific actors to view information and filmography for that person or search for specific channels to watch or add to your Roku device. And if you want to watch local channels on your Roku device, you can do that, too.

7. Control Roku With Voice Commands

Forget about using your hands and start controlling your Roku device with voice commands via the mobile app. From the Remote screen tap the voice icon and start talking. You can use voice commands to:

  • Go to a specific channel or service ("Launch Netflix")
  • Search for programs by genre ("Search for comedies")
  • Start watching a specific program on a specific service ("Watch Letterkenny on Hulu")
  • Control your Roku TV ("Turn on the Roku TV," "Set a sleep timer for 30 minutes," "Switch to HDMI 1," etc.)

If you want to take it one step further, you can also control your Roku device using an Amazon Echo.

8. Create a Save List

A Roku Save List is like what other services call a watch list. That is, a list of programs you'd like to watch in the future. To add a program to Roku's Save List, browse or search for that program in the app then tap Add to Save List. You can view all your saved shows and movies in the Save List section of the app's Home page.

9. Use the App’s Keyboard for Faster Typing

This tip's a real time-saver. Have you ever been stuck entering passwords, or searching for movies using your Roku's remote control and on-screen keyboard? It's a lot easier to use the keyboard in the Roku app.

When you're confronted with a text field, open the app's Remote screen and tap the Keyboard icon at the top of your screen. This displays your phone's keyboard, so you can start typing, which is a lot faster than pointing and clicking on the TV screen.

10. Swipe Instead of Tap

You can convert the Roku app's Remote screen from a normal tap remote control to one you control with a swipe pad. From the Remote screen, tap the Settings icon then, under Remote Type, tap Swipe. When you return to the Remote screen you'll see a swipe pad. Swipe across the pad with your finger to navigate the Roku screen then tap the pad to make a selection.

11. Cast Content From Your Phone to Your TV

The Roku app isn't just for shows and movies; you can also use it to cast your own content from your phone to your Roku device. The Roku app lets you cast photos, videos, and music from your phone to your Roku device to watch on your TV screen. Just remember that both your smartphone and your Roku device will need to be connected to the same network for this to work.

12. Watch The Roku Channel on the Go

The Roku app does more than just control your Roku devices. It also functions as a streaming player to watch The Roku Channel on your smartphone. Just tap The Roku Channel tab at the bottom of your screen and then browse or search through the available programming. Tap what you want to watch, and let the viewing begin.

Use the Roku App for All of This—and More!

There's no doubt that Roku devices are packed with a lot of features, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Roku app lets you do a lot more with your Roku than a regular Roku remote control. Once you start using the Roku app you'll never go back to using a traditional remote control again.