Skip to Content
Newsletter Facebook Bluesky Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comBluesky

Add The Streamable as a preferred source on Google to see more streaming news and deals.

Roku

How to connect a Roku device to your TV

How to connect a Roku device to your TV

Need a little help getting your Roku streaming player set up? We’ll explain everything you need to know here.

David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
David Satin
•
Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
The Roku remote on top of a Roku device box, and instructions for connecting a Roku to a smart TV.

Owning a Roku device means you have one of the most popular streaming players in the United States. Roku’s streaming devices lay out a viewer’s apps in a customizable, easy-to-navigate interface, and adding new services is as easy as a few taps of the remote.

If you’ve just purchased your first Roku device, however, and aren’t 100% sure what to do when you pull it out of the box, The Streamable’s knowledgeable pros are here to help. Check out our beginner’s guide to setting up a new Roku device for the first time, including how to connect it to your TV and what to do next below!

Everything you need to know to connect your Roku to a TV

Roku Streaming Players

Roku streaming players

From $40

Roku streaming players make it easy to access your favorite streaming apps in one simple interface. With options for HD and 4K viewing, there’s a Roku device for every budget and setup.

See at Amazon

What kind of port is needed to connect a Roku to a TV?

Your Roku connects to your television set via an HDMI port. If you’ve never owned an HDMI device before, you can click here to get the full scoop on what HDMI is and its uses. But suffice it to say, HDMI is the most modern method of transmitting high-resolution video and high-quality audio signals between two devices.

The distinctive shape of an HDMI port is easy to identify, and the connector on your Roku player should fit easily into the port of most modern smart TVs. If your TV doesn’t have an HDMI port, you can easily find an adapter to help get your Roku up and running.

Most Roku streaming devices are powered by plugging a USB cable into a port on your set. However, devices like the Roku Ultra and Roku Streambar require the user to plug into a wall power outlet. If an adapter is needed to plug your Roku device

What you need to connect a Roku to your TV

  • A TV with a free HDMI port or compatible A/V ports with an adapter.
  • A free USB port on your TV or compatible adapter.
  • Roku device.
  • Device remote with batteries.
  • Wall power adapter (some models).
  • A working Wi-Fi connection.

How to connect a Roku to your TV

To connect your Roku to your TV

  • Make sure your Roku remote has batteries installed.
  • Plug the Roku device into your TV’s HDMI port.
  • Connect your Roku’s power source.
  • Turn on your TV and switch the screen to the HDMI input matching the port you plugged your device into.
  • Use your Roku remote to choose your language.
  • Connect your Roku to your home Wi-Fi.
  • Activate your Roku account, or connect to an existing account.
  • Follow on-screen prompts to finish setting up your Roku device.

What to do once your Roku is connected to your TV

Once you’ve got your Roku streaming player successfully connected to your TV and set up, it’s time to start downloading streaming apps! You can use the Roku digital store to get all the top streaming apps in the United States, and you can rearrange the Roku home screen to suit your exact preferences, as well.

Knowing the ins and outs of your Roku remote is crucial for getting the best user experience every time you watch. The Roku remote is pretty simple and straightforward, but if you have any questions about making it work, find our guide here.

Most modern Roku devices are now equipped with a voice search function that lets viewers browse for apps, control playback, and more without having to press buttons. Click here to learn more about how to familiarize yourself with Roku’s voice search and all the benefits of using it.

You can also configure your Wi-Fi settings for optimized performance, tweak your audio and video settings, and even download the Roku companion app for your phone if you want to use it as a remote or connect to your Roku for private listening. Now that you’ve got your Roku successfully connected to your TV, you can get down to streaming all your favorite music and video apps!

Roku Streaming Players

Roku streaming players

From $40

Roku streaming players make it easy to access your favorite streaming apps in one simple interface. With options for HD and 4K viewing, there’s a Roku device for every budget and setup.

See at Amazon
David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
Facebook LinkedIn Reddit

Add The Streamable as a preferred source on Google to see more streaming news and deals.

DIRECTV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new DIRECTV STREAM subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • Purchase must be completed on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Sling TV subscribers to Sling Orange, Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Sling TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Hulu Live TV subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Hulu Live TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.