I’ll be honest with you; I had no idea any of these features existed, but now that I do, I feel like I have a whole new Roku. I’ve switched my Backdrops on and set the photos I want to see on it (with the occasional drop into the art collections so it feels like an art TV). I’ve found my remote when it dropped down between the bed and the nightstand, and I’ve finally been able to get rid of the TV remote itself.
Roku markets itself as a way into Netflix, Hulu, and the Roku Channel, but the platform doubles as a photo frame, a universal remote, and a private listening system, features that live a few menus deep or only surface in the mobile app. I tested all five on my own Streambar, Voice Remote Pro, and phone, and a couple of them work differently than Roku’s own documentation suggests. Here are five great things that you can do with your Roku that have nothing to do with the content you’re streaming.
Turn it into a digital photo frame
Backdrops replaced Photo Streams, and photo management now lives in the Roku app
Roku’s new screensaver system is now called Backdrops, and it can display your own photos or curated art collextions when the device is idle. You can launch the app on your TV and then scan a QR code to either connect your Google Photos or pull from your own device. I found a way to set up Backdrops using the Roku app’s Settings pages, where it lets me select up to 100 photos from my device and have them rotate through on the big screen when it’s idle. I tend to go back and forth between my photos and some art collections that I dig, like the Jan Breughel stuff. It’s so much more customized than letting Roku’s themed backgrounds take over my TV; I got tired of those fast.
Mirror your phone screen to the TV
It’s called Smart View on my Galaxy phone
Screen mirroring will cast whatever’s on your phone or tablet up to your TV via Roku without the need for a separate app. It’s useful for sharing photos with a group, like the old days and the slide projector, presentations, and anything without a Roku channel.
I used a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 to try this one out, and couldn’t find Smart view in the Quick Settings panel. Even when I tried to add the button to the controls, it was grayed out but said “already added” when I tapped it.
Luckily, you can drop into Settings and search for Smart View. You’ll get a little list of what’s available. I chose my Roku Streambar in these settings, and then boom, my phone was up on the big screen TV.
Other Android phones will likely have different names, like Quick Connect, SmartShare, AllShare Cast, or maybe even “wireless display.” If you’re using an Apple device, you’ll need to use the AirPlay function on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to see your screen on the TV via Roku.
Screen mirroring is supported on most current Roku players and Roku TVs, per Roku’s official screen mirroring guide. The one notable exception is Roku Express, the cheapest entry-level player in Roku’s lineup: mirroring works on models 3960, 3930, and 3900, but not model 3700; Roku Express+ supports it on models 3931 and 3910, but not model 3710.
Watch privately through headphones
Watching TV in bed just got way better
After Backdrops, this might be my favorite feature. Headphone mode will send TV audio to headphones connected to your phone through the Roku app, for up to four devices at once. Don’t want the kids to hear the movie you and your partner are watching? This is the perfect solution.
It worked flawlessly with my AirPods Pro connected to my iPhone 15 Pr Max. I had to open the Roku app’s Settings and turn on the mode. Once I did, a little headphone icon appeared in the Remote tab on the phone — tapping once turns the feature on, while tapping again turns it off. Super simple and intuitive.
Your phone is the relay between the Streambar and your headphones, so it needs to stay in Bluetooth range the whole time.
According to Roku, Headphone Mode is limited to the Streambar SE, Streambar, Streambar Pro, and Roku Smart Soundbar, and it won’t carry audio from an external device plugged into the TV, like a game console or cable box.
Make one remote run your TV
On my LG TV, it’s IR doing the work, not HDMI-CEC
The Roku voice remote can be set up to control your TV’s power and volume directly without the need for a second remote (typically the one that came with your TV). Just head on into Settings > Remotes & devices > Remotes > [your remote] > Set up remote for TV control.
You’ll have a choice between CEC and IR — you can walk through it both ways and see which works on your own set. My LG TV only worked with IR, which means I have to point it at the TV to turn it on and off, but man, what a great new addition to my Roku. I hate having the original TV remote cluttering up the nightstand.
Never lose the remote again
The built-in speaker works, but only in the same room
The Voice Remote Pro that came with my Roku Streambar has a built-in speaker for a “find my remote” feature. You can tap into Devices > your Roku > three dots > Ping remote to make it sound off. I tried doing just that in my office, one room away from my Roku, and it didn’t work, making me wonder if it was faulty. Once I took the remote into my bedroom, where the Roku lives, the pinging feature worked, loud and clear. I guess it’s more for finding your remote if it’s fallen into the cracks, not if you’ve taken it into a completely different room. Still, it’s pretty useful if the remote falls under your bed or behind a dresser. There are a bunch of other cool shortcuts for your remote, too.
You can also say “Hey Roku, where’s my remote” to trigger the same sound without having to dig out your phone and launch an app.
The bigger picture
Roku adds features like this to become the focus of your whole living room experience (or, in my case, the bedroom). It’s not just a streaming app launcher anymore, which, honestly, makes me happy. Be sure to check your own Settings and Accoutns menus to see how it works on your own Roku and mobile phone app.