To turn off a Roku TV, press the power button on your remote. To turn off a Roku streaming player, you cannot power it down completely without unplugging it, but you can turn off your TV screen using the "TV Off" shortcut.
Do you really need to turn off your Roku?
Understanding the difference between a Roku TV and a Roku streaming player is the first step. A Roku TV is a television with Roku built in; pressing the power button on its remote turns the entire TV off. A Roku streaming player (like a Roku Stick or Roku Ultra) is a separate device that plugs into your TV's HDMI port. Roku players are designed to stay on and draw very little power in standby mode. Most people searching for "how to turn off Roku" actually want to turn off their TV screen, not fully power down the streaming player. If you have a Roku TV, the solution is straightforward. If you have a Roku player, you need a different approach. If your goal is to stop the device from using your network, you can disconnect wifi from Roku TV instead, or if the screen keeps waking back up you may need to keep Roku TV from turning off unexpectedly.
How to turn off a Roku TV
For Roku TV owners, the answer is simple. Press the power button on your Roku remote. The TV will turn off immediately. You can also use the Roku Mobile App to turn off your Roku TV. Open the app, tap the remote icon, and then tap the power icon. This is the most direct way to turn off Roku when you have a Roku TV.
How to turn off your TV with a Roku player using the 'TV Off' shortcut
If you have a Roku streaming player, you can turn off your TV screen from the Roku Home screen. This is called the "TV Off" shortcut. It works by sending a signal through your HDMI cable to tell the TV to power down. For this to work, your Roku player must be connected via HDMI and HDMI-CEC must be enabled. This is a great way to save energy and turn off the screen without unplugging anything, and you can similarly turn off wifi without turning off router to reduce power when the TV is idle.
To set this up, follow these steps:
- Plug your Roku player into an HDMI port on your TV.
- On your Roku remote, press Home, then go to Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC).
- Turn on 1-Touch Play and TV Power.
- Ensure CEC is turned on in your TV's settings (CEC names vary by brand and may be in System or Advanced Settings).
Once set up, you can use the power button in the Roku Mobile App to turn the TV off. The "TV Off" shortcut will appear on your Roku Home screen, allowing you to power down the TV with one click.
How to set up your Roku voice remote to control TV power
If you have a Roku Voice Remote, you can program its power button to turn your TV on and off. This is an alternative to the "TV Off" shortcut and works directly from the remote. To set this up, press Home on your remote, then go to Settings > Devices > Remotes. Follow the on-screen prompts to program the power button. After setup, pressing the power button on the Roku Voice Remote will turn the TV off. This method is especially useful if you want a dedicated hardware button for power control.
How to completely shut down a Roku player by unplugging it
The only method to fully power off a Roku streaming player is to unplug it from the power source. This is necessary for troubleshooting a frozen device or if you plan to leave the device unused for an extended period. To do this, simply disconnect the power cable from the back of the Roku player or from the wall outlet. Wait a few seconds, then plug it back in to restart. This is not necessary for daily use, as Roku players are designed to run continuously. Unplugging repeatedly can cause unnecessary wear on the power connector and is not recommended for routine power savings.
