Can I power my Roku® streaming player on or off?
Roku streaming players are low-power devices that are designed to remain on and always connected to the internet. There is no “power button” to press on or off. This easy-to-use design prevents confusion by enabling instant access to your player any time you turn on your TV or switch from another source (e.g., cable box, Blu-ray™ player, gaming console).
A permanent connection also allows your Roku player to download new OS software and channel updates automatically without interrupting your use of the player. Your streaming player only uses your internet connection when streaming, or during the occasional automatic software update. When not in use, your Roku streaming player does not use any material bandwidth of your internet connection.
USB-powered Roku streaming players
Some Roku players such as the current generation models listed below can be powered through the USB port on your television. This means they will automatically power-off when you turn off the television, but it also means that they have to boot-up every time you turn on the television.
- Roku Express
- Roku Express 4K
- Roku Express 4K+
- Roku Streaming Stick® 4K
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K+
- Roku Streaming Stick+ Headphone Edition
- Note: The USB port on some TV’s may be unable to power a Roku streaming player.
Use the auto power savings feature
When enabled, a feature called auto power savings allows a compatible Roku player to enter a low power mode after sitting idle for 20 minutes (meaning it is not streaming content or being controlled by a remote or mobile app). A player in this state will "wake up" when the TV is turned on or a button is pressed on the remote.
To learn more including which players support this feature, check out the article that explains how to use auto power savings with your Roku streaming player.
Use a smart plug or power strip
Although Roku players use very little power when not in use, you may still want the ability to power-off manually. To do this without having to remove the power cable each time, consider using a Roku Indoor Smart Plug SE that can be powered on and off from the Roku Smart Home mobile app. You can even schedule it to turn on and off at specific times. Alternatively, you can connect your player to a power strip with a power button or a smart outlet (or strip) that automatically turns off power when not in use.
- Note: Your Roku player will have to boot-up every time you turn on a smart plug, power strip, or smart outlet.