How to set up a 4K, 8K Ultra HD, or HDR device with an HDMI connection to your Roku TV system
From one common interface, your Roku TV™ system provides access to virtually all your entertainment sources such as a game console, cable box, HDTV antenna, or streaming channels like Netflix and Apple TV. Among the sources you may want to connect are devices that produce a 4K (4K Ultra HD) or 8K (8K Ultra HD) image with greater detail such as an Xbox, PlayStation, or Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Many of these devices also output the 4K or 8K video signal in HDR (High Dynamic Range) with more vibrant, rich colors and improved contrast.
A 4K or 8K device will work with any Roku TV system. However, you cannot watch movies or play video games in 4K or 8K without a Roku TV system that supports 4K or 8K resolutions. Similarly, you will not see an HDR image from your 4K or 8K device without a Roku TV system that also supports HDR. To learn about available models and manufacturers, view a list of smart TV brands offering Roku TV systems.
How to configure the HDMI® mode on your Roku TV system
The HDMI mode can be configured independently for each HDMI input on a 4K, 8K or HDR Roku TV system to match the capabilities of each device.
- Press Home
on your Roku remote to go to the main screen - Scroll and select Settings
- Select TV inputs
- Choose the device or the HDMI input under Inputs being used. If the HDMI input is not used, choose Set up input and add it to your home screen.
- Select HDMI mode on your Roku TV system and choose one of the following:
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- Auto – Let your TV try and determine the best setting. Use this option unless the picture is displayed incorrectly, or you know the HDMI version the device supports.
- Compatibility – Compatible with some older devices such as Blu-Ray players designed before the HDMI 2.0 standard which may send an incompatible signal when the HDMI mode is set to Standard. All HDMI devices will display correctly in this mode, but you may not get an optimal picture.
- Standard – Compatible with all newer devices, including those that support 4K HDR or better.
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If you do not see an HDR image using Auto or an advanced feature like ALLM or VRR is not working, try using Standard. Keep in mind that older HDMI devices may not display the picture correctly when using Standard. When a supported game console is connected to your Roku TV system, a feature called Automatic Game Console Configuration sets the HDMI mode for you automatically.
How to fix a blank picture or display issues after changing the HDMI mode
If the picture is blank or not displayed correctly when switching your Roku TV system to the input used by the device, the chosen HDMI mode is likely incompatible, or your HDMI cable may be inadequate.
Press Home on your remote to return to the main screen which, will display properly, and then repeat the How to configure the HDMI mode on your Roku TV system steps listed above.
What are the 4K, 8K, and HDR device requirements?
Each type of device has a different set of requirements to view content at the desired resolution on a compatible Roku TV system.
4K device
- Roku TV system capable of displaying 4K with an available HDMI input
- Premium High Speed HDMI Cable capable of supporting HDMI 2.0 or better
8K device
- Roku TV system capable of displaying 8K with an available HDMI 2.1 input
- Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable capable of supporting HDMI 2.1
4K HDR or 8K HDR device
Not all content on an HDR device will appear in HDR. For Blu-ray discs, look for an HDR logo on the packaging. For game consoles, you may need to enable HDR in the settings menu to play HDR-enabled games. When playing content from an app on a game console, look for titles displaying an HDR logo.
- 4K or 8K Roku TV system capable of displaying HDR content with an available HDMI input that is configured correctly (see below)
- Appropriate HDMI cable
What is HDMI®?
| HDMI, or High-Definition Multimedia Interface is the digital standard for connecting consumer video and audio equipment. With a single cable, HDMI can deliver both audio and video signals. While the physical connectors remain unchanged, the HDMI standard continues to evolve as technology advances. Each version increases the audio and video capabilities, while maintaining support for advancements made in previous versions. More features mean increased manufacturing requirements, and as a result, HDMI cables designed for earlier standards may not support the latest enhancements. Today, most devices take advantage of the elements of version 1.4 or version 2.0, with some newer devices also supporting elements of version 2.1. |
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What are the differences between HDMI versions
Already having support for high definition (HD) resolutions such as 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, the HDMI standard evolved when version 1.4 added support for basic 4K video. Following this advancement, the available bandwidth increased significantly for version 2.0 allowing it to improve upon 4K support with higher frame rates, more color information, and support for HDR content. With version 2.1, the bandwidth increased again providing support for even higher frame rates, 8K video, and several advanced features.
When playing video, what you see is a quick succession of still images, or frames, which creates the illusion of motion or animation. The number of frames displayed each second is known as the frame rate and is measured in frames per second (fps), which some manufacturers may refer to as frequency (Hz). The higher the frame rate, the smoother the motion appears. HDMI 1.4 supports 4K video at a maximum frame rate of 30fps while HDMI 2.0 adds support for higher refresh rates like 50fps and 60fps, and HDMI 2.1 adds support for 4K video up to 120fps and 8K video up to 60fps.
Devices that are only able to output HD resolutions such as cable or satellite boxes, generally only support elements of HDMI 1.4, while devices that output 4K, 8K, or HDR may support elements of all HDMI versions. Correctly configuring the HDMI mode on your Roku TV system helps ensure your devices output the correct 4K, 8K, or HDR image.