How to use Amazon Alexa to control your Roku streaming device
When you use Amazon Alexa with Roku® Voice, you can speak commands like “Alexa, show me action movies on bedroom Roku”, or “Alexa, launch Disney plus on living room Roku” to help find entertainment and control your compatible Roku device. If you have a Roku TV™ system, you can also use your voice to adjust volume, switch inputs, and turn the TV screen off or on without needing your Roku remote.
This article helps you integrate an Alexa-enabled device with Roku Voice and provides some examples of voice commands you can use to search and control your Roku device.
- Notes:
- The Roku skill for Alexa is supported in Germany, Canada, Ireland, Mexico and Latin America (excluding Brazil), the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- The Roku skill for Alexa is supported on all Roku TV system models and all current generation Roku streaming players.
- Using your voice to launch Netflix, or access and interact with Netflix content is not currently supported when using the Roku skill for Alexa. Other voice commands like those for adjusting volume are also not supported when using Netflix.
- Launching a channel on your Roku device using Alexa works for more than 100 top channels on the Roku platform. However, the launch channel command does not work with all channels on the Roku platform at this time.
- The Roku skill for Alexa does not support all Roku Voice capabilities. Learn about additional capabilities you can use with a Roku voice remote.
Be aware that you can also use Alexa to control your Roku Smart Home cameras, doorbells, bulbs, plugs, and light strips.
What you need to get started
Before you can use the Roku skill for Alexa, make sure your Roku device is running Roku OS 9.1 or higher. You can find the software version by visiting Settings > System > About. Your Roku device checks for an update every 24-36 hours or you can manually check for a software update if needed.
In addition to a compatible Roku player or Roku TV system with the correct software, you will need the following:
- A free Roku account
- An Alexa-enabled device such as an Amazon Echo, Echo Show, Echo Dot, Echo Spot, Echo Plus, or third-party device with Amazon Alexa
- Alexa mobile app downloaded to your iOS® or Android™ device
- Note: For help setting up an Amazon-branded Alexa device or downloading the Alexa mobile app, visit Amazon's device and digital content support.
To learn more about which Roku devices support voice search and voice control, read about what you need to use voice commands with your Roku device.
What you can do with Alexa
When you use the Roku skill for Alexa, you can:
-
Control media playback
Issue a command by saying "Alexa" followed by:
- “pause on kitchen Roku”
- “fast forward on living room Roku”
- “rewind on bedroom Roku”
- “launch Prime Video on den Roku"
- “go home on office Roku”
Search for entertainment
Issue a command by saying "Alexa" followed by:
- “find documentaries on bedroom Roku”
- “show comedies on kitchen Roku"
Control your Roku TV system
Issue a command by saying "Alexa" followed by:
- “turn on office Roku TV"
- “raise the volume on living room Roku”
- “mute on bedroom Roku”
- “change to channel 7.1 on living room Roku” [1]
- “switch to HDMI 2 on kitchen Roku”
- [1] An HDTV antenna must be connected to your TV to use Alexa to change broadcast channels.
How to set up Alexa on your Roku device
To use the Roku skill for Alexa, you need to link your Roku account to your Amazon account using the following steps:
- Open the Alexa mobile app
- Tap or select the Menu icon
in the corner - Tap Settings
- Scroll to TV & Video and select Roku from the list
- Tap the Enable button
- A prompt is opened in a browser, sign in to your Roku account. Learn what to do if you forgot your email address or password.
- Select Accept and Continue, and follow the prompts to return to the Alexa app
- Choose the Alexa devices you wish to use with your Roku devices
- Select LINK DEVICES
How to link additional Roku devices
If you previously set up the Roku skill for Alexa to control a single Roku device, you may need to disable and re-enable the skill if you want to link additional Roku devices. You can do this on your smartphone in the Alexa mobile app using the steps below:
- Perform steps 1 through 4 from the previous section
- Tap Disable Skill
- On the next screen, select Disable
- Tap Enable to Use
- Complete the account linking process as described in the previous section