How to find 4K and 8K Ultra HD and HDR movies and TV shows
Just like your smartphone has an “app store” for installing new applications, you can access the Roku Channel Store on your Roku® streaming player or Roku TV™ to add new “channels”. Among the choices are channels that offer movies and TV shows in 4K Ultra HD (4K) with some of those also offering content in High Dynamic Range (HDR) such as Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV. Some channels are also starting to offer content in 8K Ultra HD (8K).
- Note: Only some Roku devices support 4K, 8K or HDR content. For those that do, it is important to understand the requirements for streaming 4K or 8K Ultra HD or the requirements for streaming HDR.
Where to find 4K and HDR content on your Roku device
When you are looking for entertainment in 4K and HDR, you can go directly to the 4K Spotlight channel or visit the 4K Movies and TV Zone from universal search. Keep in mind that movies and TV shows available in 4K or HDR may require a channel subscription or a one-time fee. You may also want to consider a faster internet connection since higher picture quality formats like 4K and HDR require more bandwidth. Visit the website of a channel provider for specific bandwidth requirements (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, Disney+).
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4K Spotlight channel
The 4K Spotlight channel showcases a variety of movies and TV shows available in 4K and HDR, and highlights a number of streaming channels that offer additional content in these higher resolutions. The 4K Spotlight channel is automatically installed on Roku streaming devices that support 4K and HDR. If you do not see it on your compatible device, visit the Channel Store and search for "4K Spotlight", and then add the channel. You can launch the channel using the steps below.
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Select Home from the left menu to view your channel lineup
- Tip: When browsing, press Rewind or Fast Forward to move up or down one page.
- Select 4K Spotlight
After you launch the 4K Spotlight channel and select a title, you will be asked to open the streaming channel that offers the content. If that channel is not installed on your Roku device, you will be prompted to add it before the 4K or HDR movie or TV show can be viewed.
4K Movies and TV Zone
The 4K Movies and TV Zone allows you to browse a wide selection of available 4K entertainment similar to the 4K Spotlight channel. You can visit the 4K Movies and TV Zone from universal search using the following instructions.
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Scroll and select Search from the left menu
- Enter the simple search term "4K"
- Select 4K Movies and TV Zone
After you open the 4K Movie and TV Zone and select a title, you will be asked to open the streaming channel that offers the content. If that channel is not installed on your Roku device, you will be prompted to add it before the 4K or HDR movie or TV show can be viewed.
If you have a Roku voice remote, you can also use a voice command like "show me 4K movies" to find the 4K Movies and TV Zone.
Where to find 8K content
As of now, YouTube is the only streaming channel that offers 8K content. When other service providers add 8K entertainment in the future, you can add any new channels to your Roku device. If you install a channel and later decide you do not want it, the channel can easily be removed.
In addition to streaming 8K content on YouTube, you can connect an 8K external device like a game console or PC to your 8K Roku TV. You can also use Roku Media Player to playback 8K content (encoded in AV1 or HEVC) from the USB port on your Roku TV or by accessing a media server on your local network.