How to use Bluetooth Headphone Mode

How to use Bluetooth headphones for Headphone Mode on your Roku streaming device

Some Roku^® streaming devices allow you to pair and then connect Bluetooth^™ earbuds or headphones directly to your device for Headphone Mode. Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology that allows devices to exchange data over short distances (typically less than 30 feet). When Bluetooth headphones are connected, you can listen to any content streaming on your Roku device. If you have a Roku Streambar® SE, Roku Streambar or Streambar Pro you can also listen to audio from your TV, if connected via an HDMI ARC or optical connection. If your streaming device does not support Bluetooth Headphone Mode, you may be able to use wired headphones with a Roku voice remote for Headphone Mode instead.

This article provides instructions for pairing and connecting your Bluetooth earbuds or headphones to your compatible Roku streaming device.

Which devices are compatible with Bluetooth Headphone Mode?

Bluetooth Headphone Mode is only available on Roku streaming devices with Bluetooth capability. Any Bluetooth headphones that support Bluetooth version 4.2 or greater can connect to a compatible Roku streaming device. Visit the Roku product comparison chart to see which current Roku streaming devices have Bluetooth.

Compatible Roku streaming devices

The following Roku streaming devices have Bluetooth capability:

Roku Streambar SE
Roku Streambar
Roku Streambar Pro
Roku Smart Soundbar
Roku Ultra (models 4800 and 4802)
Roku Ultra LT (model 4801)
Roku Plus Series TV

To find the model of your Roku streaming device, you can go to the Home screen and select Settings > System > About.

Note: The only TV that Bluetooth headphones can pair with for Headphone Mode is a Roku Plus Series TV. If a Roku Streambar SE, Roku Streambar, Roku Streambar Pro, or Roku Smart Soundbar is connected to your TV, you can still pair your headphones with the streambar or soundbar directly.

How to pair Bluetooth headphones

Before you can begin streaming Bluetooth audio, you need to pair your headphones to your compatible Roku streaming device. This is done through a discovery process which allows Bluetooth devices to register information about each other and then make a secure wireless connection. Because this pairing information is retained even when Bluetooth devices are powered off, it is typically only necessary to pair your Bluetooth device one time. After you complete the pairing process, your headphones will appear in the list of paired devices and a headphone icon headphones icon will appear on the television screen when adjusting volume.

Use the steps below to pair your headphones:

Press Home on your Roku remote
Scroll and select Settings
Select Remotes & devices
Select Wireless headphones
Select Add new wireless headphones
Turn on your Bluetooth headphones and put them in pairing mode
Wait while your Roku device scans for Bluetooth headphones. This can take up to 30 seconds.
Select your Bluetooth headphones from the list of available devices

Note: The Wireless headphones menu option will only appear on a compatible Roku device.

If you need help pairing your Bluetooth headphones, refer to the manufacturer's support site for instructions. Links for some common brands are listed below:

How to connect Bluetooth headphones

Once your Bluetooth headphones are paired, you can easily connect them in the Settings menu or while playing content without having to re-pair them. You can also choose to have your headphones connect automatically when they are powered on and within range of your Roku device.

Note: To reduce battery consumption on your headphones, your Roku device will disconnect from your headphones if the screensaver starts or no audio has been streaming for several minutes.

Connect headphones

Use the following steps to connect your headphones in the Settings menu:

Press Home on your Roku remote
Scroll and select Settings
Select Remotes & devices
Select Wireless headphones
Select your headphones
Select Connect

If you are already playing content and need to connect headphones, use these instructions instead:

Press Star on the Roku remote
Scroll and select Wireless headphones
Select your headphones
Select Connect

Change auto-detect settings

In most situations, when your Bluetooth headphones are powered on they will automatically try to connect to the most recent device. If auto-detect is turned off or your headphones do not automatically connect, you will need to use the previous instructions to manually connect your headphones when you want to use Headphone Mode. You can change auto-detect in the Settings menu on your Roku streaming device.

Press Home on your Roku remote
Scroll and select Settings
Select Remotes & devices
Select Wireless headphones
Select your headphones
Toggle Auto-detect

How to disconnect Bluetooth headphones

You can disconnect your Bluetooth headphones in the Settings menu, while playing content, or you can simply power them off.

Use the following steps to disconnect your headphones in the Settings menu:

Press Home on your Roku remote
Scroll and select Settings
Select Remotes & devices
Select Wireless headphones
Select your headphones
Select Disconnect

If you are already playing content on your streaming device, use these instructions instead:

Press Star on the Roku remote
Scroll and select Wireless headphones
Select your headphones
Select Disconnect

How to change volume and use media controls

You can adjust the loudness of your headphones by either using the volume up and down controls on your headphones or the Volume up volume down button on Roku remote and Volume down buttons on your Roku remote. Compatible Roku devices will also support play/pause, next track, and previous track controls from your headphones.

Note: Not all Bluetooth headphones support volume and media controls. Refer to the manufacturer or the user manual for your Bluetooth headphones for more information.