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Use the TV off shortcut on the player

How to use the 'TV Off' shortcut on your Roku® streaming player

The 'TV Off' shortcut is a unique tile at the bottom of the channel grid on your Home screen that provides a convenient way for you to get your Roku streaming player to tell your TV to power off. Using the shortcut tile saves you from having to pick up your TV remote each time you want to power off the TV screen.

To help use the shortcut successfully, this article explains how to properly connect your Roku player to your TV, and configure each device.

How to connect your player

For your Roku player to reliably send a command like "power off" to your TV, you must use an HDMI® cable and connect your player directly to your TV. To take full advantage of the capabilities of your TV, it is important you use the correct HDMI cable. If your TV only supports HD, you can use a High Speed HDMI Cable. If it also supports 4K Ultra HD and/or HDR, connect your player using a Premium High Speed HDMI Cable.

  • Note:
    • If your player is a Roku Streaming Stick® you do not need to use an HDMI cable considering it connects directly to an HDMI port on your TV.
    • Using an HDMI cable, you can connect your player to an audio/video receiver (AVR) or soundbar which is connected to your TV (also with an HDMI cable), but keep in mind that communication passed over HDMI between multiple devices may not always be reliable. If you encounter issues with this configuration, try connecting your player directly to your TV with the proper HDMI cable.

How to configure each device

Once your player is connected to your TV with the proper HDMI cable, a feature called CEC must be enabled on both devices. CEC, or Consumer Electronics Control, allows commands to be shared between devices over the same HDMI connection as audio and video, letting you control common functions of different devices without having to juggle remotes. In this case, CEC lets you use the 'TV Off' shortcut to easily turn your TV screen off.

  • Note: CEC does not allow control of all aspects of every device. For some functions, you may still need to use the original remote for a device.

You can enable CEC on your Roku player from the Settings menu using the steps below.

  1. Press Home home button on Roku remote on your Roku remote
  2. Scroll and select Settings
  3. Select System
  4. Select Control other devices (CEC)
  5. Highlight 1-touch play
  6. Check the box to enable 1-touch play

After you enable CEC on your Roku player, CEC must also be enabled on your TV (and AVR or soundbar if your player is connected to either of these devices). When looking through menus for CEC on your TV (or other devices), understand that manufacturers may not refer to it by name, but rather as part of a branded trade name (e.g., Samsung uses 'Anynet'; Sony calls it 'BRAVIA Link' or 'Bravia Sync'). In general, you can often look in a "settings" menu for CEC-related settings, sometimes in a "system" or "advanced" submenu. You can refer to sample instructions for some TV brands, but steps vary from model to model, and may change when TV software is updated. When in doubt, refer to the user manual or online documentation for your specific make and model.

  • Note: In addition to enabling CEC, some brands may include options specifically related to allowing the TV to be powered off. Be sure to enable these options if your TV supports them. Contact the manufacturer if you have questions.

How to use the shortcut

After you finish connecting your Roku player to your TV with an HDMI cable and both devices have CEC turned on, you can visit the channel grid to use the 'TV Off' shortcut.

  1. Press Home home button on Roku remote on your Roku remote
  2. Move right or select Home to open the channel grid
  3. Scroll to find the 'TV Off' shortcut tile
    • Tip: All shortcut tiles are permanently located at the bottom of the channel grid. When at the top of the grid, the fastest way to the bottom is to simply scroll up.
  4. Select the 'TV Off' shortcut tile

Your TV screen should power off. If it does not, your Roku player will display an error message.

Can I also power on my TV with my Roku remote?

All Roku players support a CEC feature called 1-touch play that when activated tells your TV to switch its active source/input to your Roku player. To activate 1-touch play, you simply need to press any button on your Roku remote (except for volume or mute buttons if present). In addition to switching the active source/input, most televisions will also power on.

For 1-touch play to work, the feature must be enabled on both your Roku player (instructions provided above) and your TV. Refer to the website for the manufacturer or read the user manual for help enabling 1-touch play on your TV.

Other ways to control your TV

In addition to methods described in this article, you can use a Roku voice remote with dedicated power and volume buttons to control aspects of the TV connected to your Roku streaming device. To check if you already have a Roku voice remote with TV controls, review guidelines for determining the type of remote you have.

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble, review the suggestions below.

  • The 'TV Off' shortcut tile does not work

    If your TV does not power off when you select the 'TV Off' shortcut tile, check the following:

    • Is your Roku player connected using an HDMI cable? Other types of audio/video cables like composite (RCA) or optical cables do not allow communication between devices. You must use an HDMI cable.
    • Is your player connected directly to your TV? If it is connected to an AVR or soundbar, bypass this other device and connect it directly to your TV (at least temporarily as a test).
    • Does your Roku player have CEC turned on? Use the instructions above to check this setting.
    • Have you enabled CEC on your TV and any CEC power options? Contact the manufacturer of your TV if you cannot find the CEC settings on your TV.

    I cannot find the 'TV Off' shortcut

    If after scrolling to the bottom of the channel grid you cannot find the 'TV Off' shortcut tile, it is possible that this tile or all shortcut tiles are hidden on your Roku player. Use the instructions below to display the shortcut again.

    1. Press Home home button on Roku remote on your Roku remote
    2. Scroll and select Settings
    3. Select Home screen
    4. Select Shortcuts
    5. Scroll to the 'TV Off' shortcut
    6. Make sure the box is checked. If not, press OK OK button on Roku remote on your remote to check the box and display the shortcut again.
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