As more people "cut the cord" and stop using cable, streaming boxes and sticks are rocketing in popularity. These days, it's rare to find someone who doesn't have some sort of streaming device hooked up to their TV — and for most users, that device is a Roku.
But we can't watch Netflix 24/7, so there's going to be a point where you want to turn your Roku off. However, Rokus don't turn off like other devices.
Roku devices are designed to stay on at all times. When you're not actively streaming something, they take up an almost negligible amount of energy. Even if you've got the screensaver running, your Roku doesn't take much energy.
As such, the only way to turn off most Roku devices is to unplug the power cable, or unplug it from your TV if it uses that for power. If your Roku streaming stick relies entirely on your TV for power, then turning off your TV will turn off the Roku too.
There are only two Roku devices that give you more control: The Roku 4 and the Roku TV. Here's how to turn them both off.
How to turn off a Roku 4
If you have a Roku 4 (pictured above), then you're in luck — the Roku 4 lets you fully turn off your device with just a few clicks.
1. Head to your Roku's homepage and select Settings in the left sidebar.
2. Select System, and then Power. You'll be given a few different options.
- Power off lets you turn off the Roku right away.
- Auto power off lets you set up a schedule, so your Roku will turn itself off automatically when left idle for long enough.
You can also go back to the System menu and select System restart to turn your Roku off, then right back on.
How to turn off a Roku TV
If you have a Roku TV, turning the TV off is the same as turning the Roku off. This goes for all Roku TVs, whether they're made by TCL, Insignia, Hisense, or another company.
But all these Roku TVs also have power saving features, which can help reduce the amount of electricity your Roku uses even more.
1. Head to your Roku's homepage and select Settings in the left sidebar.
2. Select System, and then Power. Here, select Auto power savings.
3. Now you've got a variety of settings to go through.
- Reduce power after 15 minutes will put your TV into a low-power mode after 15 minutes spent idle.
- Turn off after 4 hours will, as the title implies, turn your TV off after four hours spent idle. This is great if you tend to doze off during shows and movies.
- Standby LED lets you to turn the LED on the front of your TV off when the TV is off.
- Fast TV start makes it so even when your Roku TV is off, it'll stay "active." This lets it download updates and respond to voice commands from your remote. Disable this setting to save energy.
- System restart will turn your Roku off, then right back on.
Again, Roku devices are designed to use very little power. It's up to you to decide whether being able to always quickly access your apps is worth the energy cost.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
