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How to Access Roku's Secret Screens

Your Roku has a handful of hidden features you can't find on the Home screen. Here's how to access them with a few remote clicks.

By Chandra Steele
March 31, 2024
view from behind of woman sitting on sofa with Roku remote (Credit: Roku)

Your Roku is full of mysteries. This is something you know if you’ve ever delved too far into all of the channels you can add to it. But unless you’ve heard of its secret screens or sat on your remote at just the right angle, you might not be aware that the right combination of keys can unlock new controls.

Roku’s secret screens hold some features not accessible any other way. While they may be beyond what you generally need in order to use your device, it’s nice to know what they are. We’ve got the most useful ones below and are sorry to report that we could not include the one that used to control ads on the device because when we tested it, as we found that it no longer works. 

Nevertheless, there’s probably something you’ll find helpful below.


Soft Reset

Roku Secret Screen
(Credit: PCMag)

If your Roku is acting up, resetting it can often be the solution to restoring it to working order. To reset your Roku, press the Home button five times, then hit the up arrow once, then hit Rewind twice, and Fast Forward twice. The screen will go black after a bit and then the Roku screen will come back up. 

Resetting your Roku this way will not erase your settings or preferences, unlike a full factory reset


Full Reset and Update

Roku secret screens
(Credit: PCMag)

You can do a factory reset the normal way by pressing Home > Settings > System Advanced System Settings > Factory Reset and then following the onscreen instructions. Or you could use a secret menu by pressing Home > Home > Home > Home > Home > Home > Fast Forward > Fast Forward > Fast Forward > Rewind > Rewind. 

This will get you a menu that has Factory Reset, USB test, Cycle Channel Store Server, Cycle Software Update Server, and Update Software.


See All Your Channels

Roku secret screens
(Credit: PCMag)

For a list of all the channels that you have downloaded to your Roku, as well as which version and build you have, press Home > Home > Home > Up > Up > Left > Right > Left > Right > Left.

This will display the list and then you can click on each one for the option to uninstall it.


Speed Test

roku secret screens
(Credit: PCMag)

If you’re wondering why your streaming seems slow, you can check your Roku’s speed. Press Home > Home > Home > Home > Home > Up > Down > Up > Down > Up. You’ll get access to Resets, Logging, and an AP Speed Test.


To find more useful functions that your streaming device has hidden away, check out our full list of Roku tips and tricks.

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About Chandra Steele

Senior Features Writer

My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme

I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. 

Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.

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