I have a few Roku devices scattered throughout my house, including a Roku Ultra, a Roku Streaming Stick Plus, and an older Roku Premiere, and while there’s a lot to like about Roku devices, such as all the free live TV channels they offer, one thing I’ve always particularly appreciated is the remote.
Compared to other remotes I’ve tested, like what comes with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the Google TV Streamer, I find Roku’s remote more tactile, the shortcuts more handy, and I especially like that the volume buttons are on the side, making it easy to grab and adjust the volume on the fly. The Pro remote that came with my Roku Ultra even has backlit buttons, which have come in clutch a few times during late-night movie marathons.
However, there’s a lot more to Roku remotes than meets the eye. Sure, you can use the remote for its primary function, which is to navigate the home screen and browse your favorite apps, but Roku has also programmed a bunch of hidden shortcuts into its remotes. Press them in the right order, and you can unlock a series of secret screens on your device that offer some pretty interesting insights and controls.
So if you want to see all the secret screens your Roku is hiding from you, here’s how to find all six of them using your remote and some rather unique button combinations.
Platform Secret Screen
See how your Roku is holding up
The first secret menu on your Roku that I think is worth checking out is called the Platform Secret Screen. This screen shows a bunch of insights into your Roku’s hardware performance, including its temperature, CPU speed, and CPU voltage.
It also includes details about your remote, such as its model number and battery level, which is handy for knowing if it’s time to replace the batteries or, if you have a Pro remote, to charge it.
To access the Platform Remote Screen, enter the following button combination in this order on your Roku’s remote:
Home x 5 > Fast Forward > Down > Rewind > Down > Fast Forward
HDMI Secret Screen
A quick way to see what your TV and Roku are capable of
Next up is the HDMI Secret Screen, which shows you all the resolutions and refresh rates your TV supports and your Roku can display, as well as its HDR capabilities. On the screen, you’ll see various resolutions and refresh rates listed, such as 4K@60Hz, 1080p, and 720p, and whether your TV can support them with a simple Yes or No.
At the bottom of the screen, it shows you whether your TV supports using HDR with your Roku, again with a simple Yes or No.
To check out the HDMI Secret Screen on your Roku, just enter the following button combination on your remote:
Home x 5 > Down > Left > Up x 3
Wireless Secret Screen
Everything you need to know about your Wi-Fi connection
That brings us to the Wireless Secret Screen, which displays stats about your Roku’s Wi-Fi connection, including its channel, signal strength, glitch rate, signal-to-noise ratio, packet error rate, and more.
If you’re having Wi-Fi issues on your Roku, this screen is designed to help you diagnose them, and it also includes an option to enable Logging, which can help you further diagnose any issues you’ve been experiencing.
To pull up the Wireless Secret screen, just enter the following button combination:
Home x 5 > Up > Down > Up > Down > Up
Channel Info Screen
Your Roku has a lot more than you might realize
If you’ve ever wanted to see every single app and service installed on your Roku, that’s what the Channel Info screen delivers.
It lists everything installed on your Roku, so if you’re curious about what’s stored on your device, this screen shows it all, including the version and build numbers for every app you’ve installed. The screen also lists all the services on your device, including all the ad services Roku has.
To scroll through the Channel Info screen on your Roku, use this button combination on your remote to make it appear:
Home x 3 > Up x 2 > Left > Right > Left > Right > Left
QuizRoku streaming devices
Trivia challenge
From its humble beginnings to your living room — how well do you really know Roku?
HistoryHardwareFeaturesStreamingFounders
In what year was Roku founded?
Correct! Roku was founded in 2008 by Anthony Wood, who had previously founded ReplayTV. The company launched its first streaming player the same year it was founded, making it a pivotal moment in streaming history.
Not quite. Roku was founded in 2008 by Anthony Wood. It launched its very first streaming device that same year, just months after the company was formed, which was remarkably fast for a hardware startup.
Who is the founder and CEO of Roku?
Correct! Anthony Wood founded Roku in 2008 and has served as its CEO ever since. Before Roku, he founded ReplayTV, one of the first digital video recorder companies, giving him deep roots in home entertainment technology.
Not quite. The answer is Anthony Wood. He founded Roku in 2008 after previously founding ReplayTV. Reed Hastings is associated with Netflix, while Tony Fadell is known as a key figure behind the iPod and Nest.
Roku was originally spun off from which major streaming company?
Correct! Roku started as an internal project at Netflix, which invested in the company and helped shape its early direction. Netflix ultimately decided to spin it off as a separate company to avoid competing with other device manufacturers who might not want to carry a Netflix-branded box.
Not quite. Roku was actually spun off from Netflix. Netflix funded and incubated the project before deciding it was better to keep the streaming device market open and neutral rather than launch a Netflix-branded player that might alienate other hardware partners.
What was the name of Roku’s very first streaming device, launched in 2008?
Correct! The Roku DVP N1000, also known as the Roku Digital Video Player, was the company’s debut product. It launched in May 2008 at a price of $99 and could stream Netflix content directly to your TV — a genuinely groundbreaking feature at the time.
Not quite. The first Roku device was the Roku DVP N1000, launched in May 2008. Priced at $99, it was primarily designed to stream Netflix and helped pioneer the idea of a dedicated, affordable streaming box for the living room.
What is the name of Roku’s free, ad-supported streaming channel built directly into its platform?
Correct! The Roku Channel launched in 2017 and offers thousands of free, ad-supported movies and TV shows. It has since become one of the most-watched channels on the Roku platform and is also available on other devices and the web.
Not quite. The correct answer is The Roku Channel, which launched in 2017. It provides free, ad-supported content and has grown into a major part of Roku’s business strategy, helping the company earn revenue beyond just hardware sales.
Roku’s business model relies heavily on which of the following revenue streams?
Correct! While Roku does sell hardware, its primary revenue engine is its platform business, which includes advertising, revenue sharing with streaming partners, and The Roku Channel. This platform-first approach is what makes Roku more than just a device maker.
Not quite. Roku makes the majority of its money from its platform business, which includes advertising and revenue-sharing arrangements with streaming services. Hardware sales are actually sold at low margins, with the real profit coming from keeping users engaged on the platform.
Which of the following form factors did Roku introduce to make streaming even more portable and discreet?
Correct! Roku introduced the Roku Streaming Stick, a compact dongle that plugs directly into a TV’s HDMI port. It was a game-changer for portability, making it easy to turn any modern TV into a smart TV without a bulky box sitting on your shelf.
Not quite. Roku launched the Roku Streaming Stick, a small dongle that plugs straight into an HDMI port. This compact form factor made Roku devices far more discreet and portable, competing directly with Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.
In which year did Roku go public on the Nasdaq stock exchange?
Correct! Roku went public on September 28, 2017, trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ROKU. Its IPO was considered a major success, and the stock surged significantly in the months that followed, reflecting strong investor confidence in the streaming market.
Not quite. Roku held its IPO on September 28, 2017, listing on the Nasdaq under the ticker ROKU. The offering was well-received by investors and marked a major milestone in the company’s journey from a Netflix spin-off to a publicly traded streaming powerhouse.
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Secret Screen
Discover how many hours your Roku has run in its lifetime
Finally, Roku also has two other screens you can access on your device: one called Secret Screen and the other, fittingly named Secret Screen 2.
The first Secret Screen provides you with a lot of useful information about your Roku, including its operating system and build number, its uptime (how long it’s been powered on), and how long it’s been powered for its entire lifetime, which can be hundreds, if not thousands, of hours. You can also factory reset your device or update it from this screen.
To access the first Secret Screen, enter the following combination on your remote:
Home x 5 > Fast Forward x 3 > Rewind x 2
Secret Screen 2
The epic conclusion to all the Secret Screens
I’d say Secret Screen 2 is a worthy sequel to the first Secret Screen, as it offers a few handy options for customizing your device, including the ability to change the screenshot file format from JPG to PNG and cycle through various ad banner options. So, if you’re tired of seeing the same ads over and over again on the home screen, you can use the Cycle home screen ad banner server option to change it up.
To open Secret Screen 2, enter the following combination on your remote:
Home x 5 > Up > Right > Down > Left > Up
One last handy Roku remote shortcut
I want to quickly mention one last handy shortcut you can enter on your Roku remote to restart your device. If your device is acting wonky, like freezing or running slowly, sometimes all it needs is a quick restart to fix it. Here’s the combination to enter to restart it:
Home x 5 > Up > Rewind x 2 > Fast Forward x 2
While you can unplug your Roku and plug it back in to restart it, if it’s in your TV unit or behind your TV, it’s not always the most convenient option, and that’s where the restart shortcut comes in handy.
