A memory that’s stuck in my head is a day, many years ago, when the internet went down in my apartment for several hours. I was so bored that I started watching all the documentary extras in the Lord of the Rings DVD box set. I enjoyed them, but I was pretty much done with Tolkien for a while after that. In retrospect, I probably should’ve used the time to read the books, not just watch something based on the movies based on them.
DVDs and Blu-rays aren’t as popular as they used to be, so if you’re cinematically inclined as I am, you might be wondering what if anything you can do with a Roku TV (or add-on streamer) when your internet isn’t working. There’s actually a surprising amount — as long as your Wi-Fi router is still up, or you’ve done some preparation ahead of time. You’ll see what I mean on both points in a minute. It’s also important, however, to cover what’s going to stay broken.
What doesn’t work when a Roku is offline?
More than just the obvious
Naturally, any native app that requires streaming something from a remote server is going to fail, such as Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV. That includes live TV services like Sling and YouTube TV, which aren’t simply pulling over-the-air antenna or satellite signals.
There’s more, though. For one, you can’t set up a new Roku device without going online during the process. That’s mostly because you’re prompted to create or sign in to a Roku account, but Roku OS additionally checks for software updates, which it can’t discover much less download without the internet. By extension, you can’t download any apps that aren’t already pre-installed.
On the homescreen, you may encounter error messages, and ad graphics will either fail to update or not display at all. Don’t worry about any of these problems, though, as they shouldn’t affect the functions I’m covering in the following sections.
So what can you do with a Roku device that’s offline?
Watch broadcast TV and use HDMI devices
This one only applies if you’ve got a Roku TV rather than an add-on streamer, but if you’ve got a digital antenna, a cable box, or a satellite system hooked up to your TV, you can still access them. Just select the appropriate function from the homescreen. Note that if you’re getting cable from the same company that provides your internet, you might be out of luck anyway.
Likewise, you can access any devices connected to your HDMI ports, such as a Blu-ray player, a game console, or a PC. Without the internet, a lot of console and computer functions break too, but you can still do things like work on offline projects, or play single-player or local multiplayer games. Be warned that some apps may need online authentication even if they’re otherwise offline-capable, which is a theme that will come up again later.
Make sure you use the right HDMI ports, incidentally. You won’t get the best performance out of the devices I’ve just mentioned unless they’re connected via HDMI 2.1.
Mirror your Apple, Android, or Windows device
As long as your Wi-Fi network is still online, you can use Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, or Windows 11’s built-in Cast option to mirror apps or a whole screen on any Roku device. If there isn’t an appropriate icon within an app, you’ll have to resort to screen mirroring, which can usually be selected from Quick Settings in the case of Android and Windows 11, or Control Center on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. On your Roku, you’ll have to go to Settings -> System -> Screen mirroring -> Screen mirroring mode and choose Always allow or Prompt. I recommend the former, since otherwise, you’ll have to authorize casting every time you try to connect.
Keep in mind that with many apps, casting is actually triggering a native app on your Roku, which won’t get you anywhere if that app needs the internet. For that reason, there’s a good chance you’ll be stuck with screen mirroring, which is certainly better than nothing given that you probably still have 4G or 5G cellular working. You’ll have to use your phone to control everything in that case, and avoid switching apps if you want video to keep playing.
Stream from a local media server or USB drive
Platforms like Plex and Jellyfin will let you stream music and videos from an offline media server on the same Wi-Fi network. There are a few hurdles to this, the biggest being that you’ll need to collect and organize a media library well ahead of time. You can follow the link above for more info. Here, I’ll emphasize the fact that you’ll want hundreds of gigabytes of space, and special software like Handbrake if you’re planning to rip DVDs or Blu-rays. If you don’t have discs, you’ll need to find some way of downloading media (ahem).
The server software itself can also be tricky. While you can often run it directly from your regular computer, you may need to spend some time configuring port and transcoding settings for optimal performance. You may further have to enable local connections without online authentication, which is certainly true in the case of Plex.
If your Roku TV or add-on has a USB port, you may be able to cut out the middleman by loading media on to a USB drive, preferably an external SSD, then browsing it using the Roku Media Player app. This is less than ideal, though, because Media Player can’t automatically recognize and sort libraries the way a platform like Plex can. You’re just browsing files and folders, so if you haven’t carefully labeled and organized everything, there may be a lot of trial-and-error trying to find the right file to play. Videos do support subtitles and poster art, but only as long as the filenames for them match the video in question.
Use your phone as a wireless hotspot
If none of the previous options sound appealing, you can get your Roku back online by turning your iPhone or Android device into a hotspot, and changing Wi-Fi settings on your Roku to connect to it. On an iPhone, toggle hotspot functions by going to Settings -> Personal Hotspot and making sure Allow Others to Join is on. Android phones should have a Hotspot button in Quick Settings. Once your phone is ready, head over to Settings -> Network > Set up connection -> Wireless on your Roku and log in. Remember to revert to your router when landline internet comes back.
There are only two serious downsides to this, the first being carrier restrictions. Some cellular plans have data caps, whether overall, just for tethering, or both. If you blow past these caps, you may be charged extra, or find your speeds throttled so much as to be useless. A few plans may not allow tethering at all.
Lastly, cellular is often less reliable than landline internet. Even if you have 5G, download speeds may fluctuate enough to result in buffering delays. Temper your expectations for 4K HDR, in other words.
