Near the end of last year, Roku rolled out its big Roku OS 15 update, bringing a handful of changes and improvements to its streaming devices. This includes performance optimizations and better Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough support.
Now, to kick off 2026, Roku is rolling out its first major update of the year: Roku OS 15.1 (via Cord Cutter News). This update builds on what came before, but the focus this time is mostly behind the scenes. Many of the changes are aimed at app developers, giving them new tools to optimize apps and enhance video playback.
So while you may not notice anything dramatically different on your Roku device right away when you download this update, you’re still likely to feel the impact over time. Let’s dive into what’s new.
- Brand
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Roku
- Operating System
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Roku OS
- Downloadable Apps
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Thousands
A slim plug and play streaming stick that includes 4K/HDR support and includes a voice remote.
Better video seeking
Skipping an intro or a recap in a show should become smoother
The first major change Roku is introducing with this update is improved video seeking, thanks to a new HLS manifest mode for developers that gives them more precise control over where a video starts when you skip ahead.
More specifically, developers can use the EXT-X-START file tag within this new manifest mode to define an exact timestamp for playback to jump to. This is the same tech behind features like skipping intros or recaps in a show.
In practical terms, as developers start taking advantage of this new manifest mode, skipping certain parts of shows and movies should feel smoother on your Roku.
Developers can use Perfetto to help them track resource consumption
Another key part of this update is the introduction of Perfetto app tracing. According to Roku’s update notes for Roku OS 15.1, developers can use Perfetto to “record, analyze, and visualize traces” of their Roku apps, helping them identify ways to reduce resource consumption and, in turn, optimize their apps to improve performance.
What’s unique about Perfetto for app developers is that it presents all the traced data on a timeline, allowing them to pinpoint exactly where resource usage is higher than usual, such as increased processing and memory demands, during specific activities within the app. So if developers see an unexpected spike in resource demand in their Roku app using Perfetto, they can better track and fix it.
Again, this change is entirely behind the scenes and something you won’t notice when you download Roku OS 15.1 on your device. But for developers, this makes it easier to release updates to their Roku apps to improve performance, which you’ll eventually benefit from when your Roku apps run better.
Finally, Roku has rolled out one last change for developers with this update, deprecating the “roString.AppendString” function. This function allowed developers to append text to a string in their code. When a function is marked as deprecated, it means Roku plans to phase it out and eventually remove it, so developers are encouraged to stop using it. In this case, Roku advises developers to switch to the SetString function instead.
How to update to Roku OS 15.1
You can manually check for updates on your Roku
While the changes with Roku OS 15.1 are mainly developer-facing, it’s still good to keep your device updated and ready to take advantage of any optimizations developers implement to their apps thanks to this update.
That said, Roku OS 15.1 is still rolling out, so you may or may not see it on your Roku device yet. Your Roku usually scans for updates automatically, but if you haven’t received a notification that a new update is available, you can manually check for one. Here’s how:
1. Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
2. In the side menu that appears on your screen, select Settings.
3. Go to System > Software update.
4. Select Check Now.
5. If an update is available, you can download it and install it.
In other Roku news, you can snag a free HDMI extender for your Roku if you need one, and it’s rolling out more free channels.
