How to Add Channels to Your Roku

May 21, 2014 - 00:00 -- RokuGuide

Today on "HOW TO ROKU" we show you how to add channels to your Roku player. The instructions below will explain how to add a channel directly from your Roku-connected TV, or from the Roku website using your computer or mobile device. You can also watch how it's done in the video above (also available here).

How to Add a Channel From Your Roku Device:

  • Start from your Roku's home menu. You can reach the Home Menu by pressing the Home button on your Roku remote.
  • Scroll down to the Channel Store option and press "OK" on your Roku remote.
  • From the Channel Store, you can browse through all of the channel categories, where you'll find more than 1500 Roku channels and apps. If a channel is already installed on your Roku, you'll see a check box in the lower right corner of the channel logo.
  • Once you've found the channel you want to add, select it and press "OK" on your remote.
  • If the channel isn't already on your Roku device, you will see an option to add the channel. Select that option, press OK on your remote, and the channel will be installed.
  • You can now immediately visit that channel, but if you press the Home key on your remote, you'll find that the newly-added channel is now listed at the end of My Channels.

How to Find a Channel With the Roku Search Function

  • If you know the name of the channel but don't want to spend time browsing for it, you can also find it using the search function, which is accessible from the Roku Home screen
  • Type in the name of the channel, then select it from the list of search results. Note the symbol next to channel name to distinguish Roku channels from movie and TV titles
  • Select the channel in the search results, and you'll find the option to install the channel in the same manner as we just used for the channel we found in the Channel Store

How to Add a Channel From the Roku Website

  • Visit the Roku website at www.roku.com.
  • Find the channel you want to add, select it, and press the Add Channel button. If the channel is not supported on any of your registered Roku's, you'll be notified of that, but can continue to add it to your devices that will play that channel.
  • If you are not logged into your Roku account, you will be prompted to do so. If you are logged in, you may still be prompted to confirm your e-mail and password.
  • After adding a channel from the Roku website, the channel will be listed as installed. However, it won't be immediately available on your Roku device. Channels added from the Roku website don't appear on the device itself until your Roku has performed an update, which should occur once a day. If you don't want to wait for the auto-update, you will need to force an update.
  • From your Roku device Home screen, scroll down to Settings and select the System update option. Press OK to check for updates.
  • Your Roku will download and install any channels that you added from the Roku website.

How to Add a Channel Using a Channel Code

There is still one more way to add a channel, and that's if you have a channel code. Channel codes are most-often used for private channels, but every public channel also has a channel code.

  • Log into your Roku account at www.roku.com, and go to "My Account".
  • Under Manage Account, select Add a Private Channel. This is the correct location even if you know that you're using the code for a public channel.
  • Type in the code, press the Add Channel button, and confirm that you want to add the channel.
  • As we discussed earlier, you will need to force an update on your Roku player if you want to view the channel immediately.