Turn on a Roku TV without the remote
A Roku TV switches on with its power button. To switch it on from your phone, one setting has to be on first. Here is what to check, and what a Roku stick or box does differently.
Is it a Roku TV or a Roku player?
- A Roku TV has Roku built into the screen, as on many TCL and Hisense sets. It has a standby mode and a power button on the TV.
- A Roku stick or box plugs into a TV. Fast TV start, below, is a Roku TV setting and does not apply. Switch the TV itself on with its own button.
Switch on a Roku TV
- Find the power button on the TV. It is usually on the bottom edge, near the middle, or at the back near a corner. On some models it is under the front panel. The manual or the model number shows where.
- Press it once. The Roku logo appears while it starts.
Let a device switch it on
Roku has a setting called Control other devices (CEC), under Settings, System. With it on, a games console or box connected over HDMI can wake the TV when you start it. Both ends need CEC switched on.
Switch it on from your phone
A Roku TV can start from your phone only if it keeps its network chip awake while it is off. Roku calls that Fast TV start.
- Settings, System, Power, Fast TV start.
- Also check Settings, System, Advanced system settings, Control by mobile apps is Enabled.
With both on, the power button in Tuned sends a separate on or off command, so it does what it says. Tuned also remembers the TV's hardware address, so it can send a wake signal to a Roku TV that has dropped off the network. Fast TV start makes the TV take a little more power in standby, which is the price of the convenience.
What Tuned cannot do
- It cannot switch on a TV that is unplugged.
- It cannot set Fast TV start for you. Do that once with the remote or with the TV's own buttons.
- Fast TV start belongs to Roku TVs. For a Roku stick or box, use the TV's own button.
Questions about switching on a Roku TV
Why does my Roku TV not turn on from my phone?
Fast TV start is probably off, so the TV's network chip is asleep. Switch the TV on with its button, turn Fast TV start on, and try again.
Does a Roku TV need an account for this?
No. Tuned uses the TV's own network control. It does not sign in to Roku.
Is there a power button on every Roku TV?
Yes, though the position differs. If you cannot find it, check the guide for your model.
Does a TCL Roku TV behave differently?
TCL Roku TVs use the same Roku settings. The button sits in a different place from model to model, so use the model number to look it up.
Get Tuned
Free to download for iPhone and Android.