Xbox is 1 of the top gaming brands in the world.
And Roku is unmatched when it comes to streaming platforms.
So if you’re considering using both of them on the same TV…
Then I totally agree with that decision.
With that, allow me to help you connect your Xbox to your Roku.
And just…
Continue reading to find out:
- 7 quick steps to connect your Xbox to a Roku.
- 5 best Xbox games you can play offline on your Roku TV.
- The 2 different ways you can have Roku on your TV’s system.
- And this is just the beginning…
How to connect Xbox to Roku TV? 7 steps
Before you proceed to the specific steps you need for this setup…
Bear in mind that there are 2 ways you can get the Roku system on your TV:
- Through an external Roku box/stick.
- By using a TV running on the Roku system (like TCL TVs).
Now, in most cases, people fall into the 1st category.
So I’ll start with that 1.
With that, here’s how you can connect your Xbox to a TV that uses an external Roku box:
#1: Turn ON your Xbox and TV
Plug in your Xbox and TV to their respective power sources.
Doing so will make the rest of the steps much easier to do.
Because you’ll have visual indications on your screen…
Of whether or not your connections are actually working properly.
After plugging them into their power sources and pressing their power buttons…
#2: Grab your 1st HDMI cable
Now, since you’re going to work with 2 external devices here, namely your:
- Xbox.
- Roku box.
That means you’ll also need 2 HDMI cables for this setup (unless you’re using a Roku stick).
So now, grab 1 of your HDMI cables and…
#3: Plug it into the HDMI OUT port of the Xbox
On the back of your Xbox device, you’ll see 2 HDMI ports:
- HDMI IN.
- HDMI OUT.
Locate the HDMI OUT port and plug your 1st HDMI cable into it.
After doing so…
#4: Plug the other end of the cable to the HDMI IN port of your TV
Depending on the brand of your TV…
This port may be labeled as HDMI IN or HDMI INPUT.
And in some cases, you might even see multiple ports with this label.
But worry not. You can use any of the ports that say HDMI IN on it.
So simply plug the other end of the HDMI cable you plugged into your Xbox earlier, and…
#5: Ensure your TV is set to the right input settings
Note: If your TV screen already displays the contents of your Xbox player, you can skip to the next step.
But if your Xbox is still not being projected on your TV screen…
You need to set your TV to the correct input settings.
Now, the steps you need to do here will vary depending on your TV’s brand.
But in most TV models…
Here’s how you can change your TV’s input settings:
- Press the INPUT or SOURCE button on your TV remote.
- The list of available input sources will show up on your TV screen.
- Select the name of the HDMI port where you plugged the cable earlier.
If you’ve picked the correct input source…
You should see the contents of your Xbox on your TV screen now.
You might also want to know: 6 Easy Ways To Use Alexa As A Speaker For Your Xbox
#6: Power your Roku device
All that’s left to do now is connect your Roku to the existing setup.
But to do this, you must power ON your Roku device 1st.
So plug it into a reliable power source and wait until its LED light turns to a solid white.
#7: Connect your Roku player to your Xbox
Get your 2nd HDMI cable and plug 1 end into the HDMI port of your Roku device.
Then, connect the other end of this cable to the HDMI IN port of your Xbox.
And that’s it.
Your Xbox will already be connected to your Roku TV.
“How about the TVs using the built-in Roku system?”
Of course, I haven’t forgotten about that tutorial too.
But don’t worry.
Compared to the 1st category, it’s much easier to…
Connect your Xbox to a TV running on the Roku software itself:
- Turn ON your standard Roku TV and your Xbox.
- Grab a high-quality HDMI cable.
- Connect 1 end of the cable to the HDMI OUT port of your Xbox.
- Plug the other end of the cable into the HDMI IN port of your Roku TV.
- Ensure that your TV is set to the correct HDMI input settings (refer to step #5 above).
- Check if your screen is now showing the contents of your Xbox.
As you can see, it’s effortless to connect your Xbox to a Roku TV…
No matter which category you fall into.
Now, if you’re wondering…
Does It Work on all Xbox Consoles?
Roku works on all Xbox consoles only if you’re using a TV running on the Roku software.
But if you’re planning to use an external Roku player…
It won’t be compatible with all Xbox consoles.
Why?
Because consoles from the Xbox series X don’t have an HDMI input.
Which means there’s no way to connect an external Roku to them.
But don’t worry.
Only Xbox models from the series X are incompatible with external Roku devices.
And all the other models can be connected to Roku.
How to connect Xbox to Roku TV without HDMI
To connect Xbox to a Roku TV without an HDMI port, you need to have a converter box.
And if you’re not familiar with what that is yet…
A converter box is a device that converts HDMI connections to RCA connections.
And you need it because if your TV doesn’t have an HDMI port…
Then it likely has RCA ports instead.
“What’s that?”
You can think of RCA as an older version of the HDMI connections.
Either way, they have the same purpose of connecting external devices to your TV.
See, Rokus only have HDMI ports, so you need an HDMI cable for them.
While on the flip side, your TV only has RCA ports, so you need RCA cables to connect to it.
With that, the converter box’s job is to act as a bridge between these 2 different cables.
So that your TV can still connect to your Roku.
Even if it doesn’t have an HDMI port.
Now that it’s clear how this connection works…
Here’s how you can connect Xbox to Roku TV without HDMI:
Step 1: Power ON your TV and your Xbox.
Step 2: Connect your Xbox to the converter box.
Grab an HDMI cable and plug 1 end into the HDMI OUT port of the Xbox player.
Then, connect the other end to the HDMI port of the converter box.
Step 3: Connect the RCA connectors of the converter box to your TV.
Now, RCA connectors are labeled with these 3 colors:
- Red.
- White.
- Yellow.
And likewise, your TV and converter box will also have RCA ports in these colors.
So what you need to do now is to…
Insert each RCA connector into the RCA ports on your converter box.
Then, do the same process for your TV.
Note: Ensure that the color of each connector matches the color of the RCA port you’ll plug it into. Otherwise, this connection won’t work.
If you want, you may use this short clip to assist you in this process:
Now, plug your converter box into a power source so it’ll convert the HDMI signals to your TV.
Then…
Step 4: Set your TV to the correct input settings.
Step 5: Connect your Roku device to your Xbox.
Plug your Roku into its power source.
And using an HDMI cable, connect it to the HDMI IN port of your Xbox.
Note: If you have a Roku stick, just directly plug it into the port.
Now, once all connections are snug and fit…
Both your Roku and your Xbox should be projected on your TV.
Read next: 3 Easy Ways To Install 3rd Party Apps On Xbox One
Why isn’t my Xbox showing up on Roku TV?
Your Xbox isn’t showing up on Roku TV because you’re using the wrong HDMI port.
See, many people make the mistake of using the HDMI IN port instead of HDMI OUT…
When they’re trying to hook up their Xbox to a Roku TV for the 1st time.
So to fix this issue…
Ensure that 1 end of your HDMI cable is plugged into the HDMI OUT of your Xbox.
And that the other end is connected to the HDMI IN of your TV.
This should fix the problem.
But if it doesn’t…
Check if you’re using a high-speed HDMI cable.
Now, the HDMI cable that came with your Xbox console is already a high-speed 1.
But if you’ve replaced the original 1 in the past…
Then the HDMI cable you’re currently using might not be compatible with this connection.
Not sure where you can grab yourself a high-speed HDMI cable?
Don’t worry. I got you.
Here are the best high-speed HDMI cables you can get on Amazon right now:
Name | Price |
8K HDMI Cable 2.1 | $12.99 |
Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable | $11.00 |
Zeskit Maya 8K 48Gbps | $14.99 |
Is Roku TV good for gaming?
Roku TV is good for gaming.
In fact, its remote control has buttons explicitly designed for playing video games.
See, like your gaming controllers from Xbox or PS4…
A Roku remote also includes:
- A/B/X button.
- A directional pad.
- A headphone jack.
And this makes it an ideal controller for playing games.
On top of this, the Roku TV app store also contains hundreds of games.
Which are specifically designed to be played on Roku TVs.
Not to mention, Roku is also compatible with the top gaming consoles like:
So honestly, I can’t think of any other streaming platform better for gaming than Roku.
Can you play Xbox on Roku TV without Internet?
You can play Xbox on Roku TV without the Internet.
But before you can do this…
You need to have some offline games downloaded on your Xbox.
Not familiar with any of them?
Fret not. I’ll help you.
Here are 5 of the best Xbox games you can play without the Internet:
Download 1 of these or any offline games of your choice.
And you’ll be able to access them whenever you want to.
With or without an Internet connection.