“Alexa, launch Prime Video on bedroom Roku.”
Is that even possible?
Roku’s a direct competitor of the Amazon Fire Stick.
And Alexa is Amazon’s world-famous voice AI.
So that means Roku and Alexa can’t work together, right?
Well, not really. In fact, linking the 2 is much easier than you think.
Continue reading to find out:
- 5 amazing things you can do with Roku and Alexa.
- Quick fixes if you’re not able to connect Alexa to Roku.
- Easy step-by-step guide on how to link Alexa to your Roku players.
- And a lot more…
Is Alexa compatible with Roku?
Alexa is compatible with Roku. You can easily link them through the Alexa app. Alexa is capable of launching certain apps on your Roku player. It can also search for entertainment for you. If you have a Roku TV, Alexa can also turn it on and off. As well as change the channels and adjust the volume.
5 things you can do with Roku and Alexa
#1: Launch certain channels
Alexa’s skills are ever-expanding.
Not only can you ask her to play specific songs…
Now, she can also launch and change streaming channels for you.
And according to Roku’s website, Alexa will work on over 100 Roku channels.
Some of these include:
“How do I launch channels on Roku with Alexa?”
It’s simple. Here are the steps:
- Say Alexa to begin command.
- Say either open or launch.
- Say the channel that you’d like to launch.
- Mention the Roku player’s location.
- End it by saying Roku.
For example, “Alexa, launch Hulu on living room Roku.”
#2: Ask for entertainment recommendations
You may sometimes feel overwhelmed with how many channels Roku has…
To the point where you struggle to decide what to watch.
Well, Alexa can definitely help you with that.
Just ask her to find something to watch for you.
As with launching channels, just begin by saying, “Alexa.” And end it with your Roku player’s location and the word Roku.
So you can say something like:
- “Alexa, play a documentary on kitchen Roku.”
- “Alexa, show a horror movie on basement Roku.”
- “Alexa, find a comedy channel on bedroom Roku.”
Other variations of that would work. As long as you follow the voice command format.
#3: Control your video streams
This is another convenience that Alexa can provide.
You don’t have to get up and grab the remote.
With Alexa, you can easily control the video that you’re watching.
Here are the playback settings that you can control:
- Pause.
- Rewind.
- Fast Forward.
Just say something like, “Alexa pause on dining room Roku.”
#4: Switch your Roku TV on and off
Now the first 3 that I mentioned are things Alexa can do with Roku players.
But if you have a Roku TV such as the TCL Roku Smart TV…
Alexa can do all of those things and more.
And one of those additional actions Alexa can perform is switching your Roku TV on and off.
Alexa can’t do this yet with Roku players. But with Roku TVs, it’s easy.
Simply say, “Alexa, turn on bedroom Roku TV.” Or something similar.
Notice that the only difference is you end the command with Roku TV instead of Roku.
For this to work, you also need to enable Roku TV’s Fast TV Start.
Here’s how:
- On your Roku TV remote, click Home.
- Look for Settings and then click it.
- Select the System menu.
- Go to Power and select it.
- Navigate to Fast TV Start and click it.
- Select Enable Fast TV Start.
- Tick off the check box to confirm your action.
#5: Control various Roku TV settings
In addition to switching your Roku TV on and off, Alexa can do several other things.
One of them is changing the TV channel. Just ensure that you connect an HDTV antenna to your Roku TV.
Another is that Alexa can adjust your Roku TV’s volume. Whether you want to mute the channel. Turn the volume up or down, Alexa can do that for you.
So the next time your Roku TV has no sound, just try to ask Alexa to increase the volume.
And lastly, Alexa can also switch your Roku TV to another input source. This is great if you’ve connected multiple external devices to your TV.
You can simply say something like. “Alexa, switch to HDMI 1 on the basement Roku TV.”
How to use Alexa with Roku?
To use Alexa with Roku, launch the Alexa app on your phone. On the Settings menu, select TV & Video. Select Roku and click the Enable to Use button. You’ll then need to enter your Roku account details. And then link your Roku devices. After that, you may start using Alexa on Roku via voice commands.
Detailed step-by-step guide on connecting Roku to Alexa
Step #1: Ensure that you turn on all the Roku devices that you’d like to connect to Alexa.
Also, make sure that your Alexa-enabled device is on.
You may use any model of the Amazon Echo. Or 3rd party devices with built-in Alexa. Such as the Sonos Beam soundbar.
Step #2: Open the Alexa app on your mobile phone.
Step #3: Tap the More icon on the app. It’s the one with 3 horizontal lines.
Step #4: Look for Settings and then tap it.
Step #5: Scroll down to Alexa Preferences. Under that menu, navigate to TV & Video and select it.
Step #6: You’ll see a list of 3rd party video service providers. Search for Roku, then tap it.
Step #7: Tap the Enable to Use button. The app will then redirect to the Roku sign-in page.
Step #8: Enter your Roku account details.
Step #9: A message about connecting your Roku device to Alexa will appear. Tap the Accept and Continue button.
Step #10: Select the Roku devices you’d like to link to Alexa. You may also tap the Select all option. Then click Continue.
Step #11: Click the Link to Alexa app button.
Step #12: Click Continue to Alexa app.
You’ll then see a message. It’ll say that you’ve successfully linked your Roku devices.
Would you also like a video guide? Then this is for you:
Why is Alexa not compatible with my Roku device?
Alexa isn’t compatible with your Roku device because your Roku has an outdated OS. Alexa requires at least a Roku OS 9.1. In addition, you’re likely in a country that doesn’t support Roku skills for Alexa.
Alexa is compatible with all Roku devices.
It’s just that Alexa’s Roku skills have geographical restrictions.
These are the only locations where you can connect Roku to Alexa:
- Ireland.
- Mexico.
- Germany.
- United States.
- Latin America.
- United Kingdom.
Now, if your Roku’s OS needs updating, here’s how:
- Click Home on your Roku remote.
- Select Settings.
- Go to System and click it.
- Choose the System update option.
- Click Check now.
Roku should then download and install available updates.
Lastly, if you’re having trouble linking your Roku to Alexa…
Consider restarting all of your devices.
Unplug your Roku players and the Alexa device from the outlet. You may also close the Alexa app.
Then wait for about 30 seconds up to a minute.
And then plug all of them back in. Relaunch the Alexa app. And try to link your Roku to Alexa again.
You might also want to know: 37 Funny Alexa Tricks That Will Blow Your Mind