Longevity is the name of the game when it comes to electronics. We’re all trying to make our precious (and sometimes pricey) gadgets last as long as possible and make our investment well worth it.
So, you want to ensure that you’re turning off your Roku player and TV properly and allowing the software to shut off correctly.
While the intricacies of your Roku’s power supply may be complicated, ensuring they’re properly shut off is not.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about powering off your Roku, from if you need to do it at all, to how to turn off your Roku player, TV using a variety of methods.
Let’s get started!
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Should You Turn Off Roku Players and TVs When Not in Use?
No, you should not turn off your Roku. Instead, you should put it in standby mode when not in use.
Standby mode describes when a device is in low power mode but still connected to power. For instance, when you press your TV remote’s power button to turn off the display but leave it plugged in, it goes into standby mode.
This same logic can be applied to your Roku player or TV since you should power it off when not in use to prevent it from overheating. However, it’s perfectly fine to keep it connected to power.
In fact, keeping your Roku powered allows it to install updates when not in use. This will ensure your device’s software is up to date when you’re ready to use it, so you don’t have to spend time manually installing updates.
These updates help keep your device running smoothly so you can have the best user experience possible.
Roku players can also be left plugged into power when not in use, and since they consume very little electrical charge while in standby mode, you don’t have to worry about them drastically increasing your electrical bill.
How To Turn Off Your TV Properly?
While your first instinct may be to unplug the TV from its wall outlet to turn it off, we strongly advise against this.
Unplugging your TV while it’s still on can damage the TV’s circuitry and harm your home’s electrical outlet.
Since your TV’s plug is still powered, suddenly unplugging it from the wall may release sparks, creating an electrical arc. In rare cases, these sparks could ignite and start a fire.
You may even find that your electrical outlet and the wall around it appear and smell burnt. If you notice a smokey smell emanating from one of the electrical outlets, immediately contact the fire department.
To learn more about the dangers of abruptly unplugging your TV, check out our article Unplugging a TV Without Turning It Off: Bad or Not?
So, to avoid causing a fire hazard, it’s best to correctly turn off your TV before unplugging it.
Let’s learn how to do it!
Using Your Remote
Step 1: Find and press your remote’s Power button.
Step 2: Wait for the screen to shut off and turn black.
Step 3: Now, you can unplug your TV’s power cable from its power source, be it a power socket or power strip.
How To Turn Off Roku Players Properly?
On the Roku Player remote, press the Home button.
Select Home.
Scroll down and find the TV Off option, then select it to turn off the Roku Player and the TV simultaneously.
2. Plug the Roku USB-Powered cable into the TV’s USB Port
Plugging your Roku player into one of your TV’s powered USB ports will enable you to simultaneously turn your Roku player and TV off.
This can be done by plugging your Roku’s micro USB power cable into one of your TV’s ports.
You can find your TV’s USB ports on the back or side of the unit. Please note that some older TVs may not have USB ports.
Consider that while some TV USB ports can natively supply enough power for Roku devices, most can not. A television’s USB 2.0 ports normally supply 0.5A of power, while a TV’s USB 3.0 ports generally only have 0.9A of power.
Since most Roku players require between 1A to 1.5A of power, you may need to use an additional cable to ensure your Roku is sufficiently powered.
The QFUP USB power cable and Mission USB power cable come highly recommended by our team. Please note that although the Mission USB power cable specifies that it’s designed for Chromecasts, it will also work with Roku players.
However, one downside of this solution is that your Roku will not automatically install updates since it will be powered off instead of in standby mode.
The following Roku player models can be powered by your TV’s USB port:
- Roku Express
- Roku Express 4K
- Roku Express 4K+
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K+
- Roku Streaming Stick+ Headphone Edition
3. Alternative: Using a Smart Plug
If you want to turn off your Roku player independently from your TV, consider using a smart plug. These high-tech plugs connect to an app on your phone, allowing you to power the device on and off without physically removing its plug from the wall outlet.
You can also use the smart plug’s app to cut off the wall outlet’s electrical flow, which can come in handy if you need to turn certain devices off or on while away from your home. However, this does mean that your Roku won’t automatically install updates as it will not be constantly powered.
So, be sure to manually check for and install updates to ensure your Roku runs smoothly.
This is by far the easiest way to turn off your Roku player, though it will require you to purchase an additional gadget.
There are countless smart plug models on the market, all of which come with different setup instructions.
For your convenience, we’ve included instructions on how to install and use a TP-Link Smart Plug .
Step 1: Plug the TP-Link Smart Plug into the wall outlet you plan on plugging your Roku into. Then plug your Roku into the smart plug using its micro USB cable and USB power adapter.
Step 2: Now, download and set up the TP-LINK Tapo app on your Android or iOS smartphone.
Step 3: Once you’ve finished setting up the app, you’re ready to remotely turn your Roku on or off via your smartphone.
To learn more about how to set up and use the TP-Link Smart Plug, watch the video below.
Yesenia Achlim is a technical copywriter and editor with a focus on AV equipment. She aims to break down complicated topics and make technology accessible, no matter your technical expertise. When she’s not teaching you how to replace a projector lamp, you can find her reading and baking.