4 Ways to Jailbreak on Roku: Comprehensive Guide

Want to enjoy streaming and access a wide variety of content? Then Roku is your ideal entertainment partner. The advanced features make connecting it to several other devices easier, and you can enjoy the benefits of on-demand streaming. That’s why it’s gaining a lot of popularity and turning into an entertainment hub. However, with the rise in Roku’s popularity, people have a lot of questions about it. One of the most common burning questions is how to jailbreak Roku. Is it even possible to do it?  In this article, we’ll dive deeper to understand more about jailbreak on Roku. So keep reading. 

Quick Answer: You can eliminate multiple restrictions and make several customizations with jailbreak. It goes one step ahead of installing any software and provides user privileges that are generally unavailable. You can effectively access a wide variety of content through four major methods. In this guide, we have mentioned only the legal and most effective methods for media streaming. 

What is Jailbreak?

It’s a term made by the community of developers that refers to eliminating the manufacturer’s restrictions and limitations on a specific device. It’s important to understand that Roku runs on an operating system, so you have little control over it. What does that mean? It means you can only download apps from the Roku Channel Store. Even if you download an app from other sources, you won’t be able to run it on Roku.  But when you jailbreak, you don’t have to be restrained within the boundaries. It offers root access to the device, so you get super privilege to run unsigned code. That’s how you can get custom operating systems on Roku that have pre-installed apps. 

Read: Sharp TV Keeps Turning Off

4 Ways To Jailbreak on Roku 

There are several methods on the internet to jailbreak Roku. But remember, you won’t be able to do it by following a traditional approach. You’ll have to avoid some rules to make sure that the content is accessible on Roku devices. Let’s look at each of them with a step-by-step method for implementing it. 

Screen Mirroring Mode

You might already know about screen mirroring mode. It’s when you cast your iPhone or Android phone to your Roku TV. The good news is that you can still use this method even if you don’t jailbreak Roku. After all, everyone loves to watch content on big screens. But it’s not just limited to TV shows and series only. You can also play games on the screen and take your gaming experience to the next level. You can also download free movie APKs on your smartphone and stream them on Roku. But how can you do this? 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on starting screen mirroring mode on Roku TV. 

• Go to Roku Settings. From the main menu, navigate to the System option and click on it. 

• Here, you’ll see Screen Mirroring. Select this option.

• Checkmark the Prompt, which is right next to this mode. To turn on the screen mirroring mode, you must checkmark it. 

• Now, on your smartphone, look for the wireless sharing option. It may vary from mobile to mobile such as in the latest Samsung models you can find a screen mirroring option in the drop-down menu. Just choose the Smart View option, and Screen Mirroring mode will turn on. 

• Click on the name of your Roku device. That’s how easily you can turn on the screen mirroring mode on Roku. 

Screen Casting Mode

This method’s working mechanism is the same on Roku as it is on other devices and smart TVs. You’ll need some prerequisites; here are a few of them. 

• A working phone or tablet is connected to a stable internet connection. 
• An application that is compatible with the casting feature, such as YouTube. 

When you click on the video, and it starts playing, you’ll get a screencasting option and the names of devices you can choose from. But make sure that the app is also installed on the Roku. Suppose you want to screencast Netflix from your smartphone then install it on a Roku device as well. But what if you don’t do that? Then, the screencast feature will not work. 

Follow the steps mentioned below to screencast on Roku TV. 

• Download a screencast-compatible device on Roku and your smartphone, such as YouTube. Go to the search tab of Roku and type YouTube. 
• From the search results list, click on YouTube and then Add Channel. 
• Click on the YouTube video you want to play on your Roku device. When the video starts playing, click on the Cast option. It is present at the top right of the screen. 
• A casting device list will appear on the screen. Click on it, and the video will start casting on Roku. 

While doing it, you don’t always need to open the app. Installing the app on a mobile is enough, and you can screencast while doing that. 

But on your mobile device, you should only stream the video you want to cast. If you start doing something else or close the app, casting will stop immediately. Then, you’ll need to follow all the steps and cast again. 

Pro Tip: You can avoid this by using screen mirroring software. Kodi is one of the most commonly used software for this purpose.

USB Or Local Network

Do you have a local home network? Then, you can utilize it and make Roku extract media from it, which can be later viewed on your TV. Some of the widely used local media networks are Plex and Windows Media Player. However, connecting the content to the local network can be hard. That’s why you should follow these instructions. 

• On Roku’s Home page, navigate to the search bar and type Roku Media Player in it. 
• From the search results, click on Roku Media Player. 
• Now choose Add Channel. That’s how Roku Media Player will be added to your Homepage. 
• From here, go back to the Homepage and open this app. 
• Make sure that your local network is open to the media. This network will appear on your Roku streaming device. From here, choose the media you want to stream on Roku. 

But what if it’s not working? Then, you can use a USB device that already has media in it. If your Roku has a USB port, you can insert it there and enjoy watching the media. However, not all Roku devices have a USB slot, so you need to check if your Roku TV has one. 

Use the Roku Mobile App

You can use a Roku app, aka Play On Roku, to stream a wide variety of content. But make sure you have this application installed on your smartphone. Only then will you be able to stream pictures, videos, and various content on your Roku device.

Here’s what you need to do.

• Go to the app store and type Play On Roku. From the search results, click on this mobile application and install it.
• Now log in to your account by adding your Roku email and password.
• Connect your Roku device and smartphone with the same WiFi network. Go to the Devices tab on the bottom right corner of the mobile.
• Now, your Roku TV will appear on the list. Choose your device to start controlling the Roku with the help of the mobile streaming device.
• Navigate the media part of devices that are connected to your mobile app.
• Choose the media you want to stream, such as audio, video, and pictures. Make sure to give all the permission to access the application.
• Now, cast media to a Roku device to easily access the content.

FAQ’s

Q: Can You Jailbreak Roku?

A: Roku has a closed operating system, so it’s safe from jailbreak activities. The closed system is only accessible to authorized developers.

Q: Is It Legal To Jailbreak Roku?

A: It isn’t illegal to jailbreak Roku. You can use the methods mentioned in this guide to access a wide variety of content. They are all supported by Roku, so you won’t have issues implementing them.

Conclusion

Technically, it’s not the traditional form of jailbreaking, but through this feature, you can find a perfect way to avoid the Roku operating system’s limitations. Now, get ready to watch your favorite series, movies, and shows from other devices on your Roku. Do you still have any questions about Roku jailbreaking? If so, don’t hesitate to email us or comment in the section below. We have also created detailed premium guides about Smart TVs. Click here to access them for free.