How To Easily Jailbreak A Roku Device
Roku TV, one among the foremost popular streaming devices, features a number of the foremost popular entertainment, news and sports channels for cord-cutters. In this article, we will be explaining how to easily jailbreak a Roku device.
Its lineup rivals, Amazon Firestick, another popular streaming media player that ranks at the highest of home entertainment streaming technologies. The only difference between them is the level of open-source technology they supply.
Firesticks have permission to install apps that aren’t within the app store, Roku doesn’t. This is often mentioned as Jailbreaking and is popular among cord-cutters. Especially Fire TV Stick owners.
If you want to jailbreak Roku TV, you want to remove restrictions to enable ultimate customization. Essentially, you want to increase the user privilege on a Roku past its initial level. This allows you to install any type of software you’d like, as well as alter the device in other ways.
Now, before getting any further, know that you won’t jailbreak Roku TV in the traditional way. You won’t exactly do what we described above. Instead, to jailbreak Roku TV, you’ll simply avoid some rules in order to view content not traditionally available on the device.
COPYRIGHT_NOVA: Published on https://www.novabach.com/i/how-to-jailbreak-a-roku-device/ by Daniel Barrett on 2022-08-14T18:04:21.000Z
What Exactly Is Jailbreaking?
Jailbreaking is the process of modifying a tool in order that a user can bypass restrictions placed on the device by the manufacturer that normally prevent the installation of unauthorized software.
Technically, Roku is jailbreak-proof because its devices run a closed OS that’s accessible only to approved developers.
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Can You Jailbreak A Roku Device?
The straight answer is NO. Roku is not open-source system software. This means that, unlike the Firestick or Fire TV, you can’t side-load applications onto your Roku device.
However, there are workarounds to play content on a Roku device that may not be offered through the Roku Channel Store. These options include:
- Screen mirroring.
- Plex
- Screen casting.
- Playing content via local network or USB.
Info: Roku uses the terms screen mirroring and screen casting interchangeably, but these terms are different. Each feature is going to be discussed separately.
What Is Roku Screen Mirroring?
If you’ve got an Android phone or Windows PC (iOS devices aren’t supported) and a Roku, you’ll use a feature called screen mirroring. On some devices, this feature could also be mentioned as Miracast, while HTC incorporates screen mirroring via HTC Connect.
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Other smartphone brands and devices may use different terms. No network connection is required since your devices can communicate using Bluetooth.
With screen mirroring, everything you see on your smartphone (including streaming services, apps, photos, videos, web pages, and other content not available through the Roku platform) is displayed on your TV screen. The smartphone’s menu bars and standing icons appear on your TV also .
However, while using screen mirroring, you cannot perform other tasks on your phone. If you tap another icon, the content ceases playing. You furthermore may need to use the device you’re mirroring from to manage your content; you cannot use a Roku remote while mirroring.
Enabling Screen Mirroring On Roku
To display the screen of a PC or phone on a Roku device:
- Activate the screen mirroring/Miracast feature on your Android Phone or Windows PC from the specified settings.
- Press the house button on the remote, then select Settings > System > Screen Mirroring.
- In the Screen Mirroring menu, select from the subsequent modes:
- If you chose Prompt on the Screen Mirroring Mode menu, a prompt bar appears at the rock bottom of the Roku screen when it’s time for you to attach your device. Select Allow and therefore the device connects to the Roku.
- If you chose Always admit in the Screen Mirroring Mode menu, the device automatically mirrors.
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How To Jailbreak A Roku With Plex
Plex is a software by client-servers that enables you to save content like shows, movies, photos, etc. After saving, you can then send them to any other device you would like for streaming.
Using Plex would require a Home Media Server like a PC for storing your content and a streaming device like Roku.
Tip: Before installing Plex on Roku, you want to first find out your Plex Media Server.
This usually includes downloading and syncing content to a home server which we will then share with all devices including our Roku device.
One of the simplest ways to fill your Plex library is by downloading torrents via a Torrent Website.
It is important to note that if you choose to download torrents, you should enable a VPN to secure your privacy. When you have selected your choice of content on Plex, install the Plex Client App on your Roku and start streaming.
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Bypassing Roku Using Plex
- Press the house button on your Roku remote
- Scroll right down and find the search
- Type in the word “Plex”
- Choose Plex – Stream Free Movies & TV
- Click Add channel
- Wait for the Plex channel to come up
- Click Ok
- Go to the Plex channel and click on options
- Choose Move channel
- Place Plex at the front of your apps list and click on to launch
- From the house screen of Plex, choose check-in
- Note of activation code
- Launch your Browser (on any device) and enter provided authorization code. Click Link
- Account Linked message will appear
- Return to your Plex app on Roku and choose your preferred server
- Click Continue
- Customize navigation to your preferences and click on Finish
- Choose your Plex Media Server
- Click Movies to find your preferred content
What Is Roku Screen Casting?
Another way to bypass Roku jailbreaking restrictions is to watch content by casting. This feature only works for select apps, but casting is supported on both Android and iOS.
Casting to a Roku device won’t work with KODI, Mobdro, and lots of content platforms. If a smartphone app is compatible with casting (YouTube and Netflix are two examples), the cast icon appears near the highest of the smartphone screen.
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Since you’ll only cast from apps that have a corresponding Roku channel, the usefulness of this feature is restricted for jailbreaking purposes. Still, screen casting directly from YouTube on another device is usually easier than navigating the built-in YouTube app for Roku.
Casting On Roku
An installation of a third-party app is usually required to be able to cast. Install one from your app store and follow this procedure:
- Be certain that the device and Roku are on same Wi-Fi network
- If not already installed, add the specified channel app to the Roku’s home menu. for instance, to cast from YouTube, download the YouTube channel from the Roku Channel Store.
- Open the app you would like to cast from on your device.
- Tap the cast icon from inside the app (usually displayed within the upper-right corner). With some apps, the cast icon might not appear until you start playback on your device.
- Select Roku from the list of obtainable devices on your phone or tablet.
Playback of the casted content will begin. However, casting channels that support user profiles (such as Netflix) may require that you simply select your profile with the Roku remote before playback will begin.
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Streaming Content Stored On A PC, Media Server, Or USB
Another option is to play content stored on a PC or media server on your Roku through your home network. To try to do this, check to ascertain if the Roku Media Player App has been pre-installed on your TV. If not, find it within the Roku Store and install it.
This app allows you to access music, photos, and videos from PCs and media servers that are connected to an equivalent home network. The app is additionally compatible with several media platforms like PlayOn, Plex, Serviio, Tversity, Twonky, and Windows Media Player.
To view media content from other devices using the Roku Media Player App:
- In the Media Type Selection screen, select the media type.
- Choose the device that has the content you would like to play.
- Find the content you would like to play and press OK or Play/Pause on the Roku remote.
- Cancel playback by pressing the rear button on the Roku remote
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