Roku streaming devices are becoming more and more popular lately due to how easy they are to use and set up, and also because you get access to such a vast library of content while using one. But the one question that pops to mind immediately is “Does Roku work on any tv”?
If you don’t yet have a Roku streaming device you’re probably wondering if you need a high-end TV to make it work, and if you need to invest a lot of money in this setup.
The answer to the question is that Roku only works on TVs that have an HDMI port. All Roku streaming devices, including the streaming stick, will work with TVs that have an HDMI connection, but some features like the 4K Ultra HD and HDR will require TVs that are compatible with these technologies.
If you have a fairly new TV you will have an HDMI port on it, no matter the brand or if was a budget purchase or a more high-end model.
Roku requirements
As previously stated to connect your Roku device to your TV you will need an HDMI port. But are there any other requirements besides the HDMI capability?
The only other thing needed to make a Roku device work is an internet connection.
Depending on the Roku device model you will have the possibility to use a wireless or wired connection.
If you have the HDMI port and internet connection your Roku streaming device will most likely work with your TV.
Will Roku streaming devices work on TVs with low resolution?
Most TVs launched today will have at least a 1080p resolution, which is also known as Full HD or 2K, but more high-end TVs will come with resolutions up to 4K.
But if you have an old TV chances are you only have a 720p resolution. So does a Roku streaming stick work on a TV with a lower resolution?
Most of the time Roku devices will work fine with TVs that have a 720p resolution, and will automatically adjust to your older TVs resolution without having to do something manually.
Sometimes there will be compatibility issues when you connect the Roku streaming stick to an older TV, and this usually happens if the resolution setting is not set to Auto on the Roku device.
Manually adjust Roku resolution settings
If you connected a Roku streaming device to your TV and the resolution wasn’t automatically adjusted, or there are some issues with scaling you can manually change the resolution from settings.
To do this just follow these steps:
- Go to Roku Home screen
- Go to the Settings page
- Scroll down and open the Display Type settings page
Here you will see several available options like:
- Auto detect
- 720p TV
- 1080p TV
- 4K 30Hz TV
- 4K 60Hz TV
- 4k HDR 30Hz TV
This is usually set to Auto detect, but if it’s not looking right you can just select whatever the resolution of your TV is.
If you’re not sure what resolution your TV has you can just change it to 720p. This should work on any TV screen.
If you connected your Roku streaming device to your TV and you’re not seeing anything or the screen is black it might mean the Roku device resolution was not set to Auto detect, but it’s set to a value higher than what your TV can handle.
To be able to see your Roku device you should move it to a newer TV, go to the Display Type settings page following the steps above, and manually set the resolution to 720p.
Once that is done you can remove the Roku device from the newer TV and plug it back into the older TV and it should work.
Using composite video cables on a Roku device
Although you can find composite to HDMI converter cables online, most of the time using something like this will not work properly and you will have invalid format errors on your Roku device.
If you check the online forums you will probably find a few people who have managed to use the composite to HDMI converter cables to connect a Roku, but most of the time this isn’t working as intended.
Composite cables were also used in older models like the Roku Express+, but Roku has slowly stopped producing this device since 2018, and it’s not listed for purchase on the official site.
You can probably still find some online if you want to use composite video cables, but the trouble of searching for one in decent shape is almost not worth it.
Do I need a smart TV to use a Roku device?
No, you don’t need a smart TV to be able to use a Roku streaming device. A Roku streaming stick will turn non smart TVs into smart TVs by giving you access to streaming services, give you access to movies and tv shows, Netflix, pre-installed apps, or Google TV.
Roku will work on any TV, it doesn’t matter if you use a non smart tv, as long as you have the HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) input available on the device.
How to connect a Roku streaming stick to your TV
To connect your Roku streaming stick or whatever other streaming stick you have you need to follow these steps to get Roku working:
- Make sure you have the Roku streaming stick, the remote control, some batteries, an HDMI cable, an AC charger, and the user guide at hand
- Turn on your TV screen so you can see if the Roku streaming stick is connecting to your device when plugged in. You can also have the TV turned off while you plug in the Roku streaming stick and there will be no issues
- Make sure you place the batteries correctly in the remote control
- Locate the HDMI port on your TV and make sure you input the HDMI cable correctly into it. The port looks similar to a USB port, it’s just a little larger
- Connect your Roku to the TV using the HDMI cable and the HDMI input you just located on the TV. A Roku streaming stick works by plugging it directly into one of the HDMI ports, so you don’t need an HDMI cord for it.
- Next, connect your Roku device to the AC charger if you’re using a Roku ultra or other type of Roku player. If you’re using a Roku stick you don’t need to follow this step.
- If your TV has multiple HDMI ports make sure you select the correct input. You will see the Roku welcome screen or the Roku logo when you select the correct input on your TV.
Once you reach the welcome screen you are done with the initial setup. This has turned your non smart television into a smart one, and you will be soon ready to stream movies on older television models.
Set up Roku after connecting it to the TV
Once you’re done with connecting the Roku devices to the TV using the HDMI cable you will still need to go through the initial setup process.
This will involve the following:
- Pair the remote with the Roku device by following the instructions shown on the screen. If you have an enhanced remote you will have access to voice search and other user supported functions you usually find in smart home devices.
- You will be asked to connect your Roku device to the internet. This can be done with either a wired or a wireless connection. If you’re doing a wired connection you will just need to plug the ethernet cable or the ethernet adapter into the Roku device. If you’re using a wireless connection you will be asked to enter your Wi-Fi network password and then it will automatically connect to it.
- If your Roku device needs to do any software updates these will take place during the initial setup process.
- You will also need to connect Roku to your Roku account. If you don’t have a Roku account you will be able to create one using the Roku website.
Once you’re connected to your account the setup is done. You are now able to use the streaming device to connect to various channels, watch Netflix, or access various free and paid streaming services.
The bottom line
The main requirement to be able to connect Roku to a TV is to have an HDMI input on it. When you locate it on the TV all that is needed is to plug the HDMI cable into it.
If your TV resolution is low and the Auto-detect feature on Roku is not working correctly you can manually select a different resolution from Roku settings.
Although some older Roku models came with composite cables Roku has stopped producing them since 2018 and it’s focusing on the HDMI connection instead.