Roku TVs are a great option if you’re looking for a smart TV with all the bells and whistles. But one thing you might be wondering about is whether or not Roku TVs have Bluetooth.
Roku TVs and Roku media streamers like the Hisense R8F and TCL 6-Series do not have Bluetooth. Instead, they allow you to listen wirelessly. Roku TVs include a Private Listening feature that streams audio to any connected smartphone or mobile device via the Roku app.
If you have a Roku TV in your home and wonder how to connect a Bluetooth device to your TV, read on!
How Do I Get Bluetooth On My Roku TV?
It is possible to connect a smartphone, tablet, or PC via Bluetooth on some Roku devices. Once a Bluetooth device is paired and starts to play audio, the Bluetooth channel on your Roku compatible device automatically launches. You can listen to music or listen to any other audio from apps installed on your Bluetooth device.
If you do not have a Roku device, connecting to a Bluetooth device or streaming audio using the Bluetooth channel will not be possible.
Which Roku Devices Have Bluetooth?
As previously mentioned, only selected Roku devices are Bluetooth compatible. You can connect to a Bluetooth capable smartphone or mobile device, or laptop using the following Roku devices:
- Roku Streambar
- Roku Streambar Pro
- Roku Smart Soundbar
- Roku Ultra, model 4800 and 4802
- Roku Ultra LT model 4801
- Roku TV with Roku wireless speakers and Roku TV Wireless Soundbar
The following Roku devices are not Bluetooth compatible:
- Roku Ultra, models 4670, 4661, 4640, and Roku Ultra LT model 4662
Can I Use Any Bluetooth Speaker With My Roku TV?
It isn’t possible to connect any Bluetooth wireless headphones or speakers to your Roku TV. However, it is possible to connect Bluetooth headphones to your smartphone and use the Roku mobile app to listen privately.
Roku only supports the pairing of Bluetooth devices if you use the Roku TV Wireless Speakers or the Roku Smart Soundbar with your Roku TV. The functionality to pair standalone Bluetooth devices like wireless headphones and speakers to your TV is not supported.
How Do I Listen Privately On Roku?
If your Roku TV does not support Bluetooth connectivity to a set of wireless headphones, your only option would be to use the private listening feature.
So, by using a Roku TV or a Roku streaming player with the Roku Mobile app and headphones, you can easily stream your media. The steps to activate the private listening feature are straightforward, and I’m going to list the steps below:
1. Download the Roku mobile app for your Android or Apple device from their respective App stores. For Android, use the Google Playstore, and for Apple, it will be the Apple App Store.
2. Next, connect your Roku app to your Roku streaming device via your home Wi-Fi.
3. Then activate the Private Listening feature on the Roku Mobile App and plug your headphones into your smartphone or tablet.
4. Once your headphones are plugged in, you can activate and deactivate the private listening feature by tapping the headphone icon. The private listening feature allows you to connect up to 4 devices simultaneously.
As you listen to your streaming audio from your Bluetooth device, the Bluetooth channel will display the device name, track name, and artist name.
If you do not hear any sound playing from your Bluetooth device, adjust the volume using the Roku remote, or you can give it voice commands like; “turn up the volume” or “volume 20.”
Users can use Private Listening without the Roku mobile app on some high-end Roku devices and high-end Roku TVs. Roku provides a 3.5mm headphone jack with most of these devices. Users can connect their wired headphones directly to the headphone jack and instantly use the Private Listening feature!
Can I Use Wireless Speakers With My Roku TV?
Roku wireless speakers add a rich and full sound to your streaming TV experience with no unnecessary and cluttered audio cables to connect. You need to plug in the power cable and pair your wireless speakers to a Roku host device like a Roku TV, Roku Streambar, Roku Smart Soundbar, or Roku Streambar Pro.
Once you have your Roku device connected, you will experience cinema-quality sound from all of your streaming media.
You can also wirelessly use Roku Speakers for playing audio from your Bluetooth devices like a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. To do this, pair your Bluetooth device and play music, podcasts, or any other type of audio from apps installed on your Bluetooth device to your wireless Roku speakers without keeping your TV screen on.
Roku wireless speakers come in three varieties:
- Roku Wireless Speakers
- Roku Wireless TV Speakers
- Roku Wireless Surround Sound Speakers
It is essential to remember that Roku wireless speakers are only designed to work as front speakers when connected to a Roku TV. They cannot connect to other TVs, sound systems, or Roku streaming players.
How Do I Setup My Roku Device?
Setting up your Roku device is easy and can be completed in simple steps. The first thing that you need to do is to power on your Roku compatible device, either your Roku Player or your Roku TV.
If you use a Roku player or the Roku Streaming Stick, connect it to your TV via the HDMI port. Roku TVs have the Roku OS built into them, so there is no need for any HDMI connection.
Next, connect your Roku device to the internet. All Roku devices need to connect to the internet to access streaming content.
Your Roku device can connect to the internet via your home Wi-Fi or through a wired connection such as an Ethernet cable. Once you have connected your Roku device to the internet, you need to log in to your Roku account and activate your device.
A Roku account will allow you to access several streaming channels like Netflix, Hulu, etc. And, there you have it, you have successfully set up your Roku device to access streaming content.
Once you have your Roku device set up, you can watch live and local TV and a few sports channels like NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, and ESPN. Some streaming channels are free to watch, and others will require you to have a subscription.
Conclusion
For those interested in purchasing a Roku device, you should know that they have Bluetooth capabilities. This means connecting your Roku device to your wireless network and streaming content from various streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.