How to Easily Use Your Roku Device When You’re Away From Home - Tips for Hotel & College Life

You can use your Roku streaming device when you’re traveling or away at college with the Roku Hotel & Dorm Connect feature. Here’s everything you need to know toset up your Roku away from home and enjoy your favorite streaming content.

Some content and channels may be restricted or limited, depending on where you’re traveling.

Set Up Your Roku in a Hotel or Dorm

The Roku Hotel & Dorm Connect feature makes it possible to set up your Roku andconnect it to Wi-Fi without signing in from a web browser. Here’s how it works:

1. Plug the Roku stick or box into a power source.
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2. Plug the Roku streaming device into theHDMI input on the TV you want to use.
   
   Make sure to set the TV’s input to HDMI.
3. When you power on the TV, you’ll see the Roku Logo or home screen.
4. Press theHome button on the Roku remote.
   
5. Go toSettings >Network >Set up connection .
6. SelectWireless .
   
7. Choose the hotel or dorm’s wireless network.
8. In theNetwork connection help box, selectI am at a hotel or college dorm .
9. Go to the Wi-Fi Settings on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop and make sure it’s connected to the same dorm or hotel wireless network you selected for the Roku.
10. Follow the on-screen instructions to authenticate your connection. On your device, selectConnect to DIRECT-roku-[xxx-xxxxxx] and enter the designated password.
    
11. Using a browser on your smartphone or laptop, enter any additional required information, such as your name or room number.
    If the network setup times out during the authentication process, selectTry Again .
12. Once the Wi-Fi setup is authenticated, the Roku device returns to the Network menu. The network name should match the network name of your hotel or dorm, and the status should sayConnected .

Connect Your Roku Using a Mobile Hotspot

If you can’t connect your Roku using the Hotel & Dorm Connect feature, there’s a workaround. Create amobile hotspot with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and use it to connect your Roku to the internet.

Be aware of your data cap, as this method can be data-intensive. Make sure to connect your device to Wi-Fi.

1. Connect the device to the hotel or dorm’s Wi-Fi.
2. Set up a hotspot on yourApple device orAndroid device .
   If you’re using a computer, try these steps on aWindows 10 computer .
3. On the Roku device, go toNetwork >Setup Connection >Wireless , and find your mobile hotspot on the list of available networks.
4. Select the mobile hotspot and enter its password on the Roku.
5. Upon confirmation, you can access your Roku channels for viewing.

Before Traveling With Your Roku

Before you arrive, call ahead and confirm that your destination provides free Wi-Fi. Make sure it’s OK to connect more than one device to the location’s network, as you’ll be using your laptop or mobile device as well as your Roku.

If you use a Roku streaming stick or box, make sure the provided TV has an available and accessible HDMI connection. Find out if the hotel or dorm imposes daily, weekly, or monthly data caps.

Finally, make sure to obtain the correct Wi-Fi network name and password.

If you have a4K-enabled streaming stick or box connected to a TV that isn’t 4K-enabled, you can’t access the 4K versions of streaming content.

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