Getting a Bluetooth gizmo hooked up to your Roku TV might feel tricky, yet it’s doable. Here's a fun nugget: unlike Roku's sleek streaming sticks, their TVs roll off the assembly lines of different companies. You can thank folks like TCL, Hisense, Philips, Sanyo, JVC, Hitachi, and a few others for putting them together. You'll be a step ahead knowing who’s behind the screens. Dive in to discover how to connect like a pro.
So while those manufacturers may have Bluetooth built into the device, not all connected devices will be compatible with the Roku operating system.
We discuss your options below.
Do Roku TVs Support Bluetooth Connectivity?
All Roku TVs support the official Roku Bluetooth Wireless Speakers and the Roku Bluetooth Streambar Pro.
Compatibility with other brands Bluetooth speakers or soundbars is patchy and depends on the make and model of your TV. There can also be audio-lag issues, even if you can connect them.
Option 1: Try to Connect a 3rd Party Bluetooth Speaker to your Roku TV
The only way to know if your device is compatible is to try it! Look for a Bluetooth settings menu on your TV and try to connect the device.
If no luck then continue on!
Option 2: Use the Private Listening Feature on the Roku App
If you want to connect third-party devices such as AirPods and JBL speakers to a Roku TV via Bluetooth, you can engage Private Listening via the Roku app (which can be downloaded on smartphones, tablets, and PCs)
This allows you to re-route the audio coming through from your Roku TV to any Bluetooth device connected to your phone or tablet.
While this is fine for one-off listening on Bluetooth speakers, its not really a long term solution to connect to a soundbar.
How to Activate the Roku Private Listening Feature
Although you cannot connect them directly to your Roku TV, you can still use third-party Bluetooth speakers via the Roku app’s Private Listening feature. The following guide will show you in detail how you can connect them.
- First, download the Roku app from the app store on your phone.
- Next, make sure the Bluetooth device is connected to your phone.
- Open the Roku app and on the menu, select Devices.
- This will bring up a list of Roku devices connected to the app. Select the one you want to connect to the Bluetooth speaker.
- Under the menu that pops up, select Remote.
- Tap on the icon that looks like a pair of headphones. This will connect your Roku device to the Bluetooth speaker.
- After a while, you’ll hear music coming through the Bluetooth speaker.
- You can disable this anytime by pressing the Private Listening option on the control panel.
Option 3: Abandon Bluetooth and use a HDMI cable
Probably not what you want to hear but 3rd party soundbars and speakers can work with Roku TVs via HDMI.
In the below TCL example, enabling the ARC HDMI 3 setting and connecting the 3rd party soundbar via HDMI instead of optical cable worked.
Option 4: Buy a Bluetooth Transmitter
You can bypass the Roku TV Bluetooth restriction by using a Bluetooth Transmitter like this one from Amazon. This is plugged into your TVs audio output port and then your Bluetooth speaker is connected to the transmitter.
The video below discusses this at the 41 second mark.
Option 5: Buy the officially supported Roku Speaker or Soundbar
Not a great option if you already spent some serious cash on a Bluetooth speaker system.
Roku provides the three following options for users looking for a wireless audio output for their Roku TVs.
- Roku Wireless Speakers
- Roku Streambar
- Roku Streambar Pro
These speakers are the only audio output devices that you can connect to your Roku TV wirelessly. However, you will have to purchase these devices separately from your Roku TV.
The Roku TV Wireless Speakers are a mini stereo system that upgrades the Roku TV’s sound quality.
- Stereo sound
- Simple, compact design
- Voice control through remotes
The Roku TV Wireless Speakers are two surround sound speakers made exclusively for Roku TVs and the Roku Streambar Pro. They offer a better audio experience than anything you can get with the Streambar or TV alone.
Even better, you can combine them with a subwoofer for a true surround sound experience.
Product Design
These speakers have a very compact and smart design. The dual speakers are rectangular in shape with a slightly curved front face and a grey grille covering the front and side of the speakers.
They have power connectors, pairing buttons, and an LED status indicator light on the back of the speakers. There’s also a bracket for mounting the speakers on your walls.
- It features a simple way to connect the speakers to the Roku TV.
- It provides great, clear surround sound, especially when paired with a Roku soundbar or subwoofer.
- It offers two remotes for easy wireless control.
- It requires a Roku TV or a Roku soundbar to work.
- For full surround sound, you need to buy the most advanced Roku subwoofer.
Tech Specs
| Size: | 4.9 x 4.9 x 7.7 inches |
| Weight: | 4.92 pounds |
| Power: | 80 Watts |
The Roku Streambar Pro is a powerful 2-in-1 entertainment system that provides both 4K resolution streaming and cinematic audio.
- 4K video streaming with Dolby Cinema Sound
- Intuitive remote control with many features
The Roku Streambar Pro combines high-quality sound and 4K resolution video streaming into a single, compact platform.
Product Design
In traditional Roku fashion, the Streambar Pro’s design is minimalistic. For instance, there are almost no visible buttons on the speaker.
Its matte black plastic frame has a sleek and futuristic look, especially when placed under a flat-screen. Additionally, all the connections – HDMI, USB, optical input, and power connectors – are at the back of the product.
- It provides decent sound quality at an affordable price.
- It is easy to install and set up.
- You can upgrade the sound quality by adding the Roku Wireless Speakers.
- Some users have reported that the streaming performance is a bit sluggish.
Tech Specs
| Size: | 32.2 x 3.9 x 2.8 inches |
| Weight: | 5.5 pounds |
| Power: | 36 Watts |
How to Sync Roku Speakers with a Roku TV
Syncing Roku speakers with a Roku TV is relatively easy to execute. All you have to do is figure out where you want to place the speakers, and the rest of the setup will only take you a few minutes.
- First, decide on a great spot for your speakers near your Roku TV. Make sure they are within a proximity of 30 feet from the TV.
- Next, connect the power cable to the speaker and power it up.
- Make sure the white light at the back of the speaker is flashing. This means it is ready to pair.
- Turn on your Roku TV or Streambar and make sure that it is connected to the internet.
- Press and hold the home button on your Roku remote for approximately 5 seconds.
- On the menu that pops up, select Speaker. If you’re adding a subwoofer, select the option Subwoofer.
- Follow the onscreen prompts and choose Continue. The TV will automatically search, pair, and update the wireless speakers.
- After pairing, follow the onscreen prompts and select which speaker is on the right, and which is on the left.
- Finally, your speakers are now paired with your Roku TV.
Why Roku TVs Do Not Support Bluetooth Connectivity
Roku hasn’t officially published a statement regarding why their TVs do not support Bluetooth connectivity, however, this hasn’t stopped the theories from circulating around. The main theory is that it is the result of a hardware issue.
As we all know, Roku doesn’t manufacture smart TVs – they only provide the firmware for manufacturers to install in their TVs. These manufacturers include well-known brands, including TCL, Hisense, Philips, and Sanyo.
Some of these brands do not install Bluetooth hardware in their products. Therefore, to avoid errors, they choose to keep Bluetooth connectivity options limited.
Do Roku TVs Have Bluetooth: The Verdict
Yes! We hope these options help in getting your Roku TV connected to your sound bar or speakers via Bluetooth. If you know of any other ways to get around this issue, let us know in the comments below!