Lately I’ve been exploring the Roku Netflix player. It’s got a number of “secret” screens - not really secret, since they seem to announce them regularly in the Roku forums, but I didn’t spot a place that had them all together. So here they are:
Installed software versions screen
Shows what versions of software (channels, screen savers, etc) are installed on your Roku.
To get there: Home Home Home Up Up Left Right Left Right Left (That’s Home:3x, Up:2x, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left)
Version menu:
- Next/Prev
Enable developer mode
Turns on a web server and opens at least one port on the Roku. Allows you to upload new channels, and download logfiles if you turn them on.
To get there:
Home Home Home Up Up Right Left Right Left Right (That’s Home:3x, Up:2x, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right)
Developer mode menu:
- Enable/Disable installer
This reboots the Roku. Once enabled, you can go to http://roku-ip-address and install packages. There is also some utility software. http://roku-ip-address/plugin_inspect http://roku-ip-address/plugin_install http://roku-ip-address/plugin_package Once a package is built, it gets put in: http://roku-ip-address/pkgs
Here’s a post about bash utilities for building Roku packages.
Debug options screen
Enables logging, lets you download beta releases, etc.
To get there: Home Home Home Home Home FF FF FF Rewind Rewind (Home:5x, FF:3x, Rewind:2x)
Debug options menu:
- Factory reset
- Cycle channel store server
- Cycle software update server
- Update software
- Enable/Disable debug logging
When you enable logging, you can then go to http://roku-ip-address/pkgs and download tcpdump files (called log0, log1… etc). You need to have Developer mode turned on as well in order to get these. Developer mode enables the http server. Turn Developer mode on first, then enable debug logging.
Quality settings screen
Lets you set the bitrate of downloads from the Roku (this is not the bandwidth - the Roku uses full bandwidth until its buffer is full).
To get there: Home Home Home Home Home Rewind Rewind Rewind FF FF (Home:5x, Rewind:3x, FF:2x)
Quality options menu:
- Automatic
- 3.5
- 2.5
- 2.0
- 1.5
- 1.0
- 0.6
- 0.3
- Enable/Disable playback debugging
Reboot
(thanks to G Whizz): reboots the Roku
To get there: Home, Home, Home, Home, Home, Up, Rewind, Rewind, FF, FF (Home:5x, Up, Rewind:2x, FF:2x)
Platform Secret Screen
I’m not able to see this one on my Roku 2, but I found it documented at streamfree.tv/roku/roku-remote-option-commands/. It’s available on the Roku 3500R Streaming Stick. Home, Home, Home, Home, Home, FF, Play, Rewind, Play, FF (Home:5x, FF, Play, Rewind, Play, FF)
Platform menu:
- System Reboot
- Disable Network Pings
- Wi-Fi Remote Menu
- Wi-Fi Secret Screen
Antenna Secret Screen
I’m not able to see this one on my Roku 2, but I found it documented on Richard LLoyd’s Youtube video. It’s available on the Roku 3500R Streaming Stick. Home, Home, Home, Home, Home, FF, Down, Rewind, Down, FF (Home:5x, FF, Down, Rewind, Down, FF)
This screen just shows status, no options here.
General notes
That the Rewind button is the one to the left of the Pause/Play button; the FF button is the one to the right of the Pause/Play button. Start all sequences from the Home screen.
I guess someone was a Konami fan. Some people have trouble entering these codes - I didn’t, but I see on the forums that you should enter the keypresses with a regular cadence and about half a second between presses.
I don’t know if any of these will cause trouble in the long run. I think none of them survive a reset, but I’m not going to guarantee you won’t brick your Roku. Use at your own risk.
Secret channels
Roku also has “secret channels” - channels you need to add to your account with a code in order for them to show up. A good list seems to be available at streamfree.tv/apps/, along with directions on how to add them.
Know of any other secrets? Leave a comment.