What happened to Roku hidden channels?

How do I unlock more channels on Roku?

One of the advantages of using a streaming device such as Roku is that it offers more channels than the TV (which is what most people want to watch). One way to get more channels on Roku is to pay for an upgrade subscription.99 for a lifetime subscription. Even after the 1 month free trial, you will have to pay a monthly fee in order to continue watching.

Here is what you need to do: 1) Watch a couple of Roku channels with a paid subscription and find out which one(s) you like the most. These channels will include a subscribe button on the Roku channel info page.

2) Go to your Roku account homepage, select My Account and then select Subscription Status to see your current subscription. 3) If you are not subscribed to any of these channels, click on Add a Channel. You will be taken to a screen where you can enter a channel name and channel number. A choose subscription option will also be available. Select the appropriate subscription from the drop down menu. You can choose a subscription that includes 3 months or 6 months of service.

4) Choose the payment option that you are comfortable with. There are two options available. One is a credit card payment and the other is a direct bank transfer.

5) After choosing the payment option, Roku will ask you to complete some basic information. Just enter your name and address and then complete the rest.

6) After you complete the payment details, you will be asked to select a channel. Simply scroll through the available channels and choose the one that you want to subscribe to. Click on the Subscribe button on the channel info page and you will be taken to a screen where you will be given the subscription details. Make sure that you review these details carefully before subscribing because there will be a charge immediately.

7) You will also be given a unique code to give to a friend. You will need this code to confirm your account. Just enter the code into your Roku account homepage and you will be taken to the account confirmation page.

That's it.

How do I find hidden channels on Roku?

Hi, ?

I have tried a number of times with no success. Here are the steps I have done:1) Go to Roku channel manager and go to Manage Channels2) Go to "Manage your channels" and search for "Hidden channels"3) There is no list. 4) Go to Search > Type = "Hidden" - 5) Not there. I have also gone to channel search, go to hidden channels, and search but no results there either. Can anyone point me in the right direction.

It's been a long time since I've used Roku, so I don't remember if you need to install any other apps to view the list or if it's preinstalled. If it is preinstalled, can you show us a picture of the screen showing that section of Roku's main menu? Here are the steps I have done:1) Go to Roku channel manager and go to Manage Channels2) Go to "Manage your channels" and search for "Hidden channels"3) There is no list. 4) Go to Search > Type = "Hidden" - 5) Not there.

This is preinstalled. I just searched "hidden channels" from the main menu. Once you do that the search results show you all hidden channels and hidden channels as subcategories, for example on this channel search: I get the list shown in the first picture of this post.

What happened to Roku hidden channels?

Are they gone forever?

It's not clear. Roku claims it has closed many of the hidden channels, so you might not see them anymore if you're using the newest version of their streaming player. I still found about a dozen when I was reviewing the Roku Ultra back in August and it seemed like they popped up all the time. Here's a quick walkthrough so you can find the new channels yourself.

Update (November 21, 2019): I updated this guide with information on Roku channel discovery in the wake of the 2026 Roku Developer Conference and I think you'll find that it's even easier than before. If you're looking for some of the original hidden Roku channels I reviewed, or you want to find the new channels Roku recently added, here's a quick overview: I think there are only a few major changes now that we're in November. I can't say for certain if this list reflects everything Roku added since I posted this original guide in August. Some of the channels I discovered in the past were updated since then, so I'm not 100% sure about their current status.

Note that most of the hidden channels won't work on Roku devices outside the U., including our review unit which is a U.-specific version of the Roku Ultra 4K UHD player. For that reason, you won't be able to view this guide on the latest Roku models.

Original Guide: August 19, 2026. We've had new Roku channels recently, so I'm keeping this guide current. I'll update it as needed throughout 2026, so bookmark it and come back often.

Update (May 11, 2019): Added the newer Roku Ultra remote for 2026 models. Roku streaming players are still a great way to watch TV and movies, even with all of the recent changes we've seen.99 and they're well-built and designed to look good. Even though you may have to change cables to use the official Roku sticks, or go back to the Roku 1 or Roku 2 player, the overall experience is good. The biggest improvements Roku has made are new Roku apps and Roku TVs. Check out my full Roku review for more details.

What do hidden channels actually do? It's a long-standing feature of Roku streaming players that any software developer can create a new channel to distribute his or her content on a Roku player.