Roku’s home screen is changing for the first time in a decade. Here’s what actually matters.
If you use Roku every day, your TV may soon look very different.
The company is rolling out its biggest home screen redesign in more than 10 years, adding AI-powered recommendations, personalized shortcuts and a much bigger focus on helping you decide what to watch before you even open an app.
I got an early look at the update in New York City, and the biggest change is this: Roku is no longer just a simple grid of apps.
Now, the home screen tries to predict what you want to watch the moment you turn on the TV.
At the top of the screen, there’s a new “Top Picks For You” section that surfaces movies and shows based on your viewing habits. Roku says the recommendations improve over time the more you use the device.
There’s also a new “Quick Access” area that highlights the apps and shortcuts you use most often, plus recommendations tied to the streaming services you already subscribe to.
The classic app grid isn’t gone, but it’s been pushed further down the page.
Roku says the goal is to help people spend less time searching and more time watching. According to the company, most users told them they wanted the show they had in mind surfaced immediately when they turned on the TV.
And yes, there’s also a larger ad placement built into the redesign.
That’s important because the battle for your TV screen is getting more competitive. Amazon recently revamped Fire TV, Google is pushing Gemini AI into more devices, and every streaming platform wants to become the main gateway to entertainment in your home.
My takeaway after seeing the update is that Roku is trying to walk a very careful line.
People love Roku because it’s simple and fast. If the company adds too much clutter, longtime users may get frustrated. But if the recommendations actually help people find something to watch faster, many users probably won’t mind the extra personalization.
One interesting tip Roku shared with me: if you get the update, don’t immediately turn off all the new features. The company says the recommendations adapt over time and may improve after about a week of use.
The redesign is rolling out now to supported Roku devices.