Skip to main content

Private listening on Roku: Listen to Roku TV with headphones

Private listening on the Roku app is a great feature for those looking to watch some late-night movies without disturbing family around them. This feature allows you to watch Roku TV and listen to it privately on your headphones that are connected to your phone or tablet. Any type of headphones will do: Bluetooth, earbuds, or wired ones plugged directly into your mobile device.

While this function does not carry over to other A/V gear connected to your TV (game systems, Blu-ray players, etc.), it's a fantastic way to experience Roku-specific movies and shows during the late-night hours when you don't want to wake up your family.

If you own a Roku device or are thinking of purchasing one, we've put together this guide to teach you how to use private listening on the Roku app and listen to your Roku TV with headphones. Grab your phone and your preferred headphones, and let's get started.

Related Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Roku-enabled TV

  • Headphones or ear buds

  • Roku companion app on phone or tablet

Connect your headphones

Your headphones need to be attached to your mobile device. If you're using a pair of wired headphones or earbuds, ensure they are connected to the mobile device that your Roku app is on. If you're using Bluetooth headphones, make sure they're paired to your phone or tablet.

You also will want to check that your headphone volume is at a safe level.

The Roku app and the search keyboard.
Roku

The Roku app is required for private listening

The latest version of the Roku app is necessary when using the private listening feature. If you don't already have the app installed on your phone or tablet, go ahead and do so, and then log in.

Turn on private listening

After signing in, you'll find yourself on the Roku Channel home screen. You should see row after row of movies and TV shows that you can scroll through. Never mind the scrolling, though — what you actually want to do is tap Remote from the navigation bar. Then select the Headphone icon to activate private listening.

This is the toggle on/off for private listening. If your headphones (wired or Bluetooth) are connected correctly when you tap this button, the icon should change to an image of the same headphones but with audio wavelengths passing from one cup to another, along with a green status indicator displayed above the icon. This means that private listening is enabled.

You should also see a headphone icon displayed in the top-right corner of whatever TV your Roku device is connected to, indicating that private listening is now active.

Test that private listening is working

To test that private listening is working, go ahead and start a movie or TV show. Even if your TV speakers are turned on, all audio should be routed directly to your headphones. Private listening is essentially muting your TV speakers.

Conveniently, when private listening is turned on, you'll be able to adjust headphone volume using the volume buttons on your mobile device or with the volume controls on whatever set of headphones you're using (if they have volume controls).

How to turn off private listening

When you're done using private listening, simply tap the Headphones button once more to turn the feature off. If you are using wired headphones for private listening, you can also unplug your headphones while the Roku app is open to turn it off.

How many people can use Roku private listening at the same time?

Four people are able to sync up to their mobile devices and use private listening on Roku at the same time. Simply repeat the steps above for each device you wish to connect to private listening.

That's all there is to it. If everything checks out, you've done everything correctly and you've successfully got private listening on Roku working. This is a really great feature that makes all your late-night binge-watching Roku sessions something that won't annoy other family members.

Editors' Recommendations

Disney+ launches cheaper plan with ads — but not on Roku
Disney Plus on Roku.

The new advertising-based tier of Disney+ launches today. And while it's not exactly the sort of thing that should demand a whole lot of explanation — it's a little less expensive at $8 a month, but also has ads — there is one important thing that should be noted.

This new ad-based tier isn't available if you're on Roku. And that's kind of a big deal since Roku is the largest streaming platform in the U.S. and the second largest in the rest of the world.

Read more
Best streaming devices for 2023: Apple TV, Roku, and more
Apple TV 4K.

There now are so many ways for you to get all the shows and movies you want on all your favorite streaming services, be it Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+. But the most popular choice by far is still a streaming device, such as a set-top box or streaming stick that you connect to your TV with a simple but effective HDMI input.

But the major players in the streaming device game — Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Roku — are all fighting for your money, so we're here to make sure you throw it at the right streaming device for you and your budget, which typically ranges from as low as $30 to as high as $200.

Read more
You can get an Apple TV for $59 for Cyber Monday if you’re quick
An Apple TV 4K sits on a media stand.

If you don't mind buying older tech, we've found one of the best Cyber Monday deals for streaming fans. Right now, you can buy the Apple TV HD 32GB for just $59 at Walmart. Usually priced at $99, you save $40 which makes this older streaming device super tempting. While it's not a great bet for anyone with a 4K TV, it's ideal for adding to other setups. Super cheap, we're not counting on this deal sticking around for long, so here's a quick look at why it's worth it.

Why you should buy the Apple TV HD 32GB
The Apple TV range often features among the best streaming devices thanks to being so versatile and easy to use. Apple TV is great tech for both anyone who knows what they're doing and more inexperienced members of your household. In the case of the Apple TV HD 32GB, you can use it to stream 1080p HD high-quality video via a multitude of streaming apps including your favorites, as well as by renting shows and movies through Apple's online service.

Read more