How to change the default media apps your Roku device launches for voice requests
Speaking naturally to a Roku® voice remote or the free Roku mobile app, you can use voice commands for quick access to your favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations from Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Spotify. When you use commands such as "listen to classical music on Pandora", "play Carrie Underwood on iHeartRadio", "launch Today's Hits on TuneIn", or "play Daft Punk on Spotify" your compatible Roku streaming player or Roku TV™ will launch the requested streaming service and begin playing audio. When you use a simpler voice command that does not specify a streaming service (e.g., play classic rock), your Roku streaming device will automatically determine which service offers the type of content requested, and launch the media app for that service.
Pandora is the default media app your streaming device launches for music requests, while iHeartRadio is the default media app for radio and podcasts requests. If you prefer, you can turn off the automatic selection and configure voice commands to only launch a specific app for each type of audio content you play. This article will help you make this change for music, radio stations, and podcasts.
Using voice commands: Any of the examples in this article can be used as a push-to-talk voice command with any Roku voice remote, or a hands-free voice command with the Roku Voice Remote Pro. To issue a push-to-talk command, press and hold the voice button
on your remote. To issue a hands-free command, simply keep your remote nearby and say "Hey Roku..." followed by your request. For detailed instructions, learn more about both ways you canuse your voice to search and control your Roku streaming device.What you need to use voice commands
Before you can take advantage of the latest enhancements to voice search and voice control, make sure your compatible Roku streaming device is running Roku OS 9.4 or higher, and you have one of the following control devices:
- Roku Voice Remote
- Roku Voice Remote Pro
- Roku mobile app for iOS® and Android™
To learn more about which streaming devices support voice, or to determine if your existing remote has voice capabilities, read about what you need to use voice commands with your streaming device.
How to turn off the automatic setting and switch the default media apps
You can turn off the automatic setting on your streaming device and change the default app for music, radio stations, and podcasts using the instructions below.
- Open your Roku account from your computer or smartphone by visiting my.roku.com.
- If prompted, sign in to your Roku account.
- Tip: If you cannot sign in to your Roku account, learn what to do if you have forgotten your email address or password.
- Under the Manage account section, select Voice settings.
- For Music, Radio, and Podcasts, select Auto or the desired streaming service.
- Notes:
- Auto provides the best results considering all streaming services in a category are checked to find the requested content. For example, if you say "listen to Wild 94.9" and TuneIn is set as the default Radio app, audio will not start playing because Wild 94.9 is only available on iHeartRadio.
- Pandora can only be selected as the default app for Music.
- Notes:
- When you are finished making selections, scroll to the bottom of the page and select Done to save.
More help using voice commands
After you set your default media apps, you can use simple voice commands to begin listening to your favorite audio content. If you find that some content does not play on the default app you selected, that content is likely only available from another streaming service. Try your voice command again adding the specific streaming service. Remember, you can switch back to Auto using the steps above at any time to have your streaming device check all streaming services to find the requested content. For more help with voice commands, refer to the articles below:
Last updated at 2/19/2026 6:58:50 PM
Was this article helpful?
Related articles
Need more help?
