How to set up your Roku streaming player for 4K Ultra HD

What is 4K Ultra HD?

4K Ultra HD (also called 4K UHD or just 4K) refers to a TV resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels — four times the detail of 1080p Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). This higher resolution enhances picture clarity, making images sharper and more vibrant, especially on larger screens.

Requirements

The following are required to enjoy 4K content on a compatible Roku player.

• Compatible 4K TV with an available HDMI 2.0 input that supports HDCP 2.2
• Roku player capable of streaming 4K
• Good internet connection with enough bandwidth to stream 4K (up to 25 Mbps may be needed)
• Streaming service like Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+ with a plan that supports streaming in 4K
• Premium High Speed HDMI® Cable (*not needed when connecting a 4K-compatible Roku Streaming Stick® directly to compatible TV)

HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2

To successfully stream 4K Ultra HD content, all devices connected to your compatible Roku device must support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2. This includes your TV, an AVR, and any other devices connected in between. If even one device does not support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2, then the 4K movie or TV show can only be viewed in a lower resolution, such as 720p or 1080p.

HDCP 2.2 is a copy and content protection standard required by the TV and movie industry. Some older 4K Ultra HD TVs do not support HDCP 2.2, while others may only support HDCP 2.2 on a single HDMI input. Learn what to look for when trying to identify an HDMI input that supports HDCP 2.2.

Set up your Roku device with additional audio/video connections

Once you confirm your other devices support HDMI 2.0 and you identify the inputs that support HDCP 2.2, use the instructions below to connect your Roku player.

Tip: An AVR or soundbar can be complicated to configure. If you have trouble, consider seeking help from a professional audio/video installation service.

Configuring your TV for HDR

Your HDR TV must be configured correctly to display HDR content. Many TVs that support HDR do not enable HDR by default. You can refer to the sample instructions that accompany the popular TV brands below, but the steps may vary from model to model, and may change when TV software is updated. When in doubt, refer to the user manual or online documentation for your specific make and model. Note that the HDR settings on some TVs are specific to each HDMI input. Please make sure to change the settings specific to the HDMI input to which your Roku player will be connected.

You can refer to the sample instructions that accompany the popular TV brands below, but steps may vary from model to model, and may change when TV software is updated. When in doubt, refer to the user manual or online documentation for your specific make and model.

Guided Setup

After the connections are made, power on your Roku player and complete Guided Setup using instructions from the appropriate article on the Setup page.

Why is the image not in HDR or the picture quality poor when watching HDR content?

When you specifically watch an HDR movie or TV show on your HDR-capable Roku device, you may notice the image is not displayed in HDR, or the picture quality is poor. If you encounter this behavior, you may need to update the software on your HDR-capable TV. You can typically find instructions how to do this along with the latest software on the TV manufacturer’s website. Once you confirm that your TV is running the latest software, check that it is properly configured to enable HDR on the specific input to which your Roku player is connected. Some TVs that support HDR do not enable this feature by default.