How to Jailbreak Roku

September 14, 2021 By Nick Anderson No Comments 5 minutes

Roku is a popular media streaming device designed to be an entertaining companion. The powerful feature set of Roku allows you to connect the device to a TV and enjoy on-demand streaming. It essentially turns your non-Smart TV into an entertainment hub. With its popularity, there are a few burning questions, like how to jailbreak Roku to improve the streaming experience.

How to jailbreak roku tv

What is Jailbreak?

Jailbreak is a term coined in the developer community that describes escaping from the limitations of a device imposed by its manufacturer. A device like Roku runs an operating system and there’s very little in terms of how much you can control. It includes not being able to run any app downloaded from outside the Roku Channel Store.

It could be a game developed for Roku, but developers can only distribute it through the app store due to such limitations.

Jailbreaking gives you root access to the device, which refers to gaining super privileges to run unsigned code. Running unsigned codes opens up the possibility for custom operating systems with pre-installed apps. Such open nature is what has allowed Kodi to become one of the best streaming apps.

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Is it Possible to Jailbreak a Roku?

Roku is developed by Roku Inc. and runs a proprietary operating system called Roku OS. To answer the question, you can jailbreak a Roku, but the requirements may be difficult for you to meet.

Streaming devices like Fire TV run the Android operating system under the hood. It allows the system to accept sideloading of apps. Sideloading refers to the installation of apps from unknown sources. Once you enable the option, the Android-based device will let you install .apk files from anywhere.

A new vulnerability was discovered in May 2021 that allows you to gain root access to a Roku device. Jailbreak is the more colloquial term for root access. Whenever root access and jailbreak are discussed, they mean the same thing.

Roku has since patched this vulnerability, rendering this exploit useless for Roku devices running a newer version of the operating system. But, if you haven’t updated your Roku in some time, the device may be eligible for jailbreak. Read on as we explain how to jail Roku.

How to Jailbreak Roku

Roku jailbreak is not something that you can easily come by. Hence, you need to ensure that your device meets the following requirements:

Roku OS version 9.4.0 build 4200.
Roku TV or Roku device with Realtek Wi-Fi chip.

Setup Jailbreak on Roku

The Roku jailbreak known as RootMyRoku is available for download on GitHub by llamasoft. You need to follow the tutorial below to get the jailbreak on your Roku then apply it.

Note: FastestVPN will not be held accountable for any damage that occurs to your Roku TV or Roku device by the jailbreak. However, the developer of the jailbreak is confident that this jailbreak will not brick your Roku, and you can recover it through a Factory Reset if something goes wrong.

First, you need to download every app that you want to use. The jailbreak will severe connection with Roku’s servers to prevent the device from updating itself.
Go to your Roku settings and enable Developer Settings. You can check out the tutorial here on how to turn on Developer Settings in Roku.
Download the RootMyRoku package from here.
Get the .zip file onto your Roku device.
Start the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to follow through the process.

What Can You Watch on Roku?

Roku has an extensive library that includes popular apps like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and much, much more. Roku can be found on Smart TVs or bought separately as a standalone device that plugs into your TV. The remote control lets you navigate through the Roku Channel Store and pick up the streaming platforms you want to watch.

Each of the digital streaming services offers something unique. On Netflix, you can watch Netflix Originals such as Money Heist, Army of the Dead, Dark, The Witcher, Stranger Things, and much more.

Disney’s streaming platform Disney Plus has its own slew of exclusives such as The Mandalorian, Loki, WandaVision, Black Widow, Luca, and much more.

Likewise, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime are some of the other platforms to which you can look forward.

Why Do You Need a VPN for Roku?

VPN is a tool that gives you privacy and security on the web by encrypting communication and using a VPN server as a proxy for your internet requests. It is also an excellent companion for streaming.

Geo-restriction is a term that you’ll hear when digital streaming platforms are concerned. It refers to the availability of content on a region by region basis. Content like movies and TV shows are licensed and have to also adhere to local censorship. Netflix geo-restricts some of its content if you are outside of the United States in countries like India, Singapore, UAE, to name a few. HBO Max is currently unavailable outside of the United States, so the unavailability of service itself is also something you might have to face.

As a VPN allows you to connect to a remote server in another region, you can effectively gain access to geo-restricted content at will.

FastestVPN’s VPN network spans 45+ locations worldwide. Our dedicated Netflix USA server gives you instant access to the complete library of Netflix from anywhere in the world. Connect to FastestVPN and unblock HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime instantly.

Conclusion

There is much to look forward to on Roku. Once connected to FastestVPN, you can gain unrestricted access to the content that you love. It might be difficult to find a Roku device running on the said OS version. However, once you meet all the requirements, the jailbreak should remain permanent.