You can’t show a Roku player’s or Roku TV’s screen on an iPad, but you can watch The Roku Channel on the iPad (in the free Roku app or at TheRokuChannel.com in Safari), use the iPad as a Roku remote, and send iPad video to a Roku TV with AirPlay.
Start by matching your goal to the right method below.
What You Can and Can’t Watch
“Roku” is both a brand of streaming players and TVs and the name of a free streaming service, The Roku Channel. Those two things behave very differently on an iPad.
| What you want | How to do it on iPad | Needs a Roku device? |
|---|---|---|
| Watch free movies, TV and live channels from The Roku Channel | The Roku Channel tab in the Roku app, or TheRokuChannel.com in Safari | No |
| Watch Netflix, Hulu or another channel you installed on your Roku | That service’s own iPad app or website, signed in with your account | No |
| Mirror the picture from your Roku TV onto the iPad | Not possible | Not applicable |
| Use the iPad as a remote or listen through headphones | Roku app remote and Headphone Mode | Yes, on the same Wi-Fi |
| Show iPad videos or photos on a Roku TV | AirPlay from the iPad | Yes, an AirPlay-compatible Roku |
The key limit is in the third row. A Roku player sends its picture to the TV through HDMI, and Roku’s support pages describe no way to stream that picture to a tablet. Channels you’ve added to the Roku, live broadcasts from an antenna on a Roku TV and anything from a cable box or game console plugged into the TV aren’t something Roku documents watching on an iPad. The Roku app on an iPad controls the Roku; it doesn’t turn the iPad into a second screen for it.
Install the Roku App and Sign In
The Roku app is free in the App Store. Roku’s support pages call it the Roku mobile app or the Roku remote app, and the App Store lists it as The Roku App (Official). Its App Store listing currently requires iPadOS 16 or later, so check that page if you have an older iPad.
- Open the App Store on the iPad, search for Roku and install The Roku App (Official) published by Roku.
- Open the app and allow it to find devices on your local network if the iPad asks.
- To sign in, tap the User icon in the top corner, tap Sign in, and enter the email and password for your Roku account.
You don’t need a Roku device to sign in or to use The Roku Channel tab. Roku says signing in gives access to Premium Subscriptions on The Roku Channel, Headphone Mode and device control, so it’s worth doing even if you only plan to watch.
Roku also advises against third-party remote apps. Several App Store search results and ads use Roku’s name; stick to the app published by Roku.
Watch The Roku Channel on iPad
Roku describes The Roku Channel as a service with free movies, TV shows, Roku Originals and more than 500 live channels. You can watch it on Roku devices, on the web at TheRokuChannel.com, and in the Roku mobile app, according to Roku’s page on getting The Roku Channel.
In the Roku app
- Open the Roku app.
- Tap The Roku Channel tab.
- Browse or search, then tap a title to play it on the iPad.
Roku notes that streaming The Roku Channel inside the mobile app is available in the US only. Outside the US, the tab may be missing or may not play video.
In Safari
- Open Safari and go to TheRokuChannel.com.
- Pick a movie, show or live channel and tap play.
- To use Premium Subscriptions, tap the User icon and sign in with your Roku account.
The web version is the better choice if the app tab isn’t available where you are, since Roku lists The Roku Channel for the web and mobile in the US, Canada and the UK. Premium Subscriptions are US only.
A practical example: you’re on a train with an iPad and want to finish a free movie you started on the living room Roku. Open the same title in the Roku Channel tab or on TheRokuChannel.com while signed in to the same Roku account. Roku says signing in to the same Roku account lets you resume programs you started on another device, so the movie may pick up where you left off; if it doesn’t, scrub to where you stopped.
Watch Other Roku Channels and Subscriptions
Most of what you watch on a Roku comes from other companies’ apps, such as Netflix or a news channel. Those aren’t part of The Roku Channel, and Roku’s support pages say other free services are watched in their own apps. On an iPad, install that service’s app from the App Store or open its website, then sign in with the same account you use on the Roku.
Subscriptions bought through Roku follow the same pattern. Roku’s article on streaming Roku subscriptions on your phone explains that services such as HBO Max, Sling and Disney+ purchased through Roku need a separate account with that provider, which you then use on the provider’s website or app. If you bought one of those through Roku and never created a login with the provider, finish that account setup first, then sign in on the iPad.
Use the iPad as a Roku Remote
If your goal is to control the TV rather than watch on the iPad, the Roku app works as a full remote. The iPad and the Roku must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Connect the iPad to the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku player or Roku TV.
- Open the Roku app and wait while it searches your network for Roku devices.
- Tap your Roku when it appears.
- Tap the Remote icon in the navigation bar to show the controls.
Roku’s page on installing the mobile app also notes that the app can share photos and videos from your device to the TV. The same app and steps are used on iPhone; this walkthrough on using an iPhone as a Roku remote explains what each remote button does.
Listen Through Headphones With Headphone Mode
Headphone Mode (also called Private Listening) plays the TV’s sound through headphones connected to the iPad. You still watch the picture on the TV, but the audio comes through the iPad. It’s handy when someone else in the room is asleep.
- Connect wired or Bluetooth headphones to the iPad.
- Open the Roku app and connect to your Roku.
- Tap the Remote icon in the navigation bar.
- Tap the Headphone icon. The TV speakers mute while Headphone Mode is on.
- Tap the Headphone icon again to turn it off.
Roku’s Headphone Mode instructions say to set the volume before putting the headphones on, that up to four mobile devices can use it at once, and that it doesn’t carry sound from external sources such as game consoles, Blu-ray players or cable boxes. Some Roku models don’t support it, so check Roku’s device comparison if the icon is missing.
Show Your iPad on a Roku TV With AirPlay
This is the reverse direction: the iPad is the source and the Roku is the screen. Many Roku players and Roku TVs support Apple AirPlay. Roku’s AirPlay and HomeKit page has the list of compatible models; you can see your model and software version on the Roku under Settings, System, About.
Roku’s own screen mirroring feature is for Windows and Android devices. An iPad, iPhone or Mac uses AirPlay instead.
Stream one video
- Make sure the iPad and the Roku are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the video in its app on the iPad.
- Tap the AirPlay icon. In the Photos app, tap Share first, then AirPlay.
- Choose your Roku. If a code appears on the TV, enter it on the iPad.
Mirror the whole iPad screen
- Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the iPad screen to open Control Center.
- Tap Screen Mirroring.
- Choose your Roku and enter the code if one appears on the TV.
- To stop, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring and tap Stop Mirroring.
Apple’s AirPlay support article notes that some video apps don’t support AirPlay; in those, the AirPlay icon won’t appear or the video won’t play on the TV. For more on cables, smart TVs and other mirroring routes, see this explainer on screen mirroring an iPad to a TV.
If the Roku doesn’t appear in the AirPlay list, check that AirPlay is set to On under Settings, Apple AirPlay and HomeKit on the Roku, that both devices are on the same network, and that the Roku is awake. Roku says some devices need Fast TV start (or Fast start) turned on to stay reachable while idle.
When the Roku App Can’t Find Your Roku
Most connection problems come from the network or a single Roku setting. Work through these:
- Same Wi-Fi. Check that the iPad isn’t on a guest network or a different band name than the Roku.
- Control by mobile apps. On the Roku, go to Settings, System, Advanced system settings, Control by mobile apps. Roku offers Limited, Enabled and Permissive; if it’s set too strictly, the app may not connect, so try Enabled.
- Restart both. Close the app, restart the iPad and restart the Roku from its settings.
- Update. Install any update for the Roku app in the App Store and check the Roku for a system update.
- Local network permission. On the iPad, open Settings and tap the Roku app; if a Local Network switch is shown, it may need to be on for the app to find the Roku.
If the remote still won’t pair, Roku’s troubleshooting steps cover more cases, and the physical remote is still the fallback. If that’s lost too, this explainer on pairing and replacing a Roku remote walks through the options.
Roku and iPad Questions
Can I watch the live TV from my Roku TV’s antenna on my iPad?
Roku’s support pages don’t describe any way to do that; antenna channels and inputs on a Roku TV are watched on the TV itself. The live channels in The Roku Channel are a separate catalog of streaming channels, and those you can watch on the iPad.
Do I need a Roku device to watch The Roku Channel on iPad?
No. The Roku Channel works in the Roku app (US) and on TheRokuChannel.com without any Roku hardware. You need a Roku device only for the remote, Headphone Mode and AirPlay to a TV.
Why can I see only part of The Roku Channel?
Availability differs by country, and in-app streaming is US only. Premium Subscriptions need a sign-in on the web and are US only.
Can I download Roku Channel movies to watch offline?
Roku’s pages don’t describe an offline download option for The Roku Channel, so plan on a Wi-Fi or cellular connection while you watch.
Does AirPlay work with every Roku?
No. Only models on Roku’s compatibility list support AirPlay. Older players may need a software update first, and some don’t support it at all.
Is there a separate Roku Channel app for iPad?
The documented route on iPad is the Roku Channel tab in the Roku app, or the website. Be careful with lookalike apps and ad pages that promise to “stream Roku to iPad”; they aren’t from Roku.
If you’re setting up a new Roku while you’re at it, this walkthrough on setting up a Roku covers activation, then come back and pair the iPad app.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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