Roku TVs have become increasingly popular over the recent years due to their user-friendly interface, broad app selection, and affordable pricing. However, one downside of Roku TVs is the inability to easily record live TV content directly from the device. Thankfully, there are a few handy alternative methods to record Roku TV video.
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Why Recording Roku TV is Difficult
Unlike traditional cable boxes, Roku devices do not have DVR recording capabilities built-in. This is because Roku is primarily a streaming platform rather than a cable service. So to enable recording, it needs to rely on integration with third-party apps and devices. Currently, there is no native support for recording live Roku TV video.
Alternative Recording Methods
Although Roku TVs don’t directly support recording, you can use the following methods to capture video from your Roku channels and streaming apps:
Use a Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
- Connect your Roku TV to an external digital video recorder (DVR) box via HDMI. Many cable company DVRs have Roku integration to allow recording of live TV viewed through the Roku.
- Consumer DVR devices like Tablo TV and Plex DVR can also record Roku TV video content. These act as networked DVRs to enable recording over your home WiFi.
Screen Mirroring to a Recording Device
- You can mirror your Roku screen to another device that supports recording. This includes laptops, desktops, smartphones, and tablets.
- Software tools like AirPlay, Chromecast, Miracast, etc. allow screen mirroring that can be recorded using common video capture programs.
Capture HDMI Output
- Using an HDMI splitter, you can connect your Roku on one end and a video capture device on the other. This captures the Roku TV’s HDMI video output as it plays.
- Capture cards, camcorders, standalone recording devices, etc. can interface via HDMI to save Roku streaming video.
Use Roku Mobile App Screen Recording
- The free Roku mobile app provides mirroring allowing you to view and control your Roku TV from a smartphone or tablet.
- Enable screen recording on your mobile device to capture video playing from the Roku app. This saves natively on your phone or tablet.
Step-by-Step Guide to Recording Roku TV
Based on your needs and setup, one of these options below will work best to record video from your Roku TV:
Using a Cable Company DVR Box
- Connect your Roku TV to a cable box provided by Spectrum, Xfinity, DirecTV, etc. using an HDMI cable.
- If available, enable Roku TV integration on your cable box to allow recording of live TV watched through the Roku interface.
- Use your DVR remote and guide to schedule recordings of Roku TV content.
Cast to a Recording Device with Chromecast
- Connect Google Chromecast to an open HDMI port on your TV.
- Open the streaming app on your Roku that you want to record.
- Mirror this screen to your Chromecast device using the Cast button from within the streaming app.
- On your computer, open a video recording program like OBS Studio. Set the source to capture your Chromecast mirrored display.
- Start recording on your computer to save the Roku TV video being cast.
Screen Record with Roku Mobile App
- Make sure both your Roku TV and phone or tablet are connected to the same WiFi network.
- Install the Roku app from the App Store or Google Play Store on your mobile device
- Open the app and select your Roku TV to connect. This will mirror the Roku screen to your phone/tablet.
- Enable screen recording on your mobile device from the quick settings menu. Different methods exist depending on iPhone or Android.
- Start playback of the desired streaming content on your TV using the Roku mobile app.
- Click record on your phone and capture video of the mirrored Roku playback. Stop recording when finished.
Tips for Recording Roku TV Video
- When mirroring screens, connect Roku and the recording device to your strongest WiFi band for best quality.
- For HDMI capture, use HDCP compliant splitter and recording hardware to avoid signal issues.
- Disable sleep settings during the recording to avoid interruptions in long videos.
- Experiment with different recording programs to find the one that works optimally for your setup.
- Schedule recordings for a few minutes longer to account for any lag or delays inherent in streaming.
