The basic steps to pair a Bluetooth speaker
Most Roku TVs can connect to a Bluetooth speaker directly through the TV's settings menu, without needing a separate device or app. The speaker will play all sound from your TV — streaming apps, cable input, everything — once it's paired. The process takes about five minutes and only needs to happen once; after that, the speaker reconnects automatically when you turn it on.
Start by making sure your Bluetooth speaker is in pairing mode. This usually means holding a button labeled "Bluetooth" or "Pair" for three to five seconds until you see a light blink or hear a tone. Check your speaker's manual if you're unsure which button or how long to hold it.
On your Roku TV remote, press the Home button, then go to Settings > Audio > Bluetooth audio devices. Your TV will search for nearby speakers. When your speaker appears in the list, select it. The TV will confirm the connection with a message on screen.
Key Takeaways
- Your Roku TV searches for Bluetooth speakers through Settings > Audio > Bluetooth audio devices, and the pairing happens entirely on the TV without needing a phone or computer.
- The speaker must be in pairing mode (usually a button held for three to five seconds) before your TV can find it.
- Once paired, the speaker reconnects automatically each time you turn it on, so you only pair once.
- If pairing fails, restart both the TV and speaker, then try again from the Bluetooth audio devices menu.
- Some older Roku models use a different menu path — check your TV's manual if you cannot find the Bluetooth audio option under Settings > Audio.
What to do if your speaker doesn't appear in the list
If your speaker doesn't show up after you search, the most common reason is that it's not actually in pairing mode. Many speakers exit pairing mode after 30 seconds if they don't find a device, so you may need to restart the pairing process. Hold the pairing button again until you see the light blink or hear the tone, then when ready go back to your TV's Bluetooth menu and search again.
If the speaker still doesn't appear, restart both devices. Unplug the speaker for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and restart your Roku TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds as well. Then put the speaker in pairing mode again and search from the TV's Bluetooth menu. This clears any connection confusion between the two devices.
If you've tried restarting and the speaker still won't appear, check whether your speaker actually supports Bluetooth audio output to a TV. Some older or budget speakers only work as Bluetooth input devices (meaning they receive audio from a phone, not send it to a TV). Your speaker's manual will say whether it can output audio to another device.
Switching between the TV speaker and your Bluetooth speaker
Once your speaker is paired, you can switch between it and your TV's built-in speaker without unpairing. Go to Settings > Audio > Audio output and choose either TV speakers or your speaker's name. You can make this switch as often as you want — there's no limit to how many times you change it.
If you want the TV to use your Bluetooth speaker by default every time you turn it on, look for an option in the Audio menu called Default audio output or Primary audio device. Not all Roku models have this option, but if yours does, you can set it to your speaker so you don't have to manually switch each time.
Why sound might cut out or delay
Bluetooth has a range of about 30 feet in open space, but walls and other devices using the same wireless frequency (like Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, and cordless phones) can reduce that range or cause dropouts. If your speaker cuts out or the sound lags behind what you see on screen, try moving the speaker closer to the TV or removing obstacles between them.
If the problem persists, check whether other wireless devices are running nearby. Turning off Wi-Fi on your phone or moving a cordless phone away from the TV can sometimes reduce interference. You can also try moving your Wi-Fi router farther from the TV and speaker if they're very close together.
Occasional brief pauses when you first start playing something are normal — Bluetooth takes a moment to establish the connection. If the sound cuts out for several seconds at a time or frequently, the speaker may be too far away or the Bluetooth connection may be unstable. Restarting both devices usually fixes this.
Pairing multiple speakers and managing connections
Your Roku TV can pair with multiple Bluetooth speakers, but it can only play sound through one at a time. You might pair a bedroom speaker and a living room speaker, for example, and then switch between them depending on which room you're in. To add another speaker, go back to Settings > Audio > Bluetooth audio devices and search for the new speaker while it's in pairing mode.
If you want to unpair a speaker permanently, go to Settings > Audio > Bluetooth audio devices, find the speaker in the list, and select the option to remove or forget it. This doesn't delete the speaker — you can pair it again anytime by searching for it in the same menu.
When your Roku TV doesn't have Bluetooth audio output
Some older Roku models, particularly those made before 2016, don't have Bluetooth audio output built in. If you can't find a Bluetooth audio devices option in your TV's Settings menu, your TV likely doesn't support this feature. Check your TV's manual or the Roku support website by searching for your specific model number to confirm.
If your TV doesn't have Bluetooth audio output, you have two alternatives. You can use an external Bluetooth adapter that plugs into your TV's audio output jack (usually a 3.5mm headphone jack or RCA audio ports), or you can connect a soundbar or speaker using an HDMI cable if your TV has an HDMI ARC port. Both of these options let you use external speakers even if your TV doesn't have built-in Bluetooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pair my Bluetooth speaker every time I use it?
No. Once you pair a speaker to your Roku TV, it stays paired permanently. The next time you turn on the speaker, it will reconnect to the TV automatically. You only pair once, unless you unpair it intentionally or reset the TV to factory settings.
Can I use a Bluetooth speaker that's also connected to my phone?
Not at the same time. A Bluetooth speaker can only connect to one device at a time. If your speaker is connected to your phone, you'll need to disconnect it from the phone before it can connect to the TV. Once you switch the speaker to the TV, your phone will lose the connection.
Why is there a delay between what I see and what I hear?
Bluetooth audio has a natural delay of about 100 to 200 milliseconds because of how the wireless connection works. This is usually not noticeable for TV shows or movies, but you might notice it during fast-paced games or sports. If the delay is very large (more than a second), try restarting both devices or moving the speaker closer to the TV.
What if my Bluetooth speaker was paired to a different TV and won't pair to my Roku?
The speaker may still be trying to connect to the old TV. Put the speaker in pairing mode again and hold it for longer than usual (10 seconds instead of 3 to 5) to force it to forget the old connection. Then search for it on your Roku TV. If that doesn't work, check your speaker's manual for a factory reset button or option.
Can I connect a Bluetooth headset to my Roku TV the same way?
Yes. Bluetooth headsets pair through the same menu — Settings > Audio > Bluetooth audio devices — and work the same way as speakers. Put the headset in pairing mode, search from the TV, and select it when it appears. You can switch between the TV speaker, a Bluetooth speaker, and Bluetooth headphones using the Audio output menu.