Delete a channel by finding it on your home screen and pressing the remove button

To delete a channel on Roku, navigate to the channel on your home screen, press the Options button (the star icon) on your remote, and select "Remove channel" from the menu. The channel disappears when ready and stops taking up space on your device. You can reinstall it later from the Roku Channel Store if you change your mind.

The process takes about 10 seconds and works the same way whether you have a Roku TV, Roku streaming stick, or Roku box. You do not need to restart your device or go into settings menus.

Key Takeaways

  • Highlight any channel on your home screen, press the star button on your remote, and select "Remove channel" to delete it permanently from your device.
  • Deleting a channel does not affect your account or subscription — you can reinstall it anytime without losing saved passwords or preferences.
  • Removing channels you do not use frees up home screen space and can make your device slightly faster if you have many unused channels installed.
  • If you share your Roku with family members, removing a channel affects everyone on that device, so consider hiding it instead if others use it.

Step-by-step removal from your home screen

Start on your Roku home screen — the main page you see when you turn on the device. Use the arrow buttons on your remote to highlight the channel you want to remove. Do not open it; just select it so it is highlighted with a colored border.

Once the channel is highlighted, press the star button (labeled "Options") on your remote. A small menu appears with several choices. Look for "Remove channel" in that menu and press OK. A confirmation message asks if you are sure; select "Yes" to confirm the deletion. The channel vanishes from your home screen when ready.

What happens to your account and saved information

Deleting a channel from your device does not cancel any subscription you have with that service. If you pay for Netflix, Disney+, or any other streaming service, your subscription remains active and you can reinstall the channel anytime without losing access.

Your saved passwords, watch history, and preferences stay in your account with the service itself, not on your Roku. When you reinstall the channel later, you straightforward log back in and everything is there. Roku does not store your login information for individual channels, so removing a channel is purely a device-level action.

Hiding versus deleting — when to use each option

If you share your Roku with family members and want to keep a channel installed but out of sight, you can hide it instead of deleting it. Press the star button on a channel and select "Hide channel" — it stays on your device but does not appear on the home screen. This is useful if you want to prevent accidental clicks or keep the home screen cleaner without actually removing the channel.

Delete a channel only if you truly do not want it on the device anymore. Hiding is better for channels you might use occasionally or want to keep available for other household members. You can unhide a channel anytime by going to Settings > Home Screen > Hidden Channels and selecting it.

Freeing up space and improving performance

Roku devices have limited storage, and while channels do not take up much space individually, having dozens of unused channels can slow down your home screen navigation slightly. Removing channels you never watch makes scrolling through your home screen faster and keeps the interface cleaner.

If your Roku is running slowly or taking a long time to load the home screen, deleting unused channels is one of the first things to try. You can always reinstall them later — the Roku Channel Store keeps a record of what you have installed before, making it straightforward to find them again.

Reinstalling a deleted channel

To put a channel back on your device, go to the Roku Channel Store (usually accessible from your home screen or through Settings). Search for the channel by name, select it, and choose "Add channel." The channel reinstalls in seconds and appears on your home screen or in your apps list, depending on your Roku model.

You do not lose anything by deleting and reinstalling — your account with the service remains the same, and you log back in with the same username and password. Some channels remember your preferences and watch history automatically once you log back in.

Removing pre-installed channels you cannot delete

Some Roku devices come with channels you cannot remove, such as Roku itself, the Roku Channel Store, or certain partner apps. If you press the star button on one of these channels, the "Remove channel" option does not appear — you can only hide it.

These protected channels exist because Roku needs them to function properly or because they are part of a partnership agreement. Hiding them keeps them off your home screen without affecting your device's operation. If you want to completely remove a pre-installed channel, check your Roku model's documentation, as some allow removal through Settings > System > Factory Reset, though this erases everything on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting a channel cancel my subscription?

No. Deleting a channel from your Roku only removes it from that device. Your subscription with Netflix, Hulu, or any other service continues, and you can reinstall the channel anytime without losing access or having to resubscribe.

Can I delete a channel from my phone instead of the remote?

The Roku mobile app does not have a delete channel option. You must use the physical remote or a remote app on your phone that controls your Roku. Open the app, select your device, and use the directional buttons to navigate and the star button to access the remove option.

What if I accidentally delete a channel I need?

Go to the Roku Channel Store, search for the channel by name, and select "Add channel" to reinstall it. The process takes less than a minute, and your account information remains intact. You do not need to do anything special to restore it.

Does removing channels make my Roku faster?

Slightly. If you have many unused channels installed, removing them speeds up home screen scrolling and can reduce the time it takes for your Roku to start up. The difference is most noticeable if you have 50 or more channels installed.

Can I remove channels from my Roku TV the same way?

Yes. Roku TVs use the same home screen and remote controls as Roku streaming devices. Highlight the channel, press the star button, and select "Remove channel." The process is identical whether you are using a Roku TV, stick, or box.