Major Roku backlash: Viewers blast biggest Home Screen redesign 'in a decade' – 'What were they thinking?'

UK viewers will need to wait a little longer to see the new Roku Home Screen, with the company currently focused on bringing the software shake-up to the 100 million or so households in the US that rely on Roku to stream. But based on some of the early reactions to the redesign, Britons should breathe a sigh of relief.

Posting on social news website Reddit, one viewer bemoaned: "My roku just changed over to that new Home Screen, and I hate it. I just want my simple screen back. Now I have to scroll past 'what am I in the mood' big category icons just to get to the apps. It also looks like the ad takes up more of the screen"

This particular Roku viewer was so offended by the redesign that they asked other Reddit users to recommend an alternative. An update confirms they switched to an Apple TV.

There's no shortage of Roku viewers with the same opinion.

"I’m not a fan of the new Home Screen," one blasts the redesign of the core Home Screen experience.

Another claims that the focus on artwork and new AI-powered suggestions has slowed down performance, stating: "It's also slower. When waking up from the screensaver to the Home Screen, there is a noticeable period of time where it just shows the load paper while it loads the Home Screen. This did not happen previously. And keep in mind, this is on a Roku Ultra! It's probably worse on slightly less powerful devices."

"Mine hasn't changed yet but I hate the idea of it. Many people chose Roku due to its non busy home screen. They should let us choose to keep it the way we like it," one adds.

A disgruntled Roku viewer compared the new carousels and daily digest to Microsoft dictating how Windows users should set up their PCs, writing on Reddit: "I hate the new home screen also. I already had my apps set up with the ones I used most at the top. I had already gone into home screen and removed everything I literally possibly could remove sports, trivia, what the watch, suggestions, etc. I also made the tiles smaller. Bc that's exactly how I want my home screen to look. Nothing else!

"Now I have all these suggested things: I can't get rid of trivia, I can't get rid of sports, I can't get rid of all of the extra junk. This is like having your own computer and Microsoft dictating how you're allowed to set up your home screen.

"This is ridiculous and I hope somehow this gets changed back so people actually have options to update THEIR home screen the way THEY want it to look. Not dictated to us like we're children by the powers that be."

One Reddit user joked about the confusion the more complicated Home Screen will cause for older relatives: "Can't wait to get a call from all my elderly relatives about why their screen isn't working.. I recommended this to every single relative I have because it was easy to follow and set up.. now we all gonna struggle with this ugly s***"

In a dramatic change to the way its Home Screen has always worked, Roku's latest update tucks away the menu until you need it. It means that, with a click on the remote, you can expand familiar options like Destinations, Inputs, Search, Settings, and more. However, the rest of the time, its redesigned Home Screen only spotlights the entertainment you're about to settle in and watch.

If you want to tweak that behaviour, Roku says there are personalisation options available in settings.

Founder and Roku CEO, Anthony Wood, said: “When we set out to rethink the Home Screen, we knew we should listen to the people who use it every day. So we talked to the viewers, we tested extensively, and we pushed until the design and the data lined up for a meaningful update.

“Now, our new Home Screen puts entertainment at the centre of everything, while staying true to Roku’s simple, intuitive roots. More than 100 million households will feel the difference the moment they turn on their TV—and it opens up a better, more powerful experience for our partners as well.”

Intrigued by the new Roku Home Screen? Here is a rundown of the latest features...

Quick Access

As the name suggests, this feature is designed to help you leap into the app you were looking for.

Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), it automatically surfaces the most-used apps and shortcuts, so you can jump right in without scrolling. Roku will continuously refresh its suggestions throughout the day to adapt to your routine.

If you're unfamiliar with shortcuts, these are toggles designed to keep everyday features within reach, like Continue Watching, Sleep Timer, Save List, and more.

Roku says it's "confident" that its new Quick Access menu will "pick up on the apps you use most", but if you'd rather take over manually, then you can add or remove any streaming app. The rest of your apps are available in the menu.

Top Picks for You

Taking the top spot on the redesigned homescreen, Roku has included a carousel of recommendations tailored to you. Dubbed Top Picks for You, Roku will spotlight what you love to watch, what’s trending on Roku, and the biggest entertainment of the moment. Roku says no two device owners will see the same mix.

Destinations

If you have a good idea of the sort of genre you're looking to watch — whether you're in the mood to laugh, cry, or be scared — Roku has launched its new Destinations feature. These curated carousels span a variety of genres and moods, pulling from across the streaming services installed on your device, like comedy, thriller, and sports.

Subscriptions is a standalone carousel designed to help you get more out of the apps you’re subscribed to by recommending movies and shows from all of your subscriptions in one place. So, even if you're not sure what you want to watch, but you know that you're in the mood for a Disney+ show, then you can scroll through thier latest selection directly from the Roku homescreen — without launching the app.

Search will be available across all of these newly-launched Roku destinations, adapting to where you’re browsing. So if you're browsing through Sports and you start a search, you’ll only see sports-specific suggestions. Likewise, in the free category, Roku only flags content that doesn't cost extra — so you won't need to reach for your credit card.

Your Daily Scoop

This catch-all hub is designed to bring together the shows that everyone is talking about. Like a digital watercooler, Your Daily Scoop is a real-time carousel within the For You destination, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), that flags breakout shows and cultural trends. Whether it’s a massive movie premiere, a celebrity birthday, or a viral moment everyone is talking about, Daily Scoop helps you discover relevant content tied to each theme.

Roku is rolling out its redesigned homescreen now, starting in the United States. It's coming to Roku-powered Smart TVs, set-top boxes and streaming dongles, and its newly-launched smart projectors. The software update will arrive automatically, so there's no need to keep checking a specific menu to begin installation.

According to Roku, the update, which it describes as the "first significant update of the Roku Home Screen in over a decade" and "guided by deep behavioural insights and viewer input", will be coming to additional countries "in the coming months", so UK device owners should expect to get their hands on the features soon.

Roku owners living in the UK who are jealous of the major overhaul rolling out across the United States right now should take solace in another recent refresh that landed on their devices. Yes, Roku has released a dedicated Football Zone ahead of the World Cup designed to bring together all the action in one spot.

This one-stop-shop offers access to live matches throughout the tournament, so you'll be able to jump straight into the action without knowing whether the match is screened via the BBC (BBC iPlayer) or ITV (ITVX).

Roku will also bring together highlights, plus a catalogue of popular football films, documentaries, and other TV series.