Delete a channel in three steps from your home screen

To remove a channel from your Roku, go to your home screen, highlight the channel you want to delete, press the Options button (the star icon on most remotes), and select "Remove channel" from the menu that appears. Confirm the deletion when prompted. The channel disappears when ready, though you can reinstall it later from the Roku Channel Store if you change your mind.

This process works the same way on all Roku devices — streaming sticks, boxes, and TVs with Roku built in. The channel is removed from your device only; it does not affect your Roku account or any other devices you own.

Deleting channels you do not use keeps your home screen organized and reduces the number of apps that can collect data or send information back to their publishers. It also frees up a small amount of storage space on your device.

Key Takeaways

  • Highlight any channel on your home screen, press Options (the star button), and select "Remove channel" to delete it permanently from that device.
  • Deleted channels can be reinstalled anytime from the Roku Channel Store, so you are not locked out of them.
  • Removing channels reduces clutter on your home screen and limits the number of apps that can track your viewing or collect data.
  • Deleting a channel from one Roku device does not affect the same channel on your other Roku devices or your account.

What happens when you delete a channel

When you delete a channel, Roku removes it from your device's home screen and from the device's storage. Any data the channel stored on your Roku — such as login information, watch history within that app, or saved preferences — is also deleted. You will need to log in again if you reinstall the channel later.

The channel publisher does not know you deleted the app from your device. Roku does not send a notification to the channel's company. However, if you were logged into that channel with an account (like a Netflix or Hulu login), the publisher's own records will still show your account exists; you are only removing the app from this particular Roku.

How to find and reinstall a deleted channel

To get a channel back, go to your Roku home screen and select "Roku Channel Store" at the top. Use the search function to find the channel by name, or browse by category. When you find it, select it and choose "Add channel." The channel will reappear on your home screen within a few seconds.

You do not need to pay to reinstall a channel you have already deleted, even if the channel itself costs money. Your Roku account remembers your purchases. If you deleted a paid channel and reinstall it, you will have access to it again without being charged twice.

Organize your home screen by hiding channels instead

If you want to keep a channel but do not want to see it on your home screen, you can hide it instead of deleting it. Highlight the channel, press Options, and select "Hide channel." The app stays on your device and in your account, but it no longer appears in your list of channels.

Hidden channels can be unhidden the same way: go to the channel, press Options, and select "Show channel." This is useful for channels you use occasionally but do not want cluttering your main view. You can also rearrange the order of channels on your home screen by highlighting a channel, pressing Options, and selecting "Move channel," then choosing where you want it to go.

Remove channels to limit data collection

Each channel on your Roku can potentially collect information about what you watch, when you watch it, and sometimes your location or device information. Deleting channels you do not actually use reduces the number of apps that have permission to gather this data on your device.

You can also check what data each channel is allowed to access by going to Settings > Privacy > Advertising ID or Settings > Privacy > Smart TV Experience. These settings show you what information Roku itself collects; individual channels may have their own privacy policies you can review in the Roku Channel Store before you add them.

Bulk remove channels you never watch

If you have many channels you want to delete, you do not have to do them one at a time. Go through your home screen systematically, removing channels in batches. Most people find it faster to delete five or six channels in one sitting than to do it sporadically over weeks.

A good rule of thumb: if you have not opened a channel in the last month, you probably will not miss it. Delete it, and if you change your mind later, you can reinstall it in under a minute from the Channel Store. This keeps your home screen focused on the channels you actually use and reduces the surface area for data collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting a channel cancel my subscription to that service?

No. Deleting the Roku app does not cancel your Netflix, Hulu, or any other subscription. Your account with that service remains active. When you reinstall the channel and log back in, your subscription is still there. To actually cancel a subscription, you must do so through the service's website or app on another device.

Can I delete the Roku Channel Store itself?

No. The Roku Channel Store is a system app that cannot be removed. You can hide it from your home screen if you want, but it will remain on your device.

If I delete a channel, will it disappear from my other Roku devices?

No. Deleting a channel from one Roku device affects only that device. If you have a Roku stick in your bedroom and a Roku TV in your living room, deleting a channel from the stick does not remove it from the TV. Each device has its own separate channel list.

What if I delete a channel by accident?

You can reinstall it when ready by going to the Roku Channel Store, searching for the channel by name, and selecting "Add channel." There is no waiting period or penalty for reinstalling a channel you have deleted.

Does deleting channels make my Roku faster?

Slightly. Removing unused channels frees up a small amount of storage space and reduces the number of background processes that might run. The difference is usually not noticeable unless your Roku is very full, but it is one of several small steps that can help keep your device running smoothly.