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How to record movies & TV shows using cloud DVR

Your Roku® streaming player or Roku TV provides you with access to stream movies and TV shows over the internet, but does not have built-in storage for downloading or recording directly to the device. However, you can schedule and store recordings to a content provider’s online storage center if their streaming channel offers a cloud DVR feature. 

Some channels that offer this feature with a paid subscription include Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV Premiere, and Philo.

What is cloud DVR?


Cloud DVR lets you record shows from a streaming channel and watch them later when it’s convenient. It’s built into the channel so there are no extra devices to buy or plug in. Your recordings are saved in the cloud and streamed to your Roku device over the Internet when you press play.

You can usually watch and manage these recordings on other supported devices or the channel’s mobile app. This means you can record and view your shows on most Internet-connected devices in the United States.

Each streaming channel with cloud DVR offers different subscription levels with varying limits on storage and the number of shows that can be recorded at one time. You can read the Roku blog, or contact the content provider for more details.

Are there similar features offered on my Roku device?


  • Live free ad-supported TV and Premium Subscription pause: When watching live streaming channels you can pause for 30 minutes. Press OK to pause and Jump to live to return to the current point in the broadcast. Learn more.
  • Live over-the-air broadcast TV pause: When using an antenna or connecting cable TV without a set-top box, add a 16GB USB flash drive to your Roku TV and pause live digital broadcast television for up to 90 minutes using Live TV Pause. If you forget to pause and miss an important scene, your Roku TV allows you to rewind and catch up.

You can use the Roku device comparison chart to determine which current products include a USB port.

Last updated on 4/30/2026 8:41:09 PM


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