A screensaver is an application that fills the TV screen with moving images or patterns when your Roku streaming device is not in use. Screensavers were originally designed to prevent phosphor burn-in on older TV’s but are now used primarily for entertainment. Changing the screensaver is one of the ways you can personalize your Roku experience. Several screensavers are included with your Roku device, while others can be purchased or downloaded for free from the Roku Channel Store.
Note: From time to time we change the default screensaver on Roku devices, and in some cases run different screensavers on select devices.
How to browse new screensavers or change the current screensaver
You can browse and change screensavers from the Settings menu using the steps below.
- Press Home
on your Roku remote Scroll and select Settings
Select Theme to open the Theme menu
Select Screensavers
Browse the My screensavers section to choose an option already installed on your Roku device or find and download a new favorite from the many available screensavers.
- Tip: When browsing lists or tile grids, press Rewind
or Fast Forward 
on your Roku remote to jump up or down one page at a time.
- Tip: When browsing lists or tile grids, press Rewind
Highlight a screensaver and press OK
on your remote to open the description and detailsIf the screensaver is installed, you can select Set as screensaver to switch to that screensaver.
If the screensaver is not installed, you can see a preview by selecting View screenshots.
To install a new screensaver, select Get screensaver if it is a “free” screensaver, or Buy $X.XX if it is a “paid” screensaver.
- If you have a Roku account PIN, you will be required to enter it for a purchase. If you do not have a PIN and wish to protect against unauthorized purchases, learn how to create a PIN for your Roku account.
- If your payment information is out-of-date, it will need to be updated before continuing your purchase.
After the new screensaver is downloaded and installed, you can select Set as screensaver to switch to that screensaver.
How to define the wait time
You can define the amount of time your Roku device waits before starting the screensaver using the following instructions.
- Open the Theme menu using steps 1-3 above
- Select Screensaver wait time
- Choose the amount of time to wait, or choose to disable the screensaver
- Press OK
on your Roku remote to save
Free Aquatic Life 4K screensaver
Roku offers a free Aquatic Life saltwater aquarium simulation, exclusively to 4K Roku streaming devices.
If your Roku device supports 4K, use the steps above to install and switch to the Aquatic Life screensaver.
Tip: Once installed, you can turn on the Aquatic Life screensaver anytime by selecting the channel icon on your home screen.
Are there other ways to personalize the Roku interface?
In addition to changing the screensaver, you can further personalize your Roku device by:
Last updated at 3/17/2026 8:57:30 AM
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