How to change your Roku account on your TV

To change the Roku account on your TV, you sign out of the current account through the TV's settings menu, then sign in with a different account. The process takes about five minutes and does not erase your TV's settings or network connection. You will need the email address and password for the new Roku account before you start.

The steps are the same whether you are switching to an account you already own, sharing the TV with someone else's account, or setting up a household account for the first time. Roku does not charge a fee to change accounts, and you can switch back to a previous account at any time.

Key Takeaways

  • You access the account change through Settings > System > System Update > Change Roku Account on most Roku TV models.
  • The TV stays connected to your Wi-Fi network and keeps its display settings after you switch accounts.
  • You need the email address and password for the new account before you begin the sign-out process.
  • Switching accounts removes access to any channels, apps, or saved preferences tied to the old account.
  • If you forget the password for the new account, you can reset it on Roku's website before attempting the switch on your TV.

Step-by-step process to sign out and sign in

Start by picking up your Roku remote and pressing the Home button. Navigate to Settings, which is usually near the bottom of the menu. Select System, then look for an option labeled System Update or Account. On most current Roku TV models, you will see a button or link that says Change Roku Account or Sign Out.

Select that option. The TV will ask you to confirm that you want to sign out of the current account. After you confirm, the TV will return to a sign-in screen. Enter the email address for the new Roku account, then enter the password. The TV will connect to Roku's servers to verify the credentials. Once verified, you are signed in to the new account.

The TV may take a minute or two to load the new account's settings and channel list. This is normal. Do not unplug the TV during this process. Once the home screen appears with the new account's channels and apps, the switch is complete.

What happens to channels, apps, and settings after you switch

When you change accounts, the TV removes all channels and apps that were added under the old account. If the new account has previously added channels to its own Roku account (through a phone, computer, or another TV), those channels will appear on this TV. If the new account is brand new and has no channels yet, the TV will show only the default Roku channels until the new account owner adds more.

Display settings such as brightness, picture mode, and audio output remain unchanged. Your Wi-Fi network connection also stays active, so the TV does not need to reconnect to your router. Passwords for individual apps (such as Netflix or Hulu) are not stored on the TV itself, so you may need to sign into those apps again on the new account if they require separate login credentials.

Any recordings, watch history, or saved preferences tied to the old account are no longer visible on this TV. If you switch back to the old account later, that history and those preferences will reappear.

Switching accounts on different Roku TV brands

Roku TV models made by TCL, Hisense, Insignia, and other manufacturers all use the same Roku operating system, so the account-switching process is identical across brands. The menu path is Settings > System > System Update > Change Roku Account on nearly all current models.

Older Roku TV models (made before 2018) may have a slightly different menu structure. If you cannot find System Update in the Settings menu, look for an option labeled Account or User. If your TV is very old and does not have an obvious account-switching option, you can perform a factory reset to clear the account, though this will also erase all other TV settings and require you to set up the TV from scratch.

What to do if you do not know the new account password

If you are trying to sign in with an account but cannot remember the password, do not attempt to guess it on the TV. After a few incorrect attempts, Roku will lock the account temporarily for security reasons.

Instead, go to the Roku website on a computer or phone and select Forgot Password. Enter the email address for the account, and Roku will send a password reset link to that email. Click the link, create a new password, and wait a few minutes for the change to take effect. Then return to your TV and sign in with the new password.

Switching to a household account

If multiple people in your home use the same TV, you can set up a household account where each person has their own login. This keeps channel subscriptions and watch history separate for each user. To create a household account, the primary account holder signs into the TV first, then goes to Settings > Users and Accounts > Add User. Each additional user receives their own email and password to sign in.

When household mode is active, the TV displays a user selection screen when it turns on. Each person taps their name or account, enters their password, and sees only their own channels and preferences. You can switch between household users without signing out completely, which is faster than changing the main account on the TV.

Troubleshooting common problems during account switches

If the TV gets stuck on the sign-in screen after you select Change Account, try unplugging the TV for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. This forces a restart and often clears temporary connection issues. Once the TV restarts, return to Settings and attempt the account change again.

If the TV says the password is incorrect but you are certain it is right, check that Caps Lock is not on when you type. Roku passwords are case-sensitive. If you still cannot sign in, reset the password on the Roku website first, wait five minutes, and try again on the TV.

If the TV connects to the internet but the sign-in screen says it cannot reach Roku's servers, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If the problem continues, check whether other devices in your home can access the internet. If your internet is down, wait for it to come back online before attempting the account switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have two Roku accounts signed in at the same time on one TV?

No. Only one Roku account can be signed in on a TV at a time. If you want multiple people to use the TV with separate preferences, set up a household account instead, which allows each person to have their own login without changing the main account.

Will changing my Roku account affect my internet speed or Wi-Fi connection?

No. The account change does not touch your network settings. Your TV stays connected to the same Wi-Fi network before, during, and after the switch. Internet speed is determined by your router and internet service provider, not by which Roku account is signed in.

What if I switch accounts and then want to go back to the old account?

You can switch back at any time by going to Settings > System > System Update > Change Roku Account and signing in with the old account's email and password. Your old channels, apps, and watch history will reappear once you sign back in.

Do I need to unplug the TV to change accounts?

No. You do not need to unplug the TV at any point during the account-switching process. Simply use the remote to navigate the menu and follow the sign-out and sign-in steps. Unplugging should only be used if the TV becomes unresponsive or stuck.

Will my streaming app passwords (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) still work after I change accounts?

Streaming app passwords are stored within each app, not on the Roku account itself. After you switch accounts, you may need to sign into those apps again if they require login. Some apps remember your login across account switches, but most do not.