Replace your Roku TV now for a free efficiency improve

Close to the top of final 12 months, Roku rolled out its massive Roku OS 15 replace, bringing a handful of adjustments and enhancements to its streaming gadgets. This consists of efficiency optimizations and higher Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+ passthrough assist.

Now, to kick off 2026, Roku is rolling out its first main replace of the 12 months: Roku OS 15.1 (by way of Cord Cutter News). This replace builds on what got here earlier than, however the focus this time is generally behind the scenes. Most of the adjustments are geared toward app builders, giving them new instruments to optimize apps and improve video playback.

So whilst you might not discover something dramatically totally different in your Roku system immediately once you obtain this replace, you are still more likely to really feel the influence over time. Let’s dive into what’s new.

Higher video in search of

Skipping an intro or a recap in a present ought to grow to be smoother

The primary main change Roku is introducing with this replace is improved video in search of, due to a brand new HLS manifest mode for builders that offers them extra exact management over the place a video begins once you skip forward.

Extra particularly, builders can use the EXT-X-START file tag inside this new manifest mode to outline an actual timestamp for playback to leap to. This is identical tech behind options like skipping intros or recaps in a present.

In sensible phrases, as builders begin benefiting from this new manifest mode, skipping sure elements of exhibits and films ought to really feel smoother in your Roku.

Builders can use Perfetto to assist them monitor useful resource consumption

Credit score: Roku

One other key a part of this replace is the introduction of Perfetto app tracing. In keeping with Roku’s update notes for Roku OS 15.1, builders can use Perfetto to “report, analyze, and visualize traces” of their Roku apps, serving to them establish methods to scale back useful resource consumption and, in flip, optimize their apps to enhance efficiency.

What’s distinctive about Perfetto for app builders is that it presents all of the traced knowledge on a timeline, permitting them to pinpoint precisely the place useful resource utilization is larger than common, akin to elevated processing and reminiscence calls for, throughout particular actions throughout the app. So if builders see an surprising spike in useful resource demand of their Roku app utilizing Perfetto, they will higher monitor and repair it.

Once more, this alteration is totally behind the scenes and one thing you will not discover once you obtain Roku OS 15.1 in your system. However for builders, this makes it simpler to launch updates to their Roku apps to enhance efficiency, which you will ultimately profit from when your Roku apps run higher.

Lastly, Roku has rolled out one final change for builders with this replace, deprecating the “roString.AppendString” operate. This operate allowed builders to append textual content to a string of their code. When a operate is marked as deprecated, it means Roku plans to part it out and ultimately take away it, so builders are inspired to cease utilizing it. On this case, Roku advises builders to modify to the SetString operate as an alternative.

Learn how to replace to Roku OS 15.1

You’ll be able to manually test for updates in your Roku

Credit score: Roku/Canva/Pocket-lint

Whereas the adjustments with Roku OS 15.1 are primarily developer-facing, it is nonetheless good to maintain your system up to date and able to make the most of any optimizations builders implement to their apps due to this replace.

That stated, Roku OS 15.1 continues to be rolling out, so you could or might not see it in your Roku system but. Your Roku normally scans for updates routinely, but when you have not acquired a notification {that a} new replace is obtainable, you possibly can manually test for one. Here is how:

1. Press the House button in your Roku distant.

2. Within the aspect menu that seems in your display, choose Settings.

3. Go to System > Software program replace.

4. Choose Verify Now.

5. If an replace is obtainable, you possibly can obtain it and set up it.

In different Roku information, you possibly can snag a free HDMI extender to your Roku if you happen to want one, and it is rolling out extra free channels.