Developer mode on Roku is a great way to get access to all the features of your Roku device. You can use it to sideload apps, change settings, and more. However, if you’re not sure how to enable developer mode on Roku, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Settings app on your Roku device.
  2. Under “Developer Options,” select “Enable developer mode.”
  3. Now, under “Developer Mode,” you’ll see a list of options. Choose one of these options to start using developer mode: a) Onboarding new developers: This option will let you create new profiles for yourself so that other developers can easily access your devices. This is great for developing new applications or for troubleshooting issues with existing ones. If you choose this option, be sure to create a strong password and remember it! b) Debugging apps: Debugging apps lets you debug problems with your apps without having to install them or uninstall them completely. This is great for troubleshooting issues with specific apps or devices and for testing new features in those apps before release. c) Restricting access to certain developers: This option lets you restrict access to certain developers so that they can’t build on your devices or make changes that might impact other users’ devices. This is helpful if you want to keep your development environment private or if you want only certain people (such as friends and family) able to use your device’s features. d) Resetting Developer Options: If all else fails and you still don’t have developer mode enabled, we recommend resetting it so that everything defaults back to the way it was before."

Maybe you’re curious about building your own Roku channels. Maybe you’ve found a Roku channel that you want to use, but there’s no officially supported way to install it. Either way, you need to know how to enable developer mode and sideload a Roku app that isn’t available in the store. Here’s what you need to know.

Developer mode is mostly for…well, developers, though there are a few channels out there you can sideload yourself for extra entertainment.

For example, I’m a fan of MyVideoBuzz, a third-party YouTube channel that’s a lot faster than Google’s HTML5-based offering. It even lets you browse YouTube videos by subreddit. The downside: as of now, it only works if you turn the video quality way down.

It’s also possible to quickly make your own channel dedicated to a podcast you like. Just download this channel, paste a URL into the config.brs document in the “source” folder, and optionally add a few custom images in the “images” folder. Just like that, you’ve got yourself a custom podcast channel, perfect for binge-listeners.

Here’s how to sideload just about any non-store channel to your Roku.

Step One: Enable Developer Mode

Head to your living room, then turn the Roku on. Enabling developer mode starts by pressing a particular sequence of buttons on the official Roku remote (not the remote app on your phone.) In order, press:

Home three times, then Up two times, then Right once, then Left once, then Right once, then Left once, then Right once.

Do all that and you should see the Developer secret screen:

Write down the IP address and the username seen here, because you’re going to need them later. Once you’ve got that information, select “Enable installer and restart,” then hit “OK” on your remote. You’ll be asked if you agree with the SKD License Agreement:

Click “I Agree,” after reading every single word, then you’ll be asked to pick a development webserver password.

Take note of the password you set, ideally in the same place you took note of your IP address and username earlier. Your Roku will now restart. Once it’s booted, you can access Developer Mode.

Step Two: Access Developer Mode

On a computer connected to the same network as your Roku, open your web browser. Paste the IP address you wrote down earlier in the URL bar, then hit Enter, and you’ll be asked for your username and password.

Remember these? Enter them, then click “Log in,” and your browser will open developer mode.

Step Three: Upload Your App to the Roku

Your browser has now opened the Development Application installer.

Click the “Upload” button, then point your browser toward your ZIP file.

The file name should be beside the “Upload” button.

Click “Install” and the installation process will begin. When its done, your app will instantly open on the Roku.

Congratulations! You’ve sideloaded an application. There’s one key catch, really: you can only have one application sideloaded on your Roku at any given time. If you want to sideload a different channel, your first sideloaded channel will be removed. The good news: there aren’t too many Roku channels out there that are sideload-only. There are all sorts of hidden Roku channels that you can install without this trick, so odds are you’re not going to want much more than one developer channel at a time.

Oh, and if you are a developer, and want to build a channel yourself, here’s a decent collection of sample channels to start with, including the aforementioned podcast template. Check those out, hack a little, and you’ll be well on your way. Good luck!