Roku’s Latest Update Draws Widespread Criticism
▼ Summary
– A recent Roku update replaced the simple, customizable home screen with a cluttered layout filled with ads and algorithm-driven content slots, frustrating many users.
– The update removed the ability to pin HDMI inputs to the top, placing them in a less customizable “Quick Access” area, and added new sections that push content from services users may not subscribe to.
– Users have reported that workarounds to restore the old layout are imperfect, with removed features like “Soccer Zone” returning automatically.
– The update has introduced bugs, such as a squished screen when switching inputs, which requires unplugging the TV to fix, prompting some to consider replacing their Roku TV.
– The author expresses nostalgia for simple “dumb TVs” without built-in smart features or ads, noting that alternatives like LG and Google TV also have intrusive ads or poor experiences.
About two weeks ago, I settled onto the couch and fired up the Roku TV in our living room, only to be greeted by an unwelcome surprise. A tutorial-like screen announced that Roku had rolled out a major home screen and UI overhaul. I immediately disliked it, but assumed I’d adapt after a few days. I was wrong. I still hate the new design, and I’m far from alone. A growing number of Roku users are frustrated that one of the best smart TV interfaces has been cluttered with ads and algorithm-driven slots, while also introducing frustrating new bugs.
Before last month’s update, the Roku home screen was refreshingly simple. It offered a clean, no-frills experience: apps and inputs you could manually arrange, clearly labeled sections on the left, and three boxes at the top for “recommended” content. It was fast, intuitive, and easy to tweak. But that old layout wasn’t packed with algorithm-powered slots and advertisements. In a classic case of enshittification, driven by corporate desperation to squeeze out more revenue, Roku killed the clean design without warning in June, replacing it without giving users a choice.
Now, my Roku home screen feels like a jumbled mess that changes daily. My HDMI inputs, once pinned at the top, are buried in a clunky area called “Quick Access,” which is less customizable and more annoying. New sections, entirely controlled by Roku, are simply additional real estate for pushing content and ads. I don’t need my TV recommending five shows from services I don’t subscribe to. Nobody wants that.
Some users have discovered workarounds to restore the old look, but the results are imperfect. Worse, removed features sometimes reappear, like a “Soccer Zone” that forces itself back during the World Cup no matter how many times you delete it.
As the update spread over recent weeks, more people booted up their TVs and discovered the cluttered, hard-to-navigate interface. Many are outraged and baffled by the change. “The new Roku update is terrible. Lost my settings on the Home Screen, cannot change the position of apps,” one Reddit user complained. “Does anyone actually like this new Roku home screen layout?” a Twitter user asked. “It’s dogshit and clearly they ripped out custom setup to try and force more ads on you. Shame… been a supporter from day one, but all good things come to an end.” A top comment on Roku’s YouTube video about the update pleaded, “Can you bring back the old interface as an option for those who don’t want it?” Another person wrote, “All I see is more ads – while the Software/OS keeps getting more laggy as hell!! When will more focus be on speed of all apps and the OS!!??”
Dig deeper, and you’ll find widespread complaints about new bugs. One I’m personally dealing with: a squished screen every time I turn on my PS5 or Xbox, or switch inputs. The only fix is unplugging the TV and restarting it. The issue is so persistent that I’m considering buying a new TV for the living room, preferably a non-Roku device.
The catch? Finding a decent smart TV in 2026 is a nightmare. My big, dumb 4K LG TV in the office is mostly fine, but it recently got an update that pops up literal ads when I turn it on or switch inputs. I tested a Google TV, and it felt worse than the current Roku mess. That doesn’t bode well for replacing my living room set with anything decent.
I know I sound like a grump, but I miss dumb TVs. Just inputs. I’d flip between them. My devices already have YouTube, Netflix, and everything else. I don’t need them baked into the TV. But even if I swallowed the cost of a new set, prices for electronics in 2026 keep climbing. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: The future sucks, man. Also, the people of Roku City deserve better.
(Source: Kotaku)
