Is it possible to make the device goto a specific channel and play automatically on reboot? I am wanting to use the ROKU for a digital display. The client will not want to go with a remote and restart the show every day. Thanks!

I tried the AutoLaunch screensaver. Thought it was going to work but unfortunately is has some limitations that makes it unusable for me. One of my TVs would auto turn on after the 1 minute screensaver setting and would open to YouTubeTV (my selected channel). I had to disable the screensaver. It worked on the other TVs until this morning. The Roku menu showed on the TVs on powering on and the screensaver channel setting changed to ABCNews Live channel. And I was unable to stream Spotify because essentially there is no activity in the Roku menu while streaming and after 1 minute, I was kicked out and the TV opened to YouTubeTV. It had potential but not for me.Come on Roku, please add a setting to auto launch to a specific channel.

Actually it doesn't. If it were to be configured via the central roku settings, and would allow to exit normally via the buttons, no hijacking could occur. It's just about auto starting, not forcing it to stay in focus

There is a free public channel in the channel store called: Auto Launch. Works as a screen saver, can launch any channel installed on your Roku player. Information is located at: rokiosk.com/Autolaunch, Install it from AutoLaunch

With the v12 update it's no longer possible to launch one channel from another (including screensavers).

This wouldn't work for everyone, but if you have a home server like a Raspberry Pi on the same network that is always running (media server, home automation, etc), you could run something on that device that watches for the UPnP messages from the Roku when it starts up, and sends the ECP launch command at the right time.

Autostart channel? | Roku Community

16 Replies

dlx
Visitor
12 years ago
Actually it doesn't. If it were to be configured via the central roku settings, and would allow to exit normally via the buttons, no hijacking could occur. It's just about auto starting, not forcing it to stay in focus
lad500
Visitor
7 years ago
There is a free public channel in the channel store called: Auto Launch. Works as a screen saver, can launch any channel installed on your Roku player. Information is located at: rokiosk.com/Autolaunch, Install it from AutoLaunch
- Siciliano57
  Streaming Star
  4 years ago
  I tried the AutoLaunch screensaver. Thought it was going to work but unfortunately is has some limitations that makes it unusable for me. One of my TVs would auto turn on after the 1 minute screensaver setting and would open to YouTubeTV (my selected channel). I had to disable the screensaver. It worked on the other TVs until this morning. The Roku menu showed on the TVs on powering on and the screensaver channel setting changed to ABCNews Live channel.
  
  And I was unable to stream Spotify because essentially there is no activity in the Roku menu while streaming and after 1 minute, I was kicked out and the TV opened to YouTubeTV. It had potential but not for me.
  Come on Roku, please add a setting to auto launch to a specific channel.
  - yien
    Reel Rookie
    3 years ago
    I was using AutoLaunch screensaver app successfully for 2 years and then it suddenly broke 2 weeks ago. Now when the screensaver would normally kick in, it flashes for a second and goes right back to the Roku home screen. When I go to the AutoLaunch screensaver setup, I get the same behavior when I try to Preview (current screensaver). Also, if I try to Change Screensaver Settings, it also just flashes and comes back.
    
    Anybody have any ideas what happened to AutoLaunch? This is such a useful app - I hope it can be fixed!
bbefilms
Visitor
16 years ago
In effect that would be allowing an app to hijack the box; I don't think that's possible.
pjsteele
Visitor
16 years ago
That is a bummer.

I'd like to be able to use the Roku for DOOH http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signage. That would require a device with limited to no user interaction.

I'd prefer using the Roku device because the scripting is so easy. Otherwise, I may have to use the WD mini
bbefilms
Visitor
16 years ago
There are already dedicated devices that do this:
http://www.brightsign.biz/

"pjsteele" wrote:
I'd prefer using the Roku device because the scripting is so easy.

Wasn't brightscript originally developed for these devices?
RokuKevin
Visitor
16 years ago
Yes. Brightscript was originally developed for the Brightsign product line, and those product are designed specifically for the digital signage applications your client may want.

Roku boxes do not allow auto-start applications.

--Kevin
dlx
Visitor
12 years ago
Sorry for the thread-resurrection, but is there a specific reason for this? I would also love to set up a channel for autostart (putio channel in my case). I reckon it shouldnt be too hard to implement - so I'm guessing it's by design. But why?
BradC
Binge Watcher
12 years ago
the second post in this thread indicates a pretty good theory.
gonzotek
Visitor
12 years ago
Create a Roku screensaver (see the clock example), then have it use the ECP launch function to start the channel as soon as it starts up. Have the channel prevent the screensaver from kicking back in if you're not playing video continuously, so it doesn't end up relaunching every 5 minutes (or whenever the screensaver is set to kick in at).

Obviously, this won't allow you to idle on the home screen or in most other channels, so you probably wouldn't want to distribute this widely. But if it's for some custom one-off application, it might be useful.
tommythamat
Visitor
9 years ago
There's a channel to add called roKiosk Launcher.
Add a private channel and enter rokiosklauncher

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