Forum Discussion

Real_DiRT's avatar
Real_DiRT
Reel Rookie
2 years ago
Solved

Remove "Categories" and "Browse" from Home Screen

I have all shortcuts turned off under the available options for my Home Screen. However, I now have, in my list of channels, "Categories" featuring 'Movies', 'TV Shows', and 'New & Popular' and "Browse" featuring 'All Things Food', 'All Things Home', and 'All Things Sports'. None of this is useful to me. It's just more clutter on my Home Screen that I don't want. I don't need any kind of recommendations or content curation EVER. I turn on my Roku when I want to go specifically to an app and watch something. 

  • RokuAustin's avatar
    RokuAustin
    2 years ago

    Thanks for all your input on Roku’s latest update. All devices will receive an update over the next couple of days that will allow you to revert back to the original settings.

    You can customize your features by navigating to Settings > Home Screen > Recommendation rows.

    Happy Streaming!

  • rubles's avatar
    rubles
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    I agree.  Please stop adding to my home screen it is very annoying.

    • Igloo316's avatar
      Igloo316
      Newbie
      2 years ago

      i agree…adding these add ons is annoying..i like a less cluttered home screen..when they added these there shouldnof been a hide oprion just like the others do..please update and add this option…less is more roku

    • RokuJohnB's avatar
      RokuJohnB
      Community Moderator
      2 years ago

      Hi community users,

      Welcome, and thanks for posting here in the Roku Community!

      We understand that you wanted to remove the categories and browse options. Please be advised that we don't have an option to remove the categories or browse at the moment. May we know where you are seeing that feature on Roku? Could you send us a photo or video of your running issue?

      We look forward to hearing from you soon and we will continue to assist you further.


      Thanks,
      John

      • Real_DiRT's avatar
        Real_DiRT
        Reel Rookie
        2 years ago

        RokuJohnB So you didn't actually read my post? Your links are to unrelated issues and are completely unhelpful. Why would you even bother to post a reply if you aren't going to offer anything useful? These are not shortcuts that can be toggled in the settings, as I stated in my previous post that I have all of those already turned off. These are also not channels that can be removed by any means you have provided. 4660RW- Roku Ultra Software 12.0.0 - build 4184-46 

    • Jl14's avatar
      Jl14
      Newbie
      2 years ago

      Please remove categories and browse! It’s eating my space!

      • Jl14's avatar
        Jl14
        Newbie
        2 years ago

        I would want it to be removed because it is eating my storage space!

  • Monkey_Toes's avatar
    Monkey_Toes
    Channel Surfer
    2 years ago

    I ALWAYS go under Settings > Home Screen and set all of their irritating menu items to hide, but of course, they don’t allow it with these “features”.

    GMAB Roku. Stop adding your unwanted and unneeded “features” to our home screens.  Turn them off by default and let us choose to turn them on or not.

     

    • tjj1133's avatar
      tjj1133
      Reel Rookie
      2 years ago

      The reason i use Roku instead of Fire stick is so i don't have to have all this **bleep** on my home screen. Either remove or it i change to another streaming device

    • SuperRo0t's avatar
      SuperRo0t
      Newbie
      2 years ago

      I agree 100%.  I just got hit with this trash over the weekend on both of my Roku devices. One is an older TCL and the other is an Express 4K+. Odd how I have auto updates on and just got these. On both Rokus. 

    • zenkar's avatar
      zenkar
      Newbie
      2 years ago

      I don't want unwanted apps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Ataft's avatar
      Ataft
      Reel Rookie
      2 years ago

      That's Luke Bouma.  He writes tons of useless **bleep**.

      • RokuAustin's avatar
        RokuAustin
        Community Manager
        2 years ago

        Thanks for all your input on Roku’s latest update. All devices will receive an update over the next couple of days that will allow you to revert back to the original settings.

        You can customize your features by navigating to Settings > Home Screen > Recommendation rows.

        Happy Streaming!

    • Jibz's avatar
      Jibz
      Binge Watcher
      2 years ago

      This **bleep** just pisses me off! Why do they do this **bleep**....I came home today and found this annoying 'Categories' **bleep** messin' up my home screen only to find that I can't remove it. That's the last straw for me. I'm gonna try the TV's native .O.S......Who are the out of touch idiots that come up with this **bleep** anyway?

      • Jibz's avatar
        Jibz
        Binge Watcher
        2 years ago

        They've had the worst customer service on the planet for years, and now this 'catergories' on the home screen nonsense! They don't even understand their own customers. You would think that by now they would get that the Roku user likes uncluttered simplicity. If not, they would just stick with the TV's native O.S.

         

        Morons!

    • RokuJechealR's avatar
      RokuJechealR
      Retired Moderator
      2 years ago

      Hi Community users,

      Thanks for reaching out here in the Roku Community!

      We appreciate your feedback regarding this issue. Please be advised that, currently, we're in the process of finalizing these changes with an upcoming OS update.

      Thanks for your interest, and we hope to expand with more features to provide our customers with the best streaming experience.

      All the best,

      Chel

      • rubles's avatar
        rubles
        Reel Rookie
        2 years ago

        These new features are making our streaming experience worse not better.  

        Suggestion:  Use a What's new menu option for your new features with links for us to opt in to adding to home screen.

        Now please let us remove these recent new features.

  • AJS75's avatar
    AJS75
    Newbie
    2 years ago

    It looks like they need to fire a programmer and whoever approved the change. I am now looking for a replacement for Roku devices. I have 3 Roku TVs and 4 streaming sticks for sale on Craigslist.

    I know how to find movies, TV shows and New & Popular on my own. I don't need help. If you are looking for things to do, give us an option to Lock the Home Screen.

    This is just as stupid as if my car manufacturer decided that I didn't need to roll up my windows and changed that feature with a software update without asking.

    • kbd48's avatar
      kbd48
      Binge Watcher
      2 years ago

      You own the right side of our Roku screen with ads, you have been taking the left side with ads. Please leave my app menu alone! Enough already!

      • Maliska's avatar
        Maliska
        Streaming Star
        2 years ago

        Sad part for Roku is they won't even realize the impact until it's too late.

        People just won't come back to buy more products.

      • JCGoodwin's avatar
        JCGoodwin
        Roku Guru
        2 years ago

        "Please notify me/us when you find a device which is user friendly."

        I did, but it requires a bit of tweaking.

  • palarimer's avatar
    palarimer
    Newbie
    2 years ago

    I totally agree, this new feature is very intrusive.  It's obvious if you use this and content is available on Roku or one of your subscribed services this feature will push you to Roku even if it's available on a commercial free subscription you have, blatant money grab.   This is also very annoying if you have set up a Roku for someone with a cognitive disability like a stroke survivor or early Dementia patient, the change to the home screen is confusing to these users... There may be something to take to the ADA here...

  • GrumpyOlMan1's avatar
    GrumpyOlMan1
    Channel Surfer
    2 years ago

    Yes, please make this **bleep** go away.  I've got 6 active Roku devices and have been very seriously thinking of switching to someone else's platform.  And, QUIT changing my themes!

    • renojim's avatar
      renojim
      Community Streaming Expert
      2 years ago

      GrumpyOlMan1, if your themes are changing turn off "Seasonal wallpapers" and "Sponsored wallpapers" under Settings->Themes.

    • ImNoFeckinRobot's avatar
      ImNoFeckinRobot
      Newbie
      2 years ago

      There is a way to disable the automatic switching of themes by Roku for seasonal and paid promotions under "Settings/Themes/Additional Settings" on my Roku Express 4K+. There are separate settings for "Seasonal" and for "Promotional" for selection/deselection. HTH

      • rawlsrules's avatar
        rawlsrules
        Roku Guru
        2 years ago

        To: george45678

        Roku provides ways to "hide" or turn off a number of features, but not all of them regardless of whether or not one will use a feature. Your suggestions are no doubt helpful for people new to Roku, but note the previous 38 pages of comments.

  • OneEyedKristy70's avatar
    OneEyedKristy70
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    The whole reason I have been loyal to Roku all of these years is because my Home Screen could be edited to look clean and only show what I wanted to see.  If you are going to litter the Home Screen with no way to remove sections, then I might as well just go to Chromecast with Google TV.  Seriously....fix this....please.  

    • rawlsrules's avatar
      rawlsrules
      Roku Guru
      2 years ago

      It is truly mind-boggling that Roku seems to think that making their service more like the services people chose Roku to avoid is somehow going to be helpful for them.

  • mmwestgate's avatar
    mmwestgate
    Newbie
    2 years ago

    One of the advantages of Roku over other streaming devices is the Home Screen. It is the essentials only. That is what I want. I consider the Amazon Fire Stick and Google Chromecast to be unusable due to their overly cluttered Home Screens. They are both 90% ads and clickbait. Do not start doing that to Roku. Get rid of the "All Things..." channels.

    • rawlsrules's avatar
      rawlsrules
      Roku Guru
      2 years ago

      Too true. However, if Roku keeps this up, they will lose me.

      • TallJan's avatar
        TallJan
        Reel Rookie
        2 years ago

        Me too!  They've become ridiculous now with this new Categories & Browse that you can't hide from the Home Screen.  If they don't do something fast, I'm dumping a couple of Roku's.  I'm already looking at other products to replace them with 🙂

  • Rachelar6's avatar
    Rachelar6
    Newbie
    2 years ago

    Ugh it's so annoying, mine just appeared today and can't remove it. I hope we get help soon 

    • JoLiKMC's avatar
      JoLiKMC
      Binge Watcher
      2 years ago

      Hey.  Roku.  Could you maybe not add more stuff to my Home Screen?  This just popped up with the November 30th update, for me, and I find it irritating.

      Think about this rationally.  If you're on the Home Screen, chances are that you're not looking for new channels to add or looking for a movie to watch.  Chances are, you're navigating to one input or another, or maybe aim to watch Live TV or a streaming service.  In essence you're already focused on where you want to go and what you want to watch, so you don't need recommendations at that time.

      I'm willing to accept the advert on the side, as it pays for the free streaming TV channels, but this just feels unnecessary.  Thank you.

      • RealMadCustomer's avatar
        RealMadCustomer
        Newbie
        2 years ago

        I don't care about their advertising, I bought the tv and it should be mine,  not shared with the company I bought it from.  People don't share my car with strangers.