Account, payments & subscriptions

[Drewgozzi]

I previously set up my roku express, named it and had connected to it thru the roku app so I could use the remote control feature on my phone. 

I go away for 3 weeks, when I come back, my roku is missing, and roommates give me a bs reason it's not here. 

Today I open the app and under devices, there is my roku, available to connect to on our wifi.

When I click on it to connect, the name changes to my roommates name.

Is it a safe assumption to say she stole it, reset it and gave it a new name? How can I prove it? What unique numbers don't change when you reset it? 

[renojim · Accepted solution]

The serial number and device ID (I have no reason why Roku seems to think two unique numbers are necessary for one device) don't change.  Does your Roku still show up as a linked device when you log into your Roku account at https://my.roku.com ?  If it does, you can see the serial number of your device there.  If you still have the packaging you can see the Device ID (even though it's labeled "SN"; again WTH Roku?) written in very small print with the model number.  Since you can connect to "her" Roku with the app, you can see the information for that Roku if you tap the 3 dots next to the device and then tap "View System Info".

One other number that never changes is the MAC address, but I doubt you'll have that saved anywhere other than possibly in your router's logs.

Good luck!

[Drewgozzi]

@renojim

Thank you for your reply, the info you provided is very helpful.

I was quite sure that the serial number would not change, but I didn't know about the device ID.

The device in question does not show up as a linked device at https://my.roku.com. I don't understand why it doesn't. I'm signing in with the same email address I used when I set it up.

Connecting to a device in the app is not the same as linking a divice to an account, I believe, but correct me if I am wrong.

If I used the same email account when I initially set up the device, does it not automatically link that device to that account?

I have not unlinked any devices from my account, but will roku be able to somehow tell me the credentials for every device that I have logged into with this account, whether I have linked it to my account or not?

Again, I appreciate any advice given.

Thanks! 

[DBDukes · Accepted solution]

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@Drewgozzi wrote:

... The device in question does not show up as a linked device at https://my.roku.com. I don't understand why it doesn't. ...

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A factory reset removes it. If someone took the device, pressed the reset button for sufficient time (30 seconds), the device is factory reset and ready to be connected to an account.

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@Drewgozzi wrote:

... Connecting to a device in the app is not the same as linking a divice to an account, I believe, but correct me if I am wrong....

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If the device is on the same network, you may be able to see it in the Roku app. That would be true if the roommate stole your device, or if the roommate bought his own device and set it up on the same network.

If you have the box that came with your device, it may have the MAC address on it. You could prove the device is yours if everything falls into place there.