Why doesn't Roly find my Roku automatically?

Automatic discovery relies on your network passing multicast between devices. Guest networks, VLANs, and some mesh or router settings block that, so the Roku won't show up on its own — adding it manually by IP address gets around the limitation.

Do I need to keep re-adding the TV?

Only if its IP address changes. To avoid that, set a static IP or a DHCP reservation for the Roku in your router settings so the address stays the same.

Which IP address do I enter — the Gateway or the IP Address?

Enter the Roku's own IP Address (usually 192.168.x.x), not the Gateway. The Gateway is your router's address and won't connect to the TV.

How to manually add a Roku TV in Roly

Roly normally discovers every Roku on your Wi-Fi automatically. But on some networks — guest networks, VLANs, or setups that block device discovery — you may need to add your Roku by hand using its IP address. It only takes a minute.

Add your Roku manually

Find your Roku's IP address. On the Roku, go to Settings › Network › About and read the IP Address field. It looks like 192.168.x.x (other valid ranges are 10.x.x.x and 172.x.x.x). Make sure you copy the IP Address, not the Gateway.
If you can't reach the Roku menu, open your router's admin page and look for the Roku in the list of connected devices (the DHCP client list) to get the same address.
In Roly, choose to add a device manually.
Give the device a name you'll recognize, then type in the exact IP address from your Roku.
Tap Save. Roly will connect and the Roku appears in your device list, ready to control.

If it still won't connect

Double-check that your iPhone or iPad and the Roku are on the same Wi-Fi network — not a guest network or a separate band that's isolated.
Make sure the TV is actually powered on and awake.
Grant Roly local network access: on iOS go to Settings › Roly › Local Network and turn it on. Without this permission the app can't reach devices on your Wi-Fi.
If your network changed recently, remove the saved device in Roly and add it again with the current IP address (IP addresses can change over time).
Confirm you entered the IP address exactly, with no extra spaces or typos.

Complicated network or VPN setup

Roku devices take remote commands over your local network (Roku uses port 8060 for this), so make sure that traffic isn't blocked by a VPN, firewall, or client-isolation setting on your router. Private listening streams the TV's audio to your phone over the same network. If you route your Roku through a non-standard port, you can enter the address as IP:Port (for example 192.168.8.242:8061), though Roku TVs use port 8060 by default.

FAQ

Why doesn't Roly find my Roku automatically?: Automatic discovery relies on your network passing multicast between devices. Guest networks, VLANs, and some mesh or router settings block that, so the Roku won't show up on its own — adding it manually by IP address gets around the limitation.
Do I need to keep re-adding the TV?: Only if its IP address changes. To avoid that, set a static IP or a DHCP reservation for the Roku in your router settings so the address stays the same.
Which IP address do I enter — the Gateway or the IP Address?: Enter the Roku's own IP Address (usually 192.168.x.x), not the Gateway. The Gateway is your router's address and won't connect to the TV.

Control your Roku from your phone

Roly is an ad-free Roku remote, free to download, with private listening and voice control.

Download on the App Store

How to manually add a Roku TV in Roly

Add your Roku manually

If it still won't connect

Complicated network or VPN setup

FAQ

Related guides