Roku launches biggest home screen update in a decade with AI-powered app organization

Roku rolling out home screen redesign with AI-powered app organization, 'Top Picks' [Video]

Roku has just unveiled its biggest home screen redesign in years with a new "Top Picks" row on top, and AI to organize your apps, among other updates. Announced today, Roku is redesigning its home screen in what is both a pretty big change, and something that's still familiar to long-time users. The updated home screen (in testing for the past year) retains the three-column design, with navigation off to the far left, apps in the center, and ads off to the right side just like in the old layout. The navigation column is a bit more condensed now, ditching the full names in exchange for simpler icons that take up much less space. The center is where you'll find the biggest updates. Your apps are no longer at the very top, with a new "Top Picks for You" section that highlights content from various streaming apps. It's not quite as overbearing as Google TV, but it's a shift in the home screen's priority. Below that is "Quick Access," a list of your most-used apps which Roku says is organized by AI. Roku is "confident" in this setup, but says you can still manually add or remove apps as you wish. Powered by AI, Quick Access continually adapts to your routine and helps you get to your favorites faster. We're confident it'll pick up on the apps you use most, but if you'd rather take control, you can add or remove any app you'd like. And when you're looking for the rest of your apps, they're still right where you left them, just a few clicks away. Scrolling down further, the home screen also includes "Your Next Watch" and "Destinations," the latter being a way to browse through content recommendations split up by genres and moods. There are also customizable shortcuts to system functions like the sleep timer or search, and a dedicated shortcut to launch the "Roku City" screensaver. These shortcuts can even show up in the Quick Access section if the AI decides you use them enough. Shortcuts keep everyday features within easy reach, so you can settle in and start watching right from your Home Screen. Features like Continue Watching, Sleep Timer, Save List, and more are now right where you expect them. Even better, your most frequently used shortcuts will now show up in Quick Access as well. There's also a new feature called "Your Daily Scoop" which Roku says "brings you a curated digest of breakout shows and cultural trends," also powered by AI. Roku is rolling out its redesigned home screen to all users in the US starting today, with "more countries to follow." It's an automatic update.

'Essentially, they wanted us to read their minds': Roku is rolling out a huge free upgrade to the Home Screen on its TVs and streaming devices -- and the company explains how it arrived at the new personalized, sometimes AI-driven, redesign

* The Roku interface is getting a huge update * It leans into organization, with some AI * It remains recognizable for long-term users, though Your Roku TV Home Screen is getting a significant free update -- but don't worry, it'll still feel familiar. I often tell people that the best TV remote in the business is from Roku. Nothing even comes close, but what's often overlooked in the mix is the Roku interface or Home Screen for your Roku device or TV. It's not only simple, but playful. The sleep screen is a hideout of iconic pop-culture references, slightly altered so as not to incur intellectual property wrath, but we all get the inside jokes. The business side of the interface, where you navigate platforms and content via tiles, is just as simple. "Simplicity has always been our north star," noted Margaret Schmidt, Roku's VP User Experience & Design. As a longtime Roku customer, first on my TCL 65-inch TV and now on a variety of sticks and set-top boxes, I was a bit worried about this Home Screen update. Why mess with what works? But the changes, which were announced today (May 27, 2026), look mostly intelligent (yes, there's even some AI) and still on-brand for the company with a purple, playful spirit (and a reported 100 million households). The updates focus on personalization and content access, and run relatively deep. "This is our first major update to Roku Home Screen in a decade," said Preston Smalley Roku VP of Viewer Product, during Wednesday's launch event. As for why now, Smalley said Roku research showed them that "It's not always as easy as it should be to find something to watch, even with all that content." (This may qualify as the understatement of the year.) When I use my Roku devices, I often quickly navigate to Sling TV, where I watch most of my local broadcast channels. In Roku's new interface, there's now a Quick Access panel, so I don't need to scroll or hunt for the tile. Of course, Roku had to get in on the AI craze, and now it's using it to power the zeitgeist-rich "You Daily Scoop," which presents trending shows and other pop culture events like celebrity birthdays. It lives inside the new "For You" section that will, of course, try to surface content you might like based on past activities. Roku claims your selection will be unlike anyone else's. As Rohit Mahto, Roku's Director of Recommendations, explained, "[Users] expect deeper personalization from day one." But he added that there are literally billions of home screen permutations. "Machine learning and AI helped us get it right," he added. When I asked about the level of AI at work here, Mahto explained that "it's a mixed bag thing." While they use "state-of-the-art LLMs," the focus for Roku is different. "We are hyper-focused on the streaming space, streaming data." Roku's approach is similar to what I've seen from Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. I don't mind it. However, these feeds often lead to services and platforms where you're not already a subscriber. Hopefully, Roku sticks with the services you already use and doesn't try to squeeze in or tease new shows on platforms where you're not already a subscriber. To help with the "what to watch" hunt, Roku is introducing "Destinations," a sort of mood-based section. You know, "What are you in the mood for?" It gives you broad, category-based selections. In Roku's research, they found "82% wanted to turn on their TV and have the show they have in mind right at the top of their TV. Essentially, they wanted us to read their minds," said Smalley. The interface has also been reorganized, with a collapsed Home Screen menu and shortcuts that get you more quickly to, say, where you left off with "Continue Watching". Finally, City Tile gives you a closer look at Roku City. It basically takes you through all the sometimes hidden features for more discovery and, of course, engagement. Summarizing the changes, Smalley said, "It's really moving from a static app grid to something that's dynamic and personalized around you." As for what's next for Roku and the Home Screen, he said, "We're only just getting started." Roku says these changes are rolling out now, though we expect it may take a bit of time for them to show up on all of your Roku devices. I'll be checking mine tonight. Thinking of buying a new TV? Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.

Your Roku TV is getting its biggest home screen update after a decade and it starts today

Roku just launched its biggest home screen update in ten years across all US devices. If you own a Roku TV or streaming device, your home screen is about to look very different. Roku just unveiled its most significant home screen redesign in over ten years, rolling out today across all Roku TVs and streaming devices in the US. Here is everything that is new on your Roku home screen The redesign introduces several new features built around getting you to content faster. The Quick Access section your most-used apps front and center, powered by AI that continuously adapts to your habits. You can also manually add or remove apps if you prefer to be in control. Recommended Videos At the top of the screen, Top Picks for You is an expanded, personalized content section showing what you love to watch, what is trending on Roku, and the biggest entertainment of the moment. A new For You destination goes deeper, pulling fresh personalized picks based on your interests. The Subscriptions destination brings together content from all your paid streaming services in one place, so you are not hunting across apps. Destinations are genre and mood-based hubs spanning comedy, movies, sports, and more, with context-aware search that adapts depending on where you are browsing. Your Daily Scoop is a real-time AI-powered row that surfaces breakout shows and cultural trends updated hourly. The home screen menu is now collapsible, keeping the interface clean until you need it. Shortcuts like Continue Watching, Sleep Timer, and Save List are also easier to reach. There is even a new Roku City tile that takes you into an interactive version of the iconic screensaver, complete with Daily Trivia, Roklue and retro games like Roku City Dash. When will your Roku get the new home screen? The update rolls out automatically starting today in the US, so just wait for your device to update itself. Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood says every change was grounded in what users actually do and need, shaped by extensive viewer feedback and behavioral data. Last month, Roku also added six free channels covering classic sitcoms, reality TV, and films.