Roku Channel

Phase: N (End-User Documentation) Step: N.13 Since: 0.18.0

TIP

The Phlix channel for Roku brings your media library to any Roku streaming device. Add the channel from the Roku Channel Store, open it, enter your server URL (or sign in with Hub), and start streaming. Works on all Roku models running OS 10 or later.

Install / Store Links

• Roku Channel Store: Search for Phlix on your Roku device or at channel.roku.com
• Developer sideload (.ipk): github.com/detain/phlix-roku-client/releases — for beta testing and development devices only

Platform-Specific Install Steps

Add the Official Channel (Recommended)

1. From the Roku home screen, navigate to Streaming Channels → Search Channels.
2. Type Phlix and select the Phlix channel from the results.
3. Click Add Channel and confirm. The channel appears on your home screen.
4. Open Phlix from your channel list.

Developer Sideload (Beta / Testing Only)

1. Download the latest .ipk package from github.com/detain/phlix-roku-client/releases.
2. Set up your Roku device for development at developer.roku.com — create a developer account and register your device.
3. Use the Roku Developer Application Loader (RDA) to install:

   rokudev install Phlix-1.0.0.ipk --device 192.168.1.x

4. The channel appears in My Channels on the home screen.

First Launch

On first open, the Phlix channel shows a server URL entry screen:

1. Enter your server's address:
   • Local: http://192.168.1.100:32400 (replace with your server's LAN IP)
   • Remote: your server's public domain if you have remote access configured
2. Press Connect on your remote.
3. The URL is saved to persistent storage and remembered on subsequent launches.

Hub Connection

1. In the Phlix channel, go to Settings (gear icon).
2. Select Hub Login.
3. Enter your Hub URL (e.g., https://hub.phlix.example.com) and press OK.
4. Enter your Hub username and password on the on-screen keyboard.
5. After authentication, the Hub auto-populates your server URL if you have a server claimed. No manual entry required.

Hub login also enables remote playback when you are away from home — the Hub relay handles the connection without any router configuration.

What Can Go Wrong

Server URL is wrong or mistyped

Symptom: Immediately after entering the server URL and pressing Connect, the channel displays "Unable to reach server."

Fix: Verify the URL protocol — http:// and https:// are different. Confirm the port number is correct (default is 32400). Try using the direct LAN IP address of your server. If you are traveling, you need either a Hub relay URL or a configured VPN to reach your server remotely.

Roku not on the same network as the server

Symptom: Your phone or computer can connect to the server fine, but the Roku channel shows "Server unreachable" despite a correct URL.

Fix: Some Roku models default to a "linked" or guest network that isolates them from other devices. In your router's admin panel, verify the Roku is on the same SSID as your server. Check that the router does not have Client Isolation or AP Isolation enabled. As a workaround, try connecting the server via Ethernet to the router instead of Wi-Fi.

Channel store version vs. dev channel version mismatch

Symptom: The version of Phlix on the Channel Store behaves differently from the version you sideloaded for testing.

Fix: Report the discrepancy at github.com/detain/phlix-roku-client/issues. For production use, always rely on the Channel Store version — it has passed Roku's certification process. Dev sideloads are for beta testing only.

Next Steps

• Tizen — Samsung Smart TV app
• Windows client — desktop client with additional features
• First-run wizard — configure your libraries after connecting a client