How to Get an Internet Browser on Roku
Roku offers amazing content that you can stream on your TV. Apart from streaming, you can also use it to access the internet via a web browser just like how you would on your desktop or Android Smart TV. So, how can you go about it?
Roku streaming stick is among the best online video streaming apps meant to give you a holistic customer experience when watching your videos. You can stream 4K videos from popular streaming apps like Netflix, Disney, BT Sport, Prime Video, and many more. But what if you want to browse the internet on your TV via Roku? Unfortunately, Roku doesn’t come with a native web browser. It has the Reddit browser that allows you to view Reddit posts and a Media browser that you can use to play TV, movies, and music. Don’t give up just yet, there’s a workaround to this.
You can get an Internet browser on Roku by casting the web browser from your Android device using the SmartThings app and MiraCast technology on your PC.
Table of Contents
How do I cast a web browser from my Android phone to Roku?
You can cast your smartphone’s web browser like Firefox or Google Chrome to Roku. On your Android smartphone, go to Settings and navigate to Connected Devices’ and select ‘Pair Devices’. Wait for your phone to scan and find a list of devices available for pairing. Select Roku from the list and wait for fo the connection to be complete. Once the connection has been successfully established, launch any web browser on your phone and begin browsing using your phone and viewing your phone’s screen on the TV. It’s worth noting that, not all Android devices are compatible with Miracast technology before attempting this pairing process.
You can also use an app called SmartThingsby Samsung which is available on the Google Play Store. If you own a Samsung smartphone, chances are it’s already installed. If not, go to the Google Play Store and search for ‘SmartThings’. Click on install and wait for your phone to complete the installation process. Once the app has been fully installed you should be able to see it on your main menu. Swipe down your screen and locate the SmartThings app icon. It looks like the play button and has arrows above and below it. Tap on this icon to scan the network for a list of supported wireless display devices that you can cast to.
From the list, select the Roku device and confirm you want to start casting by clicking on ‘Start now’. Your Android smartphone’s screen will show up on your TV connected with Roku. You can then adjust the aspect ratio for your Android device to display a full screen by tapping on the settings icon and setting it appropriately. You make sure all is well; you should be able to see on the status bar that SmartThings is in your phone’s notifications. You can now open a browser on your phone and start browsing on your TV screen. The sound should now be coming from your phone and not the Roku device. To disconnect, swipe down on your smartphone’s screen again and tap on the same icon you tapped on before to connect. This will stop the casting.
Casting web browser from PC
This is the easiest and clearest way of casting your web browser to your TV via Roku. It also guarantees a menial resolution distortion. Miracast makes this possible as you can project your PC monitor to any device that’s compatible with the technology including Roku. This method is for Windows 10. To view the list of features, click the message icon on the lower right corner of your Windows PC and click the Project icon. You will see options including PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend, and Second Screen only. These options allow you to project your PC screen to a wireless display on your network.
Extend is the most common option as it splits your screen allowing you to continue using your PC on one screen and the other screen is accessible for a display to another device. You can however select any option you prefer. Once you select one of the options, go ahead and click on ‘Connect to a wireless display’ at the bottom of the list to be able to see the list of devices that you can project to on your network. Select Roku and now you should be able to see your PC screen is displayed on your TV. You can now open your favorite web browser on your PC and browse using your TV’s screen.
You should note that the sound on your TV will now come from your PC and you can amplify it by connecting your PC instead of your TV to a surround sound system if you have one. To disconnect the casting, on your PC monitor at the top, locate the connection status icon, and click on Disconnect to stop the connection.
A summary Table
| Issue | Device used | How to cast |
| How to get an internet browser on Roku | Android device | Go to the Google Play Store and install the SmartThings app. Once installed, swap your Android device’s screen and click on the SmartThings app icon to scan for a list of devices to cast to.
Select Roku from the list and confirm to start casting. You should be able to see your phone’s screen on the TV via Roku. Go ahead and open a web browser on your phone and start browsing. |
| Windows PC | Click the messages icon on the taskbar located on the bottom left corner and click the Project icon. On the list, select an option and click on ‘Connect to a wireless display’. Select Roku from the list and launch your favorite browser and start browsing using your PC. |
FAQs
Can I cast my iPhone to Roku and browse?
No. Unfortunately, this workaround is only available on Android devices and Windows 10 PC.
Can I download Google Chrome on Roku?
No, you can’t. Google Chrome is not available on Roku devices. You’ll need to mirror or cast your screen using another Miracast-enabled device such as an Android Smartphone or Windows PC.
Conclusion
Though there’s no native web browser to install and use on your Roku device, you can always use a workaround and enjoy browsing on a large screen like your TV’s. All you need is a device that uses Miracast technology like your smartphone, and browse using the phone’s keypad and your TV’s screen.
