Cutting the cord on cable TV often means piecing together a patchwork of streaming subscriptions to get all your favorite shows. Services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max and many more are readily available as channel apps on Roku devices. But with new options constantly popping up, you may find yourself wanting to cancel some subscriptions that are no longer worth the monthly fee.
The good news is, cancelling any streaming subscriptions you’ve made directly through your Roku account is quick and painless. In just a few steps, you can cancel subscriptions and stop any future billing charges.
Here is a step-by-step walkthrough on how to cancel Roku subscriptions, with images of exactly what to look for on your TV screen.
Step 1: Navigate to the Home Screen
Whether you’re using a Roku streaming stick, Roku TV, or older Roku player, all models have a Home button on the remote that will take you to the main menu showing all your apps.
Press the circular Home button in the middle/top of your Roku remote to go to the Home screen. This looks like a tiny house icon.
The Home screen organizes all of your streaming channel apps into neat rows, separated into categories like Streaming Channels, Live TV, and so forth.
Step 2: Locate the Subscription Service App
Use the directional pad on your Roku remote to scroll left, right, up and down to the find the app you want to cancel first.
So for example, if you want to cancel HBO Max, navigate to the HBO Max app icon.
Tip: If you’re not sure if the subscription is directly through Roku, press the OK/Select button while highlighting the app. This will open the channel and you can check the billing details.
Step 3: Open the Channel Options Menu
Here’s where the Roku asterisk button comes in handy! The * button on your Roku remote opens up options for whatever channel or app you have selected.
With the app you want to cancel subscriptions for in focus on the Home screen, press the * asterisk button on your Roku remote.
This will open a quick menu with choices like Go To Channel, Add Channel Shortcut, Channel Updates, Rate Channel, and the important one…
Manage Subscription
Step 4: Select Manage Subscription
Highlight and select the Manage Subscription option after pressing the asterisk button while on the channel app.
This will open the subscription management screen, with details about the streaming plan like the renewal date and payment method on file.
Step 5: Choose Cancel Subscription
On the next screen that appears, clearly select the red Cancel Subscription button.
Take note that a message indicates when the current subscription period ends. You can still use the streaming service until then.
If you have multiple subscription plans under one login, it will specify which plan you are cancelling.
Step 6: Confirm Cancellation
After selecting Cancel Subscription, Roku will ask you to confirm your choice to cancel.
Choose Cancel once more on the pop-up prompt to complete the process.
Step 7: Subscription Cancelled – Return to Home Screen
You’ll get one last message verifying cancellation, indicating you have 0 plans after this subscription expires.
Press Done to exit and return to the Home screen menu. then repeat steps 2-7 to cancel any other subscriptions as needed.
And that’s it! Just those few simple steps allow you to take back control of paid streaming subscriptions through your Roku account.
Troubleshooting Roku Cancellations
In some cases, you may go through these cancelation steps and still find mysterious charges from old subscriptions you were sure you cancelled.
This can happen for a few reasons:
- The subscription is directly through the streaming provider, not Roku. So you would need to visit their website to cancel.
- Delayed billing cycles mean charges slip through before the final cancellation date.
- Free trial periods converted to paid plans without notification.
If charges do appear from a subscription you already canceled on Roku, here are some options:
Contact your credit card provider to dispute the charges and block any future billing. This is typically allowed within 60 days of the statement issue date.
Reach out to Roku support via chat or phone. They can look into charges from your account and explain recurring bills that might be confusing.
Cancel again just to be safe. Sometimes tech glitches happen. Cancelling one extra time through Roku ensures no continuation.
FAQs About Roku Subscriptions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about managing subscriptions and billing through Roku:
Why am I getting a bill from Roku for streaming services?
When you subscribe directly on your Roku device, the charges appear as Roku bills rather than from each individual streaming platform.
Can I block specific subscriptions from charging my credit card through Roku?
Yes, by cancelling that streaming subscription using the steps in this guide, you permanently block any continued billing.
Does Roku require its own monthly fee?
Nope! Roku makes money from subscriptions and ads, but it does not charge any sort of baseline monthly fee to use your device.
If I remove a channel from my Roku, does that cancel subscriptions?
Unfortunately no. Deleting a streaming channel app from your Roku does not automatically stop any billing or subscriptions associated with that app. You have to formally cancel the subscription using the subscription management screen.
Can Roku be used without internet?
You can power on a Roku device without being connected to wifi or internet. However, its functionality is extremely limited. The only thing you can really do is view personal photos or videos on a USB drive plugged into the Roku. Streaming requires an internet connection.
Recap: How To Cancel Roku Subscriptions in 7 Steps
Just to recap, here is a quick summary of how to cancel any subscription made directly through your Roku device:
- From the Home screen, navigate to the streaming app
- Press * asterisk button on remote
- Select Manage Subscription
- Choose Cancel Subscription
- Confirm cancellation on pop-up
- Check confirmation message
- Repeat for any other unwanted subscriptions
And that‘s all it takes to ditch those monthly streaming bills weighing down your wallet!
Taking just a few minutes to cancel Roku subscriptions gives you back control to choose only your favorite, must-have streaming services.
