Logging out of your Roku account on your Roku TV is an important step to secure your privacy, protect subscriptions, and prep for resale. This comprehensive guide covers how to sign out, unlink, or factory reset Roku smart TVs.
Why Log Out of Your Roku TV?
There are a few key reasons you may want to properly sign out of your Roku TV:
- Selling Your TV: Logging out removes personal data and protects account info when selling or gifting your Roku TV. See our comparison of Roku vs. Cable TV if upgrading.
- Protect Account Security: Signing out prevents unauthorized access to subscriptions or personal info if someone else uses your TV. Roku’s PIN protection helps too – see what to do if you forgot your Roku PIN.
- Troubleshoot Issues: Logging out and back in can resolve account-related problems with streaming or purchases.
- Stay Private Using Guest Mode: Enabling guest mode auto signs out after a set time to keep your info secure.
Properly logging out is crucial before passing your Roku TV onto someone else to safeguard all account details, settings and purchases. How does Roku compare to a Firestick for seniors?
How to Sign Out of Your Roku Account on the TV
Signing out of your Roku account on the TV itself just takes a few simple steps:
- Using your Roku remote, press the Home button to access the main Roku menu.
- Navigate to Settings then select the System option.
- Scroll down and choose Sign Out.
- Confirm you want to sign out of your Roku account.
Once signed out, your Roku TV will no longer have access to content subscriptions, purchases or any personal customizations tied to your Roku account.
Tips for Signing Out
- Only sign out of the Roku system UI, not individual streaming apps.
- Use guest mode to auto sign out after inactivity for shared TVs.
- Sign back in anytime with your account email and password.
Signing out through the Roku settings is the proper way to fully log out of your account. But additional steps are needed if selling or resetting your device. See how Roku compares to DirecTV for streaming flexibility.
Unlinking Your Roku TV from Your Account
Before selling or gifting your Roku smart TV, you’ll want to unlink the device from your Roku account. Here’s how:
- On a computer, tablet or phone, visit my.roku.com and sign into your Roku account.
- Under My Linked Devices, click on your Roku TV you wish you unlink.
- Choose Unlink next to the device name and confirm unlinking.
Once unlinked, your Roku TV will no longer appear under your account and does not have access to any content or info associated with that account.
Tips for Unlinking Your Device
- Unlinking online fully disconnects devices from your account.
- Repeat for each Roku player you want to remove.
- Unlinking does not deactivate subscriptions or your account.
Unlinking the Roku TV properly disconnects it from your account so it can be used by someone else. But personal data still remains on the device until performing a factory reset. Compare Roku vs. Chromecast for device gifting.
Factory Resetting Your Roku TV
Before selling or gifting your Roku TV, you’ll want to factory reset the device. This deletes all account info, erases custom settings, and returns it to original factory conditions.
Here is the step-by-step process for factory resetting your Roku TV:
- From the Roku TV home screen, go to Settings > System > Advanced System Settings.
- Choose Factory Reset then enter the 4-digit PIN code that appears on-screen.
- Select Start Factory Reset to initiate wiping process. Your Roku TV will reboot, prompting account setup like new.
With all data erased, your Roku TV is ready to link to another account or owner with no traces of personal information. But a factory reset permanently deletes all purchases and previously saved settings.
Tips for Factory Resetting
- Double check the device setup activation screen to confirm reset.
- Cable/antenna rescanning may be needed post-reset.
- Utilize remote or manual buttons if no remote.
- Instantly log back into your Roku account with past credentials.
Factory resetting when selling or sharing your Roku TV ensures complete privacy but requires repeating device setup. See Roku vs Firestick differences here.
Logging Back Into Your Roku Account
If you change your mind or end up keeping your Roku TV for personal use, logging back into your Roku account restores all your settings, subscriptions and purchases.
Here is how to log back into your Roku TV after a reset:
- Power cycle the Roku TV off and on again to prompt account setup options.
- Follow the prompts to connect WiFi and link your Roku TV to your account.
- Submit your Roku account credentials (email and password).
- Check your email inbox for a device activation code to finish linking process.
Within just a few minutes, your Roku TV will reactivate with your account, automatically set up any streaming channel subscriptions, payment info, preferences and viewing history.
Tips for Logging Back In
- Use original Roku account sign up email and password.
- Check spam folder if don’t see activation email.
- Call Roku support if activation link issues.
- Redownload any purchased apps/channels.
Roku makes it simple to pick back up right where you left off by instantly relinking your account during device setup and retrieving all associated details. Here’s how Roku vs Apple TV compare as TV platforms.
Using Roku Guest Mode to Auto Sign Out
Roku’s Guest Mode provides a convenient way to automatically sign out of your Roku TV after a set duration of inactivity.
Guest Mode ensures someone else using your TV doesn’t have ongoing access your Roku account while allowing temporary use. Here’s how to set it up:
- Go to Settings > Guest Mode on your Roku TV.
- Toggle Guest Mode to On position.
- Use the Auto Sign Out option to select a time of inactivity after which your Roku will automatically sign out.
With Guest Mode enabled, anyone can use your TV for a short duration without compromising security or privacy around your account content and info. Just pick a reasonable auto sign out duration.
Tips for Guest Mode
- Great for dorm rooms, hotels, waiting rooms.
- Customize the guest home screen message.
- Manually sign out anytime from profile icon.
- Guests can’t access paid content or subscriptions.
Roku Guest Mode delivers effortless privacy for shared TV viewing situations through temporary access and automated sign out.
Can You Deactivate a Roku Account?
If you no longer wish to use your Roku account or want to switch to a different one, Roku does allow fully deactivating accounts.
Here’s how to deactivate your Roku account:
- Visit my.roku.com and sign into your account.
- Choose Manage your subscriptions to cancel any paid ones.
- Select Done then click Deactivate account on My Account page.
- Complete the account closure prompts.
Once deactivated, your Roku account cannot be reactivated. All prior purchases or rentals will no longer be accessible either.
Tips for Roku Account Deactivation
- Finish device unlinking first before deactivating account.
- associated payment methods removed.
- Create a new account if want Roku access later.
- Doesn’t cancel non-Roku streaming subscriptions.
Deactivating your account completely closes it out, which helps limit recurring charges or unused subscriptions. But it requires setting up a brand new account to reuse Roku.
Key Takeaways on Logging Out of Your Roku TV
- Sign out through Roku settings before selling or sharing your TV.
- Unlink devices from your account on the Roku website.
- Factory reset erases all data for a 100% fresh start.
- Logging back in retrieves your settings and subscriptions.
- Use Guest Mode to auto sign out after periods of inactivity.
- Deactivate account completely when no longer using Roku.
Properly signing out of your Roku TV secures all your personal data, paid content access and account details for privacy, while still allowing you to restore everything if you choose to relink it later on.
Frequently Asked Questions about Roku Log Out and Reset
For further specifics on securely logging out of your Roku TV, here are answers to some commonly asked questions:
How do I switch Roku accounts on my TV?
To use another Roku account, you must factory reset your TV first. This allows freshly linking to a different account during device setup.
Does a factory reset on a Roku TV remove account link?
Yes. A proper factory reset breaks account association, erases all stored data on the device, and lets you activate a new Roku account free of any previous ties or info.
If I reset my Roku smart TV can someone else use it?
Definitely. After completing a factory reset to wipe all stored data and settings, your Roku TV can be set up with someone else’s Roku account for their own use and content.
Why does my Roku TV still show old account after factory reset?
If your device continues showing info from your prior Roku account after a factory reset, the wipe process was incomplete. Confirm data deletion by reaching activation prompt. Reinitiate full reset if still seeing old account.
Does factory reset remove WiFi settings on Roku TV?
Yes it does. A factory reset erases all custom settings and preferences, including your WiFi network connections. Post-reset you’ll have to reenter password to reconnect for streaming.
Can you reset a Roku TV without remote?
Luckily yes. Roku TVs have manual reset buttons on the device itself, often on the lower back panel, allowing you to initiate factory reset without the remote if lost or stolen.
Wrapping Up
I hope this comprehensive walkthrough gives you confidence for properly logging out of your Roku TV when selling, troubleshooting or securing it between different users. Let me know if any other Roku logout, guest mode or factory reset situations pop up! Being diligent about unlinking accounts, wiping data and re-linking later protects privacy while retaining personalized viewing preferences.
