Why you might want to log out of Roku
You log out of Roku when you're selling or giving away your device, letting someone else use it, or you suspect unauthorized access to your account. Logging out removes your personal information—saved passwords, watch history, payment methods—from that specific device. It does not delete your Roku account itself, which remains active online.
The process differs slightly depending on whether you're using a Roku TV, a Roku streaming stick, or a Roku box, but the core steps are the same. You'll navigate to your account settings and select the option to sign out.
Key Takeaways
- Logging out removes your account from the device but keeps your Roku account active online for use on other devices.
- You access the sign-out option through Settings > Account > Sign out on most Roku devices.
- After signing out, the device returns to its home screen and anyone using it will need their own Roku account to access paid channels or personalized content.
- If you forget to sign out before selling or giving away your device, you can remotely sign out through your Roku account on the web.
How to sign out on a Roku remote
On most Roku devices, you'll use the remote to navigate to the sign-out option. Press the Home button on your remote to go to the main menu. Then scroll up to highlight Settings at the top of the screen.
Once in Settings, scroll down and select Account. You'll see options for your account information. Look for Sign out or Sign out of account and select it. The device will ask you to confirm—select Yes. Your account is now removed from that Roku device.
If you're using a Roku TV with a standard TV remote instead of a Roku remote, the path is the same: Home > Settings > Account > Sign out. Some Roku TV remotes have a dedicated menu button instead of Home—use that to reach the main menu.
What happens after you sign out
Once you sign out, the Roku device returns to its home screen. If someone else picks up the remote, they'll see the standard Roku home screen with free channels like The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Tubi. They won't see your watch history, saved preferences, or access to any paid channels you subscribed to under your account.
If they want to use paid apps like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+, they'll need to either sign in with their own Roku account or enter their own login credentials for each app. Your payment method is no longer stored on the device.
Signing out remotely if you can't access the device
If you've already sold or given away your Roku device and forgot to sign out, you can still remove your account from it. Go to my.roku.com and sign in with your Roku account. Click on Devices in the left menu, then select the device you want to sign out from.
Look for the option to Remove device or Sign out. Roku will disconnect your account from that device immediately. This is useful if you realize after the fact that you left your account active on someone else's Roku.
Keep in mind that if someone is actively using the device when you sign out remotely, they may see a notification that the account was signed out. They won't lose access to free channels, but any paid apps will require a new login.
Protecting your account after signing out
Signing out removes your information from the device, but it's worth taking one extra step: change your Roku password. Go to my.roku.com, sign in, and navigate to Account settings. Select Change password and create a new one. This ensures that even if someone wrote down your password while using the device, they can't access your account on other devices or the web.
If you're concerned about unauthorized access—if someone used your device without permission or you suspect account compromise—check your account activity on my.roku.com. Look for any devices you don't recognize or channels you didn't subscribe to. You can remove unrecognized devices from there as well.
Difference between signing out and factory reset
Signing out and performing a factory reset are not the same thing. Signing out removes only your account from the device. A factory reset erases everything—your account, all apps you installed, all settings you changed—and returns the Roku to its original state as if it just came out of the box.
For most situations, signing out is what you want. It's faster, it preserves any apps or settings the next user might want, and it's reversible—you can sign back in later if needed. A factory reset is more thorough but unnecessary unless you're troubleshooting a serious problem or want to completely wipe the device before selling it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sign out of just one app instead of my whole account?
Yes. Open the app, go to its settings menu, and look for Sign out or Log out. This removes you from that single app without affecting your Roku account or other apps. You'll need to sign back in the next time you open that app.
What if I sign out and then want to sign back in?
Go to Settings > Account > Sign in and enter your Roku email and password. Your watch history, saved preferences, and channel subscriptions will reappear. Make sure you remember your Roku password before you sign out.
Does signing out delete my Roku account?
No. Signing out removes your account from that device only. Your Roku account remains active online and on any other devices you've signed into. To permanently delete your Roku account, you'd need to do that through my.roku.com account settings.
Will the next person who uses the device see my payment information?
No. When you sign out, your payment methods, billing address, and purchase history are removed from the device. The next user won't see any of that information unless they sign in with their own account.