This hidden Roku characteristic is ruining film night time and there is not any solution to flip it off

Certainly one of my favourite issues to do across the holidays is host family and friends at my house for film nights. And whereas generally we’ll decide a movie to observe that everybody is aware of, as a rule, I wish to take these impromptu film nights as a chance to share a hidden gem that almost all of my company have not seen.

Nonetheless, I lately came upon {that a} Roku characteristic that rolled out manner again in 2021 was hampering my potential to start out motion pictures I had already watched, limiting my potential to leap in proper from the start throughout film nights. The characteristic is named Instantaneous Resume and whereas it may be useful in loads of cases, it will also be a little bit of a nuisance on shared gadgets or accounts. And whereas most options are in a position to be toggled on or off, that is one possibility that apparently Roku doesn’t need customers to have management over.

What’s Roku Instantaneous Resume?

Serving to you retain your home when you might have different issues to do.

Do not get me improper, Roku’s Instantaneous Resume characteristic is pretty helpful in case you’re the one one utilizing your TV and primarily watch issues solo. I lately watched Defunctland’s four hour deep-dive on Disney parks’ so-called living characters on YouTube, and despite the fact that I in all probability would have loved having the ability to watch your entire 4-hour video straight via, life received in the best way it took me a number of periods to truly make it via your entire video. Luckily, due to Roku’s Instantaneous Resume characteristic, my place was held each single time, and I might bounce again into the video at any time when I wished to select up the place I left off.

Nonetheless, when sharing a tool (or attempting to point out a brand new film to pals) this characteristic turns into cumbersome as, relying on what app you are utilizing, you both must exit out of the video after which discover the restart button, or press the rewind button on the Roku distant till you get to the start of the video, doubtlessly exposing your company to spoilers in the event that they have a look at the TV on the improper time.

I believed there might need been a simple solution to merely flip off this characteristic, however curiously, irrespective of what number of menus you look via, it merely would not seem. Nonetheless, there’s a solution to power Roku to neglect what you have been watching.

A small workaround

Use the Roku’s power shut operate to do away with your watching information

Although it is not an ideal workaround, if you already know that you do not wish to use Roku’s Instantaneous Resume characteristic, you’ll be able to clear your watch information by power closing no matter app you need the info faraway from. As a way to do that, as a substitute of urgent the House button, you’ll need to press and maintain the again button in your Roku distant till the Roku system prompts affirmation to shut the app completely. While you relaunch the app, your entire viewing information and saved spots will likely be gone, and film night time will likely be saved!

Be aware, despite the fact that Roku may not save your information, in case you are utilizing a logged-in account on an app like YouTube or Netflix, your home nonetheless could be saved on the account stage, which might supersede the Roku Instantaneous Resume workaround talked about above.

If you would like to be taught extra about this characteristic, you’ll be able to try extra on Roku’s developer’s information here.