Observed Signal · Sep 30, 2026 · Policy Update · Source: Cord Cutters News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
How to Remove Apps on Roku After 2026 Home Screen Update
After the 2026 Roku home screen redesign, users may find it harder to locate where to uninstall apps. The new layout pushes installed apps below recommendation rows and Quick Access tiles. Roku clarifies that app removal is not done from the Quick Access section; users must navigate to the 'Your Apps' section, highlight the app, press the asterisk (*) button on the remote, select 'Remove app', and confirm. The same method works on Roku players and Roku TVs. Removing an app does not cancel subscriptions billed through Roku; users may need to manage auto-renew first. Hiding recommendation rows in Settings can make Your Apps easier to access. Removed apps can be reinstalled from the Streaming Store.
The Roku home screen update impacts user experience and app discoverability, relevant to CTV/OTT platform navigation but not a major industry shift.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Roku's 2026 home screen update moved installed apps below recommendation rows and Quick Access tiles.
- App removal on Roku requires navigating to the 'Your Apps' section, not the Quick Access area.
- Users must press the * button on the Roku remote and select 'Remove app' to uninstall.
- Removing an app does not automatically cancel subscriptions billed through Roku.
- The removal process works on both Roku players and Roku TVs.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Roku owners looking to tidy up their streaming lineup have run into a common snag after the company’s latest home screen redesign....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
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Roku UI Redesign: How to Restore Old Home Screen
Roku rolled out a major home screen redesign (begun late May 2026) that shifts devices from an app-centered grid to a content-focused interface emphasizing personalized recommendations, AI-driven organization, and a new Quick Access panel. The update surfaces a “Top Picks for You” row, additional recommendation-style rows, and denser app layouts with smaller tiles. Roku does not provide a full revert to the prior design, but built-in Home screen settings let users hide Recommended rows and Quick Access and switch Tile size to Large to approximate the classic 3×3 app grid. Other minor customizations (rearranging apps, hiding or rating suggestions, theme/wallpaper controls) remain available.
Roku Rolls Out Redesigned Home Screen; Old Layout Not Restorable
Roku unveiled a major redesign of its TV home screen on May 27, 2026, beginning a phased automatic rollout in the U.S. The overhaul adds an AI-driven Quick Access row, an expanded “Top Picks for You” recommendations row, genre-based destinations, a consolidated Subscriptions hub, a new search function and an interactive Roku City tile. Users can hide or remove tiles and the interface generates billions of unique layouts per session; the legacy layout cannot be restored. Roku says it will feed manual user corrections into its personalization engine and will apply the same signals to ads. The company moved its marquee video ad to the right of the discovery interface so it remains viewable (video plays only after click). Roku cited consumer research showing 82% want their chosen show to appear immediately on the home screen and said it will use surveys and feedback to manage ad frequency and reduce ad fatigue.
Roku Home Screen Rollout and YouTube TV Roku Changes
Roku rolled out a major home screen redesign that is now available to all compatible Roku TVs and players, offering enhanced personalization, faster content discovery, genre hubs, and customizable tiles. Manufacturers (e.g., TCL) will see a standardized Roku home appearance replacing many partner skins. Roku also expanded The Roku Channel with seven new free live channels (World Surf League, History Untold, Third Watch, Nosey Daytime Talk, All Out Alaska, Extreme Living, and Jesser). Separately, YouTube TV changed its Roku app behavior on many older Roku devices by disabling background video playback and muting audio while users browse the guide, a change tied to hardware performance on legacy players. The updates affect CTV user experience and content discovery and add AVOD/FAST inventory on Roku’s platform, while highlighting device fragmentation and feature trade-offs on older hardware.
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