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Connect and operate the native Roku player

Prepare the web account, publish a board, sign in on Roku, choose content, configure unattended playback, and understand native compatibility.

The Roku player is a native SceneGraph/BrightScript app with on-device Canvas Relay authentication and no six-digit code. It is publicly available in the Roku Streaming Store.

Install Canvas Relay from the Roku Streaming Store

  1. From the Roku home screen, open Home > Store/Streaming Store > Apps or Search > Canvas Relay > Add app > Open.
  2. You can also open the public Roku Streaming Store listing for Canvas Relay from the related links on this page.
The Roku Streaming Store listing is the current public install path for the native player.

Publish and prepare the account first

  1. In the Canvas Relay web app, create or open the board you want on the TV.
  2. Save the draft, then press Publish. Roku lists only published, non-archived boards; saving alone is not enough.
  3. If you normally use Google sign-in and have never created a Canvas Relay password, open Settings > Account & security > Set password. Create a Canvas Relay password; this does not disconnect Google.
  4. On Roku, enter your Canvas Relay email and Canvas Relay password—not your Google password.

Sign in and connect

  1. Install Canvas Relay from the Roku Streaming Store using the Store flow above, then open the app.
  2. Choose Sign in and enter the same Canvas Relay email and Canvas Relay password on-device. You may also create a Free account directly on Roku; there is no six-digit code.
  3. Existing Free, Stripe, or Roku Pay entitlement follows the account; do not create another subscription just because this is a Roku.
  4. If there is one published board, Canvas Relay assigns it automatically. If there are several, use Up/Down and OK in the board chooser.
  5. If Roku says no board is available, publish a non-archived board in the web app, return to Roku, and press OK to refresh.

Disable the Roku screensaver for signage

  1. Press Home on the Roku remote.
  2. Open Settings > Theme > Screensaver start time > Disable.
  3. Reopen Canvas Relay. The warning disappears when Roku reports that the screensaver is disabled.
Canvas Relay does not fake key presses or suppress Roku system behavior. This setting must be changed by the Roku owner.

What renders on Roku

  • Native board content: text, images, uploaded MP4 video, shapes, clocks, countdowns, slideshows/sequences, tickers, schedules, transitions, video fit/crop/container borders, takeovers, and the Free watermark.
  • Native data widgets: weather, air quality, tides, earthquakes, sun/moon, world clock, calendar agenda, news cards, quote rotator, reviews, social feed, transit, sports scoreboard, KPI, progress meter, data table, leaderboard, wait time, and inventory status (subject to plan/provider setup).
  • Snapshot widgets: banner, hours, menu list, and QR.
  • Unsupported on native Roku: Web Embed, YouTube, Map directions, Dashboard snapshot, and Custom HTML. Use a browser or Raspberry Pi player when those browser semantics are required.
The generated Widgets & player compatibility page is sourced from the same registry as the Relay compiler and is the detailed source of truth.

Publish update vs Roku app update

  • Board/content update — edit, Save, then Publish in Canvas Relay. The assigned Roku stages the new complete Relay Plan and swaps when ready.
  • Roku app update — installs a newer Canvas Relay player binary through Roku Store updates. Normal board publishes never require an app reinstall.
  • Temporary network loss uses the last usable cached plan when available. Do not disconnect or re-register a healthy screen merely because a large video is still preparing.

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