The star button on a Roku remote is not a dedicated shortcut like the Netflix or OK buttons. Instead, it works as a contextual options key: what it does depends on where you are in the interface. On the home screen, highlighting an app and pressing star reveals management choices such as moving the channel, checking for updates, or removing it. On a Roku TV, highlighting an external input like a game console lets you rename it.
While streaming, the star button opens a sidebar with viewing options. Roku TV owners can adjust image quality, set a sleep timer, enable closed captioning, or change volume mode. The exact options vary by app, and Roku streaming boxes generally show fewer choices than Roku TVs.
The button also serves as an accessibility shortcut. On supported devices, pressing star four times quickly toggles the text-to-speech screen reader, which is currently available only in the United States. Users can still adjust the reader's speed and volume through the Settings menu, but the star button provides a faster way to turn it on without digging through menus.