Quick answer
No, the Apollo TV app can't be installed on Roku. Roku devices run Roku OS and only install channels from the Roku Channel Store, so Android app files don't work on them. Roku owners can still watch on the same TV by plugging a supported streaming stick into a spare HDMI port, or by using screen mirroring or AirPlay.
Roku is one of the most popular ways to stream in North America. Many households have a Roku stick or box, or a TV with Roku built in, so it's natural to search for how to download Apollo Group TV on a Roku. The Apollo TV app can't be installed on Roku devices today. Most Roku owners can still watch Apollo Group TV on the same television, often with a setup that costs little or nothing.
Roku runs its own operating system with its own app store, and that one fact explains everything below. After it come four options, most reliable first, and a list of Roku tricks that don't work, so you don't lose an evening to them.
The short answer
- The Apollo TV app is not available for Roku. Roku devices aren't on our list of supported devices, which you can always check on our Apollo TV app page.
- You can't sideload apps onto a Roku the way you can on Fire TV. Roku runs its own system, not Android, and only installs apps from its own store.
- You can still watch on a Roku TV or a TV with a Roku plugged in. The most reliable way is to add a supported streaming stick to a spare HDMI port.
- Screen mirroring and AirPlay are quick alternatives on many Roku models, with some limits.
Why Roku is different from Fire TV
Fire TV and Android TV devices run systems built on Android. Android lets you install an app from a file, which is how the Apollo TV app is installed with the Downloader app. Our article on the Apollo TV Downloader code explains that process.
Roku devices run Roku OS, a system Roku builds itself. Apps on Roku, which Roku calls channels, are written specifically for Roku OS and distributed through the Roku Channel Store. There is no setting that lets you install an Android app file on a Roku, and Android apps wouldn't run on Roku OS even if you could copy them over.
What about Roku developer mode?
Roku has a developer mode, described in Roku's developer documentation. It exists so developers can test channels they're building themselves, written in Roku's own programming language. It doesn't turn a Roku into a device that installs Android apps, and it isn't a way to install the Apollo TV app. If a video tells you otherwise, it's describing something else.
What about IPTV players in the Roku Channel Store?
Some player channels in the Roku Channel Store accept playlist links. We haven't verified these players, their features change over time, and we can't provide support for them. If you try one, use only the details from your own My Account page, never enter payment details inside a player, and keep in mind that the options below are the ones we can help you set up.
Option 1: Add a supported streaming stick (recommended)
Every Roku TV has HDMI inputs, and so does every TV you've plugged a Roku stick into. Adding a supported streaming device to a spare HDMI port is the most reliable way to watch Apollo Group TV on that screen, and you get the full Apollo TV app.
Which device to choose
- A Fire TV Stick running Fire OS. Check the operating system before you buy. Some newer Fire TV models run Vega OS and only install apps from the Amazon Appstore. Our guide to the best Fire TV Stick for IPTV explains which models work and how to check.
- An Android TV or Google TV device, such as a Chromecast with Google TV or a Google TV Streamer. Our guide to Apollo TV on Google TV covers those devices.
Setting it up on a Roku TV
- Plug the stick into a free HDMI port, and its power adapter into a wall socket.
- On your Roku TV's home screen, an HDMI tile for that port usually appears automatically. If it doesn't, go to Settings > TV inputs, choose the HDMI port and select Set up input.
- Select the HDMI tile to switch to the stick, then follow its setup screens to connect to Wi-Fi.
- Install the Apollo TV app with our Fire TV and Android TV guide.
- Sign in with the details from My Account.
You can rename the HDMI tile (for example, to "Apollo") and move it next to your favorite Roku channels, so switching feels like opening any other app.
Setting it up with a Roku stick or box
If your Roku is a separate stick or box, the TV has at least one other HDMI port. Plug the new stick into it and switch between them with the TV's Input or Source button. Many people keep both: the Roku for its own channels and the second stick for Apollo Group TV.
Using one remote
Most TVs support HDMI-CEC, which lets a streaming stick's remote turn the TV on and off and change the volume. On Roku TVs, look under Settings > System > Control other devices (CEC) and make sure 1-touch play and System standby are on. With CEC working, pressing Home on the stick's remote usually switches the TV to that HDMI input automatically.
Option 2: Screen mirroring from an Android phone or Windows PC
Many Roku devices support screen mirroring, which shows your phone or computer screen on the TV. Roku explains how it works on its screen mirroring support page.
How to try it
- On the Roku, go to Settings > System > Screen mirroring and choose Prompt or Always allow.
- Install the Apollo TV app on your Android phone or Windows computer, using our Android phone and tablet guide or Windows guide.
- On Android, open the quick settings and choose Smart View or the screen cast option (the name varies by brand). On Windows 11, press Windows key + K and choose Connect to a wireless display.
- Select your Roku from the list and accept the prompt on the TV.
- Open the Apollo TV app and play full screen.
What to expect
Mirroring sends the picture from your phone to the TV over your home Wi-Fi, so it depends on a strong connection between the two. Expect a slight delay, a picture quality limited by the mirroring connection, and a phone that has to stay awake and nearby. It's good for a quick evening or for trying things out, but a stick plugged into the TV is steadier for everyday live TV.
Option 3: AirPlay from iPhone, iPad or Mac
Many recent Roku devices, including many 4K models, support Apple AirPlay. Roku lists compatible models on its AirPlay support page.
How to try it
- On the Roku, go to Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit and make sure AirPlay is on. Your Apple device and the Roku must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Set up your player on iPhone or iPad with your login details, as shown in our iPhone and iPad guide.
- Start playback, then tap the AirPlay icon in the player if it has one, or use Screen Mirroring from Control Center.
- Choose your Roku. The first time, the TV shows a code to enter on your iPhone.
Some player apps support sending video directly over AirPlay, which usually looks better than mirroring the whole screen. If yours doesn't, screen mirroring works the same way as with Android, with the same limits.
Option 4: Connect a laptop with an HDMI cable
If you have a Windows or Mac laptop, install the Apollo Group TV app with our Windows guide or Mac guide, connect the laptop to a free HDMI port on the TV, and switch the TV to that input. It's simple and dependable for an occasional big event, though less convenient than a stick with its own remote for everyday viewing.
Comparing the options
| Option | Reliability | Extra cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported stick in a spare HDMI port | High | One-off device purchase | Everyday viewing on the main TV |
| Screen mirroring (Android or Windows) | Varies with Wi-Fi | None if you own the phone or PC | Trying it out, occasional viewing |
| AirPlay (iPhone, iPad, Mac) | Varies with Wi-Fi | None if your Roku supports it | Apple households, quick viewing |
| Laptop with HDMI cable | High | Usually none | Big events, a spare TV |
Things that don't work on Roku
To save you time, here are the approaches people often try that won't get the Apollo TV app onto a Roku:
- Downloading an APK file on the Roku. Roku OS can't open Android app files.
- Searching the Roku Channel Store for Apollo TV. It isn't listed there. Anything using the name in another store or listing isn't from us.
- Using developer mode. As explained above, it's for developers testing their own Roku channels.
- Unofficial codes from videos. Roku doesn't use Downloader codes. Those codes are for Fire TV and Android TV only.
If someone offers you an "Apollo app for Roku" outside our website, treat it with suspicion. Our guide to the official Apollo Group TV website explains how to spot lookalike sites and apps.
Before you buy anything for your Roku TV
- Check the device is supported on our app page.
- Check the operating system if you're buying a Fire TV Stick, and avoid Vega OS models.
- Check you have a free HDMI port, and that the stick's power adapter can reach a wall socket. Many TV USB ports don't supply enough power.
- Check your internet at the TV. Our guide to the internet speed you need for IPTV explains what live TV needs, and Ethernet vs Wi-Fi on a Firestick helps if the TV is far from the router.
- Plan for your connection limit if several TVs will watch at once. See our article on IPTV connection limits.
Example scenario: a Roku TV in the living room
*An illustrative scenario based on common support questions, not a specific customer's account.*
In this scenario, a household with a Roku TV wanted to watch Apollo Group TV without replacing the television. They bought a Fire OS streaming stick, plugged it into HDMI 2, set up the input from the Roku home screen and renamed the tile "Apollo". With CEC turned on, the stick's remote switched the TV on and jumped straight to the right input. They installed the Apollo TV app with Downloader and signed in with the details from My Account. The Roku home screen still runs all their other channels, and Apollo Group TV is one tile away.
Frequently asked questions
Can you download Apollo Group TV on Roku?
No. The Apollo TV app isn't available in the Roku Channel Store, and Roku devices can't install Android app files. A supported streaming stick plugged into the TV is the recommended way to watch on a Roku TV.
Does Apollo Group TV work on a Roku TV?
Not directly with the Apollo TV app, but you can watch on a Roku TV by connecting a supported device to one of its HDMI ports, or by mirroring or AirPlaying from a phone, tablet or computer.
Is there a Roku version of the Apollo TV app coming?
We list a device only once the app has been tested and works on it. The current list is always on our app page. If Roku is added, the setup guide will appear there at the same time.
Can I use AirPlay to watch Apollo Group TV on Roku?
On many Roku models, yes. AirPlay sends video from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to the TV over Wi-Fi. Check Roku's list of AirPlay-compatible devices first.
Why does screen mirroring look worse than the app?
Mirroring re-sends your phone's screen to the TV over Wi-Fi, which adds a step and can lower quality. A stick running the app on the TV plays the stream directly.
Will a second streaming stick interfere with my Roku?
No. Each device uses its own HDMI port and you switch between them with the TV's input. Both can stay connected.
Do I need a VPN on Roku?
No. See our article on whether you need a VPN for Apollo TV.
Conclusion
Apollo Group TV doesn't run on Roku itself, because Roku OS only installs channels from Roku's own store. Roku owners can still watch on the same TV: a supported streaming stick in a spare HDMI port is the most reliable option and gives you the full app, while screen mirroring, AirPlay and a laptop over HDMI are quick alternatives.
Check the supported devices before buying anything, and if you're not sure what suits your setup, ask our support team. When you're ready, you can compare the packs.