Backdrops is a screensaver from Roku, Inc. that lets you display your own photos, or select from thousands of photos and other images, while your Roku TV is idle. Backdrops is currently available only on "select" Roku TVs in the US, but Roku says additional devices will be supported in the near future. (If the Backdrops app cannot be found with the "Add Channel" button below, and if you cannot find it using your Roku TV's search feature, that means the app is not currently available on your TV.)
To get started with Roku Backdrops, launch the app and open the settings menu by selecting the gear icon, then change the first setting to Enabled. Once you've done this, all you have to do is press the power (on/off) button on your Roku remote to start displaying photos from a pre-selected photo gallery. Once an image has loaded, pressing the [*] button on your remote lets you change your image portfolio, change the background brightness, change the image duration from the 1-hour default setting (options range from 10 seconds to 1 day), and turn on auto-start.
Backdrops includes a large library of photos and other images for display, arranged by subject matter and theme. You can select images by color - black, red, monochrome, etc. - or select from over 20 photo series that include Aerial, Birds, Underwater, and Night Sky. There are also paintings from dozens of artists like Bosch, Munch, and Monet, or you can select photos from many different photographers. You can add an entire collection of images for display, or select individual images within a collection to create a truly customized screensaver.
For many of us, however, the biggest appeal is the ability to add your own photos to Backdrops. You can upload photos at backdrops.roku.com, and Google Photos users can even connect their accounts to the Backdrops app. If you're connecting Google Photos, you will need to select the albums that you want to share with the app, then from within the app scroll down to My Photos and select an album and click "Set as Backdrop" to enable display of those photos.
To use the auto-start feature, which automatically launches the app after a period of TV inactivity, you will need to have the power saving feature activated on your Roku TV. To check or change this setting, from your Roku TV home screen go to Settings >> System >> Power >> Auto power savings.
Enabling Backdrops also enables a Start Backdrops shortcut on your home screen. This is not the same as the Backdrops app thumbnail, which takes you to the Backdrops setup screen. To remove the shortcut, from your Roku's home screen menu go to Settings >> Home screen >> Shortcut, then deselect Start Backdrops. However, users of non-Roku remotes may want to keep the shortcut, as Roku Support notes that the power button on non-Roku remotes will not launch Backdrops.
-- Information is current as of September 19, 2024
CHANNEL STORE DESCRIPTION: Your space, your canvas. Display art, personal photos, and more on your TV when you’re not streaming. Bring your living room to life with Backdrops, the TV app that turns your TV into a dynamic art piece. Choose from our large catalogue of images that includes timeless fine art and captivating art photography, or showcase your own photos. With Backdrops, your TV becomes a reflection of your personal style.
CHANNEL STORE CATEGORY: Apps
DEVELOPER: Roku, Inc.
FEES: None
