How to Record on Roku Using Cloud DVR and Screen Recorders

Can you record on Roku? Directly, no. But you can use Cloud DVR on services like YouTube TV, or use an HDMI Capture Card for local recording.

Smart TVs are starting to dominate the market as the top option for modern households when looking for a home entertainment system. Today, Roku is the number one company in the streaming service market. The company offers several devices ideal for streaming use, such as its own Roku TV, streaming players, and Smart TV accessories.

Despite its dominance in the market, Roku has a premium feature that is not available among their devices, with none other than a built-in digital video recorder or DVR. Due to the lack of this feature, Roku users have no recording option that they can use directly from their hardware. Fortunately, some streaming software has a dedicated DVR such as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, both of which are available on Roku. In this guide, we will provide two guides on how to record on Roku using two methods: using Cloud DVR on streaming services or using a screen recorder. To learn more about this topic, please continue reading down below.

Part 1. How to Record with Cloud DVR
Part 2. How to Record with AnyMP4 Screen Recorder
Part 3. How to Record Roku with a Capture Card and HDCP Splitter
Part 4. FAQs About Recording on Roku

Comparison Measurements	Digital Video Recorder (DVR)	AnyMP4 Screen Recorder	Capture Card + HDCP Splitter
Native Roku Record Button	No built-in record button	The software serves as a Roku record button alternative.	The hardware serves as a Roku record button.
Recordings are saved locally.
Recorded videos can be transferred to other devices.
Works with DRM‑Protected Content
Capable of saving high-definition videos.
Saved videos can be watched offline.
Requires Hardware
Scheduled Recording

Part 1. How to Record with Cloud DVR

Before proceeding to our guide on how to use the DVR features of streaming services that offer this feature, let us first proceed to a quick introduction to learn more about what exactly are digital video recorders and what level of convenience they can provide to their users. After the quick introduction, we can now move on to the step-by-step guide on how to use them.

What is Cloud DVR

Cloud-based digital video recorders are built-in features in some streaming services that allow users to record digital content and save it on the cloud servers of these streaming devices. Simply put, this feature allows users to save content for offline watching, which will then be saved in the cloud storage linked to their accounts.

This feature is often available on streaming services with live TV features, making it very popular among Roku users. Due to this popularity, the absence of a built-in DVR feature on Roku is quite surprising. With the concept of DVR now explained, we can now proceed to the tutorial on how to use it on streaming services that offer this feature.

How to Use Cloud DVR on Roku

Although Roku TV and Roku Streaming Players offer multiple streaming services, only a fraction of these applications have a built-in DVR feature. Because of that, the ones without a DVR cannot save videos for offline use. This is a major setback for users who are looking to watch series or movies in one go without worrying about fluctuating internet speed or slowdowns.

To help our readers manage their expectations, we have provided a short list of popular streaming services that offer a DVR feature.

Streaming Services on Roku with DVR Feature

• YouTube TV
• Hulu via Hulu + Live TV
• Peacock via Premium Plus
• Spectrum
• Sling TV

In this short guide, we will use YouTube TV's DVR feature since this streaming service is the most popular option with a built-in DVR feature that does not require additional fees or plan upgrades to record TV shows.

1. Open YouTube TV and click the Search button. Then, type the name of the show that you want to save.

2. In the title card of the show or movie that you want to save, click the Add To Library option. A notification will pop up immediately to inform you that YouTube TV will record the show or movie that you selected.

3. To access the shows that you saved using DVR, go back to the main menu and go to the Library section. The show or movie that you have saved can be accessed there.

With the help of this guide, you can now save any content that you wish as long as the streaming service you selected has a DVR feature. However, suppose the content is only accessible in a streaming service that does not have a DVR function. In that case, we recommend checking the next section of this article to learn how to use a screen recorder as an alternative option.

Part 2. How to Record with AnyMP4 Screen Recorder

Since Roku devices do not include a built-in DVR feature, many seek an alternative way to save content. This opens the possibility of recording content using AnyMP4 Screen Recorder. It comes with a Scheduled Recording feature, which is useful since most Roku programs have fixed durations. It ensures you can capture the full content automatically without needing to monitor the playback. Plus, it can capture a 4K UHD video with lossless audio and video quality.

Important Note: There are several ways to get Roku content onto your computer for recording:
Hardware Capture Card: Connect your Roku device physically to your PC using an HDMI capture card. This method captures the video signal directly and ensures high-quality output.
Web Browser Streaming: Access Roku-supported streaming services directly on your computer through a web browser.
Roku Mirroring/Screen Casting: Use Roku’s screen mirroring feature to display content on your PC.
No matter which method you choose, AnyMP4 Screen Recorder can record the content.

Here’s how to save Roku shows using AnyMP4 Screen Recorder:

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Free Download For macOS

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1. Open the Roku streaming service app on your computer and set the video you want to record to full screen.

2.While the streaming service’s media player is active, open AnyMP4 Screen Recorder and select the Video Recorder mode. Choose Full Screen and enable System Sound to include the audio on your recording. Then, click REC to initiate the recording.

Anymp4 Screen Recorder Full Screen Rec Button

Tips

If the program has a fixed schedule, click Task Schedule and set the start time, end time, and recording duration in advance.

3. Once the recording ends, use the built-in editing tools to trim or adjust the video.. If no edits are needed, click the Folder button to locate the recorded MP4 file on your PC.

Most streaming services use DRM protection. Any attempt may cause a Roku streaming screen recording black screen without fix. Due to DRM restrictions, AnyMP4 Screen Recorder can only be used to record non-DRM content. This solution only applies to personal videos, presentations, locally hosted streams, etc.

Part 3. How to Record Roku with a Capture Card and HDCP Splitter

HDCP is a form of digital copy protection embedded in Roku’s HDMI output. It is designed to prevent piracy by blocking unauthorized recording of protected content. If you connect a Roku directly to a capture card without handling HDCP, the captured video will either be black or unusable. To record HDCP-protected content from Roku, you need an HDCP Stripper/Splitter. This removes the encryption signal from the HDMI output, allowing the capture card to record the video. This setup can capture Roku video without HDCP issues.

Here’s how to record on Roku with a capture card and HDCP Stripper/Splitter:

1. Plug Roku into the HDCP Stripper/Splitter via HDMI. Next, connect the splitter output to the HDMI input on your capture card. Lastly, connect the capture card to your PC via USB or PCIe.

2. Install the capture card’s software on your computer and select it as the input source. Configure video resolution, frame rate, and audio input to match the Roku output.

3. Play the content on your Roku device and click REC on your screen recorder software to start recording. Once recording is complete, stop the capture in your software.

This method removes the encryption signal, allowing the capture card to record without interruption. This is essential for archiving legally purchased content or personal recordings of subscription services. But keep this reminder: HDCP removal should only be used for personal archiving of legally obtained content.

Part 4. FAQs About Recording on Roku

Can you record shows with a Roku device?

You cannot record shows on a Roku device. It will be highly dependent on what streaming service you are going to use. If you want to learn where is record button on the Roku remote is, the answer is that it does not exist.

How do I find out if my streaming service offers Cloud DVR?

Search for a button that you can use to save video offline. This feature is exclusively available only for services with cloud DVR functions. This is because cloud DVR is essentially used to save videos for offline usage.

Is AnyMP4 screen recording software free?

Yes, it is. You can enjoy the software for free. It can be downloaded at AnyMP4 Screen Recorder’s dedicated site.

Where can I download AnyMP4?

AnyMP4 software can be downloaded from their website. Their multimedia tools offer practicality and convenience to their users. Two of the more practical software developed by AnyMP4 are AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate and AnyMP4 Screen Recorder.

How to record on Roku remote?

Roku’s remote control has no record button. This is because Roku devices themselves have no recording feature. However, you can record shows on Roku to watch later if the streaming service that you are using has a cloud DVR feature.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has taught you how to record and save your favorite shows on Roku. For maximum practicality and convenience, always remember that you can use AnyMP4 Screen Recorder both as an alternative and as an upgrade.

To help other Roku users looking for a guide about saving content offline, please share this article online.