Hidden Roku streaming stick feature gets you a free add-on to help improve connectivity and performance

• Roku streaming sticks don't come with an HDMI cable in their box
• ... but you can still get one for free if you ask
• The request process is simple and should only take a few minutes

If you’ve tried a few different streaming stick brands, you’ll have noticed that Roku sticks lack a bonus HDMI cable that you’d get for free with an Amazon Fire Stick. Well, it turns out you can get this cable for free with Roku sticks too – if you know where to ask.

Whether you’re upgrading an older TV, want access to your favorite streamed content when you travel, or have some other need for one, streaming sticks from the likes of Amazon and Roku can be super handy.

But based on the design and port layout of your TV, and the other devices you have connected, it can be tricky to plug a streaming stick directly into your display – which is why Amazon Fire Sticks and others can come with an HDMI extender, a short additionable cable that creates more space between your stick and screen.

In your Roku stick’s box, you won’t find an extender, but you can request one for free from an official Roku HDMI page. You’ll just need to fill the form in with your name, address, telephone number, and your streaming stick’s serial number.

The serial number will be printed on the stick itself, with a label ‘SN:#####’ – with your device’s serial number replacing the #####. Alternatively, your stick’s serial number should appear in the Roku App; go to your Devices page, tap the three-dot menu icon next to the streaming stick, and then tap to View System Info.

With all of your information filled in, the HDMI extender will be shipped to your home free of charge – you shouldn’t even need to pay postage.

Cord Cutters News recently flagged this hidden feature, and while the request form has existed for some time, it has reportedly become a much simpler process to request an extender.

Though it’s not as streamlined as including the HDMI cable in the box to begin with, this approach does save Roku some costs and reduces tech waste. It obviously means for us consumers that setting up a Roku streaming stick can take a little longer, since we have to wait for a second package to arrive at our homes.

Not including this tool in the box might also reduce the effectiveness of Roku’s streaming sticks, as an extender can improve airflow to the stick, which helps with performance.

Though if you’ve been having any Roku stick troubles, this could be the solution you needed.

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