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Roku City to Replace Fish Tank Screensaver

Roku households using the Aquatic Life screensaver will see Roku City become the default starting December 1, 2026.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Aquariums

Roku City to Replace Fish Tank Screensaver

Roku is removing its Aquatic Life screensaver, also known as the fish tank screensaver, on December 1, 2026, and Roku City will become the default. Roku users are already receiving an on-screen notification about the change.

Why it matters

Households that have relied on the fish tank screensaver as a calm, ambient display will lose that default and see the Roku City advertising-driven environment instead. The switch reflects Roku's push to turn its screensaver into an entertainment and advertising space, which is part of why it matters to anyone using a Roku-powered TV at home.

Roku is removing the Aquatic Life screensaver on December 1, 2026, and Roku City will replace it as the default. The change arrives nearly 10 years after Roku City first appeared in 2017.

The players

Roku

Roku makes the streaming platform and devices used on many U.S. televisions, and its Roku City screensaver has become an advertising venue.

The details

Roku users receive an on-screen notification when the screensaver activates, letting them know the change is coming. Those who want to keep a different look can open Settings, select Theme, then Screensaver, and browse the Theme Store to choose an alternative screensaver. Roku City, introduced in 2017 as an entertainment utopia screensaver, has grown into an advertising platform that has featured a Barbie billboard and McDonald's golden arches. Roku has also used it to host Live from Roku City events featuring Demi Lovato, Wicked: For Good, and Luke Bryan.

Timeline

  1. 2017: Roku City is introduced as an entertainment utopia screensaver.

  2. September 2025: Roku City hosts a Luke Bryan country music takeover for his new album.

  3. April 2026: Roku launches the Roku City Dash game.

  4. December 1, 2026: The Aquatic Life screensaver is removed and Roku City becomes the default.

Lifestyle Context

The Aquatic Life fish tank screensaver has been a familiar ambient option on Roku devices, and Roku City, introduced in 2017, has since become the company's advertising-driven screensaver. The December 1, 2026 switch makes Roku City the default for U.S. households using Roku-powered TVs.

If you rely on the fish tank screensaver, open Settings, select Theme, then Screensaver, and browse the Theme Store before December 1, 2026 to choose a replacement you prefer. Treat the on-screen notification as your cue to decide now rather than after the default switches.

The takeaway

The fish tank screensaver many households know is going away on December 1, 2026, so the Roku City default will be the look waiting on your TV. Check your screensaver options in Settings before that date if you want to keep a calmer ambient display.

What happens next

Roku City becomes the default screensaver on December 1, 2026, the date the Aquatic Life screensaver is removed.

Further reading

For more on the ambient fish-tank look many households enjoy, browse our Aquariums coverage.