How to restrict your Roku app with access codes

Fluger lets you lock your Roku app behind access codes so only people you give a code to can watch. This is useful when you want to sell access on your own website, give private access to a group, or run time-limited promotions.

Each access code can be configured with an expiration date and a maximum usage count, so you stay in full control of how long a code works and how many viewers can use it.

Before you start

• You need an active Premium plan (branded apps are a Premium feature).
• You need an existing Roku app in your Fluger account. If you haven't built one yet, see the How to build a Roku app guide first.
• Your Roku app must have at least one Roku-compatible channel selected (channels with mp4 or m3u8 videos).

Step 1 — Open your Roku app in Fluger

1. Log in to your Fluger dashboard.
2. From the top-right menu, open TV Apps.
3. On the Roku tab you will see your existing Roku app card with its App ID, logo, and the channels selected.

Step 2 — Enable "Restrict by access codes"

On the Roku app card, find the toggle labeled "Restrict by access codes" in the top right of the card.

1. Switch the toggle on.
2. A new link, "Manage access codes", will appear directly underneath the toggle.

The moment this toggle is on, your Roku app starts requiring an access code from viewers. Make sure you have at least one valid code generated before turning the toggle on for a live app — otherwise no one will be able to watch until you create codes.

Step 3 — Open the access-code manager

Click "Manage access codes". The Access Codes dialog opens. It has two sections:

• Generate access codes — the form at the top, used to create a new batch of codes.
• Existing codes — the table at the bottom, listing every code you've created and showing how it's being used.

Step 4 — Generate a batch of codes

The Generate form has four fields:

Number of codes

How many codes you want Fluger to create in this batch. There's no hard upper limit — generate as many or as few as you need. Each code is a unique random string.

Platform

Currently the only available platform is Roku. Other platforms (such as Fire TV) will be added as those branded apps become available.

Expiration date

Pick a date on which the codes in this batch should stop working. After this date, viewers using one of these codes will be denied access — even if they have not used up their maximum usage count yet.

Leave this field empty if you want the codes to never expire. Codes with no expiration are useful for permanent staff access or lifetime memberships.

Max usage count

How many times a single code can be redeemed. A code that has reached its maximum usage count will stop working for any new viewer.

Common patterns:

• 1 — single-use code. Best when each customer should get their own code (for example, a code emailed after a WordPress purchase).
• A small number (3, 5, 10) — multi-device, single-customer use. Lets a viewer activate the code on a few devices in their household before it runs out.
• 0 — unlimited usage. Useful for promotional codes that you want to share publicly without a redemption cap.

Once you've set the four fields, click "+ Generate". The codes are created instantly and appear in the Existing codes table.

Step 5 — Distribute codes to your viewers

Each code is a short alphanumeric string (for example, UR48G4D5). You can:

• Send a code to a single viewer over email after they pay you.
• Include the code automatically in your WooCommerce / Shopify / membership-platform purchase confirmation.
• Print codes on physical materials for in-person handouts.
• Share a single high-usage code with a group (church members, conference attendees, etc.).

Use the "Export CSV" button in the top-right of the Existing codes table to download every code in your account in spreadsheet form. This is convenient if you want to bulk-process codes with another tool.

Step 6 — Track usage

The Existing codes table shows the live status of every code you've generated:

• Code — the code string itself.
• Platform — which branded app the code unlocks (currently Roku).
• Expiration — the expiry date, or "Never" if you left it blank.
• Max — the maximum usage count for this code.
• Used # — how many times this code has actually been redeemed so far.
• Used — a quick yes/no flag indicating whether the code is currently consumed beyond its limit.
• Last used — the most recent date and time a viewer entered this code.

You can also delete a single code with the trash icon at the end of each row, or wipe every code in one go with the "Clear All" button. Clearing all codes does not turn the restriction off — it just removes every code, which means no viewer can access the Roku app until you generate new ones.

What viewers see on Roku

When access-code restriction is on, the Roku app shows a code-entry screen as soon as the viewer opens it. The viewer enters the access code you provided using the Roku remote. Once the code is accepted, the app opens normally and the viewer can watch your channels.

Each successful redemption increments the Used # counter on the corresponding code. When a code expires or hits its max usage, the viewer sees a message asking for a new code.

Turning the restriction off

If you want to make your Roku app open to everyone again, simply turn the "Restrict by access codes" toggle off. Existing codes are preserved in your account — you can re-enable the toggle later and continue using the same codes without regenerating them.

Common patterns

Selling subscriptions on your own website

Generate single-use codes with an expiration date that matches the subscription period (for example, 30 days for monthly subscribers). Email each new customer a code after they pay through your website. When their subscription ends, generate a new code for the next period.

Private content for a closed group

Generate a small number of high-max-usage codes and hand them out personally. Leave expiration blank if the group has permanent access.

Time-limited promotion

Generate a single unlimited-usage code with a near-term expiration date and share it publicly. Anyone who finds it can watch until the expiration date.