Want access to a treasure trove of classic, contemporary, and art house films? The Criterion Channel offers cinephiles an ad-free streaming home to acclaimed movies from around the world.
Activating your subscription is easy – just grab a device and follow this simple walkthrough. We’ll cover everything you need to start watching on platforms like Roku, Android TV, Apple TV, and more. Plus troubleshooting tips if you hit snags along the way.
Ready to dive in? Let’s get you set up!
Contents
What You’ll Need Before Starting
To smoothly activate your streaming access, make sure you have:
- A supported device connected to Wi-Fi like a smart TV, mobile phone, tablet, etc.
- Access to The Criterion Channel site on a second internet-enabled device to enter in your activation code.
- A valid paid subscription to The Criterion Channel. It offers both monthly ($10.99/month) and yearly ($99.99/year) plans.
And you’ll want to use one of these recommended browsers on your second device:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Apple Safari
That covers the basics! Now let’s walk through activation steps for a few popular platforms.
Activate on Your Android TV at criterionchannel.com/activate
- Turn on your Android TV and move to the home screen.
- Open the Google Play Store and install The Criterion Channel app if you haven’t already.
- Launch the newly installed Criterion app. You’ll see a unique activation code display right on your TV screen.
- Now grab your secondary device and visit criterionchannel.com/activate. Sign into your account.
- Enter the activation code shown on your TV and click Activate.
- Sit back and start streaming all those beloved art house, classic, and indie hits!
Activate Access on an Amazon Fire TV
Setting up access on Amazon’s media players only takes a minute:
- From your Fire TV’s home page, select the Apps tab from the main menu.
- Browse Apps to locate The Criterion Channel or use the search bar to find it quickly.
- Choose Get and let Amazon install the app.
- Once installed, launch The Criterion Channel app. You’ll receive an activation code right on your TV.
- Grab your other internet device and visit criterionchannel.com/activate. Sign into your Criterion account.
- Enter that onscreen activation code and hit Activate.
- Enjoy! Access thousands of films and exclusives.
Pro Tip: Fire tablets allow you to stream to compatible TVs or media players. So you can activate Criterion on that tablet and cast movies right to your biggest screen!
Set Up Your Roku Player via criterionchannel.com/activate
Roku makes streaming The Criterion Channel a cinch:
- Turn on your Roku device and press the Home button to reach Roku’s menu.
- Scroll down and select Streaming Channels followed by the Channel Store.
- Search for The Criterion Channel app by name or simply browse the listings.
- Pick the app and click Add Channel to install.
- Once installed, press your Roku’s Home button again to exit back to the home screen.
- Launch The Criterion Channel app that you just downloaded.
- You’ll now see your unique activation code right on screen.
- Visit criterionchannel.com/activate on your other internet device. Sign into your account.
- Input that onscreen activation code and hit Activate.
- Enjoy your unlimited access to hard-to-find cinema!
Activate on Your Apple TV
The ever-popular Apple TV grants you access too:
- Use the App Store’s Search feature to find The Criterion Channel app.
- Choose Get to install on your Apple TV.
- Head to your Apple TV’s home screen and launch the newly downloaded Criterion app from your app menu.
- Jot down the unique activation code that displays right on your TV.
- Visit criterionchannel.com/activate on another device, sign into your account, and input the activation code. Hit Activate.
- Start enjoying acclaimed films, festival winners, and cinema gems!
Supported Platforms for Streaming at criterionchannel.com/activate
The Criterion Channel app comes installed on many popular media players and smart TVs. But you can also get it on mobile devices through their respective app stores!
Supported options include:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- Apple iOS devices and Apple TV
- Google Android mobile devices
- LG Smart TVs
- Roku players
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Xbox One
And that covers the various ways to start streaming your favorite flicks through your Criterion Channel subscription!
Troubleshooting Tips
Hopefully the activation process went smooth. But if you faced any issues getting your devices linked up, try these fixes:
- Generate a Fresh Code: Activation codes eventually expire. Restart the app and obtain a brand new code if needed.
- Double Check Your Subscription: You’ll need an active paid account for activation to work properly.
- Contact Support: For persistent connection issues, get help directly from Criterion Channel Support.
Now kick back and start binging festival hits, prestige pictures, arthouse classics, and cinematic gems not available anywhere else!