Is your Roku not working? Try these troubleshooting steps

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Roku streaming devices provide a great way to bring the world of streaming entertainment into your living room. But like any electronic device, your Roku device can sometimes experience issues. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help if your Roku device isn’t working.



1 General repairs

Roku TV at home
Ahmed Daniel Zollhelmi/Shutterstock

Before we examine the specific issues, here are some general fixes for your Roku device.

Update your Roku

As with most electronics, it’s always a good idea to keep any Roku device up to date with the latest software. This can help resolve some issues. Any Roku device is designed to update its software automatically, but you can also manually check for an update:

  1. Press the Home icon on your Roku remote.
  2. He chooses Settings > System.
  3. He chooses Software update And then Check now To check for an update manually.

If an update is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically.


Restart Roku

The simplest option when troubleshooting your Roku is to restart the device. The easiest way to do this is to unplug the power cord for 60 seconds and then plug it back into the device, but you can also restart the device without unplugging it.

To do this, press the Home button on your remote again. Select Settings > system. Next, select Settings And then Restart the system.

Factory reset Roku device

A more drastic step is to perform a factory reset. This will reset the device, erase all presets, unlink your device from your Roku account, and reset all settings back to their original setup.

  1. Press the Home icon on your Roku remote.
  2. He chooses Settings > System > Advanced System Settings.
  3. He chooses Factory reset.

Now, follow the on-screen instructions.

2 No audio output

Wall Mounted TV with Roku Playback
Rocco


If you don’t hear sound from your Roku device, there are a few steps you can try. If your streaming device is connected directly to your TV, make sure all cables are securely attached to both the Roku device and the TV. Then, try the cable at a different input on your TV. You can also try replacing the cable itself.

If your Roku is connected to a soundbar or other audio system, check all cable connections and make sure the system is set to the correct input for your Roku. Then try a different input to determine if the problem is with your Roku or your audio device. Replacing the cables with new ones is also an option.

If problems persist, try this:

  1. Press the Home icon on your Roku remote.
  2. He chooses Settings > Sound > Digital Output Format.
  3. He chooses stereo.

3 The remote control will not work.

Roku Streambar Pro Remote Control and Earphones
Rocco


The Roku remote is the heart of your streaming device. With just a tap, you can quickly access everything you need. There are a few different solutions you can try if your Roku remote is not working.

One of the most common issues is that the remote becomes unpaired from the Roku device itself. To re-pair the remote, unplug the Roku device from the power source and wait 60 seconds. Wait for the home page to load and look for the pairing button on the remote. Press and hold the pairing button for at least five seconds until the Roku remote starts flashing.

4 wifi problems

If you're having wireless connectivity issues, you have a few options. First, try restarting your Roku, modem, and router to see if that helps.

If problems persist, contact: Settings > Network > About To see the most recent connection check performed by your Roku device, take a look at each of the Signal strength and Internet download speed If these numbers are low, you may consider moving your router closer to your Roku device or purchasing a wireless mesh networking system to improve connectivity.


5 Audio and video are out of sync.

It is obvious and annoying that audio and video are out of sync on your Roku. First, restart your TV, Roku, and other audio devices. Then, you can go to Settings > Sound > Sound ModeIf set to . toTry switching to stereo.

6 Low power warning

Roku device shows low power message
Ross Ware/MakeUseOf

Many smaller Roku devices can be plugged directly into a free USB port on your TV and get enough power to operate. This helps save space, especially if you have a wall-mounted TV without having to worry about finding a free electrical outlet. However, an older TV may not get enough power from the USB port to use the Roku.


If your Roku doesn't have enough power to start, the status light on the device will slowly flash red. You may also see an error message saying there's not enough power.

To fix the Roku low power warning, try replacing the USB cable with a new one. Then, try plugging your Roku into another USB port on your TV to see if it provides more power. If none of these solutions work, you'll need to power your Roku from an electrical outlet.

7 Roku app not working

Roku controller with Roku logo on smartphone screen
Renata Colella/Shutterstock

The Roku app for iOS or Android is a great companion to your streaming device. It can act as an additional remote, send media files to your TV, play channels on your Roku, and more.


If the app isn’t working with your streaming device, there are a few things you can try. First, restart your Roku and your smartphone or tablet. Then, make sure both your Roku and smartphone are using the same Wi-Fi network. Next, make sure Wi-Fi access is enabled on your Roku by going to Settings > Systems > Advanced System Settings.Then select Control via mobile applications > Network accessMake sure it is set to shortening.

8 External USB drive not recognized

Some Roku devices have an additional USB port for connecting an external USB drive. This allows you to play photos, audio, and video stored on the drive, as well as pause live TV.

If you're having trouble accessing content on the drive, there's likely a problem with low power or how the drive is formatted. Make sure the drive uses an external power adapter if one is available. If you don't have one, try using a powered USB hub.

To use it on Roku, the drive must be formatted with FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, Ext2, Ext3, exFAT, HFS+.


With just a little effort, you can easily troubleshoot most issues with your Roku device and get back to streaming all the content you can imagine.

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