Your Roku won't turn on, the screen is blank, or your show just won't play. Start with the power check, then jump to the section that matches what's happening on your screen. These fixes cover external Roku players, Streaming Sticks, and streaming-enabled Streambars.
Start with the power connection
Check your player's status light if it has one. No light? Start with power. A white light with no picture directs you to the TV input. Flashing red means insufficient power; solid red means overheating.
For a solid red light, unplug the player and follow the cooling steps below before using it again. Reconnect the power cable firmly.
For a wall-powered player, connect the Roku-supplied adapter directly to a different working wall outlet instead of through a power strip. For a USB-powered player, reconnect both ends of the original Roku USB cable. Avoid long, low-quality USB extensions.
If you see a low-power warning, crashes, or random restarts while using TV USB power, connect that cable to a compatible USB wall adapter. Roku specifies 5V, 1A or equivalent for the USB-powered players covered by its low-power guidance when an adapter was not supplied. That is not an Ultra power-adapter specification.
On Streaming Stick 4K model 3820, use the supplied USB power cable. Its long-range Wi-Fi receiver is built into the cable, and replacing it with a generic cable is a cause of error 022.
If there's still no power, contact Roku about a compatible replacement adapter or warranty service. If the player powers up but stays frozen or blank, try a restart next.
Restart a frozen or unresponsive Roku
Use the menu if it responds, or disconnect power if you're stuck.
- 1.Press Home on the Roku remote.
- 2.Open Settings > System > Power > System restart. If Power is absent, use Settings > System > System restart.
- 3.If you cannot open the menus, disconnect the player's power cord for at least 10 seconds, then reconnect it.
- 4.Wait for startup, then try navigating or playing a title again.
If the TV shows no picture
A mismatched TV input leaves you looking at the wrong HDMI connection. Turn on the TV. Use the TV remote's Input, Source, or Video button to select the HDMI port containing Roku. When cycling through inputs, pause about 10 seconds on each.
Press Home on the Roku remote to wake the player. Reconnect both ends of the HDMI cable. For a directly connected Streaming Stick, firmly reseat the stick in the TV's HDMI port instead. Try a different HDMI port.
For a player with a separate HDMI cable, test another cable. Test the player on another TV if the screen stays blank.
A purple screen or HDCP Error Detected calls for an HDMI connection reset. Start by disconnecting HDMI at both ends. Turn off the TV and any receiver or soundbar. Unplug the TV, receiver or soundbar, and Roku from power.
Reconnect HDMI securely. Reconnect power to all the equipment, then turn the equipment on. Retry playback. If the error continues through an HDMI switch, receiver, or soundbar, connect Roku directly to the TV.
If the picture disappeared immediately after changing Display type, wait 20 seconds without confirming. Roku automatically restores the previous setting. Once the menus are visible, select a compatible format under Settings > Display type.
Press OK. When the picture appears, select Yes, I can see it. Press OK to confirm.
When the remote stops responding
Button presses getting you nowhere? Check the remote next. A simple Roku remote without a voice button needs a clear infrared path to the player.
Point a simple remote directly at the player. Clear anything blocking the front of the player. Move the box out from behind the TV or cabinet.
For a battery-powered remote, remove both batteries. Press any two buttons. Insert a fresh matching pair of batteries, placing the negative end first where applicable. Replace the battery cover.
For a rechargeable voice remote, charge it with the supplied cable from USB power or a computer for at least five hours. Restart a rechargeable voice remote by holding its Pairing button for 20 seconds. Without that button, hold Back and Home together for 20 seconds instead. Wait for the remote's light to stop flashing.
If a voice remote still needs pairing, unplug the player's power for at least five seconds. Reconnect power and wait for the Home screen. Hold the remote's Pairing button for five seconds until its light flashes. On a remote without that button, hold Back and Home for five seconds instead.
Wait for pairing confirmation. Simple infrared remotes do not use pairing.
If the remote still fails, select your player in the Roku mobile app and tap Remote for an alternative control. Your phone and Roku must be on the same network, and the player must already be reachable.
A red light or overheating warning
Carefully unplug the player's power when you see a solid red light or Your device is overheating. Move it to an uncovered, ventilated location away from sunlight, soft surfaces, enclosed cabinets, and stacked electronics. Wait at least 10 minutes before reconnecting power. Unplug it immediately if the warning returns.
Repeat the cooling process once. Stop using the player if overheating persists. Contact Roku for help with recurring overheating. For an eligible Streaming Stick, Roku's free HDMI extender provides extra space between the stick and the heat behind your TV.
Get streaming working on your network
Menus work, but streaming doesn't? Open Settings > Network > About to check the connection status and, for Wi-Fi, Signal strength.
Run Settings > Network > Check connection. After a router or password change, open Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless. Select your network. Use Scan again if it is missing.
Enter the network's case-sensitive password to connect. If the connection still fails, unplug Roku, your router, and your modem. Wait about 15 seconds. Reconnect the modem first, then the router, and Roku last.
For a weak wireless signal, move the router and Roku closer together, outside enclosed cabinets. Reduce obstructions between the devices. Pause large downloads and other devices' streaming to reduce congestion.
For a Roku with a built-in Ethernet port, connect an Ethernet cable between that port and your router. Select Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wired.
For a persistently failing connection, select Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset > Reset connection. Set up the network again after Roku restarts.
If streaming still fails, test another internet source, such as a phone hotspot. Mobile data limits and charges depend on your plan. If Roku works there, contact your ISP or Roku Support about the home connection.
Fix an app that will not load or play
Use these checks when Roku responds normally but an app crashes, shows a black screen, or refuses to play. First, narrow down whether the problem affects one service or every app.
Try another title in the affected app. Test playback in another app, such as The Roku Channel. If only one service fails, check its official website for an outage. Contact that service if the problem stays limited to its app.
Check for Roku and app updates under Settings > System > Software update > Check Now. Some Roku menus use System update and Check now. Allow updates to finish and the player to restart.
For an individual app update, highlight the app on the Home screen. Press Star. Select Check for Updates.
If the app keeps failing, highlight it again on the Home screen. Press Star. Select Remove app and confirm removal. An active Roku-billed subscription or billing period can block removal and show Manage subscription instead.
Restart Roku after removing the app. Open Streaming Store from the Home screen. Find the app and open its details. Select Add app.
Complete the app's sign-in instructions again. For subscriber-only content, check that your subscription includes the title. Review Roku Pay subscriptions at your Roku subscriptions page, or use the service's account website for subscriptions purchased directly.
Picture works but sound is missing
A muted TV or sound system leaves playback silent even when the picture works. Turn off Mute on the TV and sound system. Raise their volume. Select the input connected to Roku on your receiver or soundbar.
If you were using mobile Headphone Mode, open Remote in the Roku mobile app. Tap the headphones icon to deactivate Headphone Mode. If headphones are connected to a compatible remote's headphone jack, unplug them to restore TV sound.
Reseat the HDMI connection if sound is still missing. On players with the setting, select Settings > Audio > Digital output format > Stereo. Use this when the TV or sound system cannot decode the supplied surround format.
Reconnect all cables, including power, if silence continues. Test another input. Replace cables one at a time to isolate the failing connection.
Factory reset as a last resort
Save this for persistent problems: a factory reset removes preferences, apps, account information, and the account link.
- 1.If you can navigate, open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset and follow the displayed instructions.
- 2.If the menus are unresponsive, use the physical Reset button on the back or bottom instead. With the player powered on, hold it for about 10 seconds and release when the status LED blinks rapidly.
- 3.Complete Guided Setup, network setup, activation, and your app sign-ins again.
- 4.If the problem remains, open Roku Support and select Start chatting under Chat with us. Describe the symptoms and provide the model and software information from Settings > System > About if accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Roku seem to turn off after 20 minutes?
Supported players have auto power savings. To disable it, open Home > Settings > System > Power > Auto power savings. Uncheck After 20 minutes of no interaction. This setting is available only on supported models.
Why does Roku ask whether I am still watching?
Bandwidth Saver displays its inactivity prompt after four hours without remote or mobile-app interaction. Select Keep streaming to continue, or Don't ask again for this app to stop that app's prompt. To disable system-level Bandwidth Saver, select Settings > Network > Bandwidth saver > Off. An app's own inactivity timeout remains separate.
Why can't my iPhone find Roku even on the same network?
Check Roku's local-network permission on your iPhone. Open Settings, find the Roku app settings, and enable Local Network. Disconnect the phone's VPN if one is active. For manual connection, find Roku's IP address under Settings > Network > About. In the mobile app, open Devices > Get help? > Connect manually, enter that address, and tap CONNECT.
Why does the screen flash black when playback starts or stops?
Automatic refresh-rate switching can cause black flashes when starting or stopping playback. On compatible players that expose the option, select Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced display settings > Auto-adjust display refresh rate > Disabled.