To fix a Roku TV that keeps disconnecting from the internet, restart the TV and router, check the network connection, and reconnect to Wi-Fi. If the drops continue, improve the wireless signal, update the TV, and reset its saved network connection. A connection test helps separate a Wi-Fi failure from an internet outage or an app playback problem.
The short version
- Check the connection: Open Settings > Network > Check connection to distinguish a network failure from an internet failure.
- Restart both ends: Restart the TV through its system menu, then restart your modem and router.
- Improve Wi-Fi: Move the router closer, reduce interference, and try another band when your TV and router support it.
- Reset last: Reset the saved network connection before considering a factory reset that erases settings, apps, and account linkage.
| Check or fix | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Connection test | Determine whether Wi-Fi or internet access fails |
| Check another device | Find out whether the problem affects the whole network |
| Restart through TV settings | Restart when the TV controls respond |
| Disconnect TV power | Restart when you cannot reach the menus |
| Restart the modem and router | Troubleshoot the home connection |
| Reconnect to Wi-Fi | Confirm the network name and password |
| Reset the network connection | Clear and rebuild the saved network configuration |
| Improve router placement | Address weak signal and interference |
| Pause competing traffic | Check congestion during buffering |
| Switch wireless bands | Try the other band when both devices support it |
| Change the wireless channel | Try another supported channel on a network you administer |
| Switch to Ethernet | Use a wired connection on a TV with an Ethernet port |
| Check the Ethernet cable | Repair an existing wired connection |
| Test a phone hotspot | Compare stability on another network |
| Replace inadequate network equipment | Address coverage problems after free fixes fail |
| Install software updates | Update the TV and apps over a working connection |
| Enable standby connectivity | Keep the connection active while a supported TV is off |
| Disable the streaming timeout | Address playback stopping after four hours of inactivity |
| Respond to the inactivity prompt | Continue playback or suppress prompts for one app |
| Check an app outage | Investigate playback failures while the TV stays connected |
| Update an individual app | Address crashes, loading failures, or a black screen |
| Remove a malfunctioning app | Troubleshoot an app when updating does not help |
| Reinstall the app | Restore a supported app after removal |
| Factory reset | Start over after other fixes fail |
| Contact support | Escalate persistent network or TV failures |
Check where the connection is failing
Press Home, then open Settings > Network > Check connection. Review the network and internet results separately. Open Settings > Network > About to inspect the connection information, and repeat the connection test after each change.
Connect a phone or computer to the same network and open a public website in its browser. If that device also cannot get online, contact your internet provider to investigate an outage or access restriction. This comparison is especially useful when your TV connects to Wi-Fi but fails the internet test.
Buffering alone does not establish that your TV has disconnected from Wi-Fi. If the connection test succeeds but playback fails, try another title and another streaming app. A failure confined to particular content or one app calls for the app checks below.
Restart the TV and network equipment
Press Home and open Settings > System > Power > System restart. If your TV has no Power menu, select System restart directly under System.
When you cannot reach the menus, unplug the TV’s power cord for at least 10 seconds, then reconnect it. Simply pressing the remote or TV Power button does not perform this system restart. After the TV starts, run the connection test again.
For your home network, TCL recommends disconnecting the modem and router from electrical power for 60 seconds. Reconnect the modem and wait for its normal lights, then reconnect the router and wait for it to finish starting. If you have a combined modem and router, restart that single unit instead.
Reconnect to your wireless network
Press Home, then open Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless. Choose your network, enter its case-sensitive password, and select Connect. If the network is missing, select Scan again.
Pay particular attention to the network name and password if either has changed. These are also the starting checks for a Roku TV that cannot connect. Once connected, repeat the network test before moving on.
A network connection reset clears the saved network configuration, so you will need your network password to reconnect. Open Settings, then select Advanced system settings > Network connection reset > Reset connection. Roku’s guides place Advanced system settings under System in some instructions and directly under Settings in others, so follow the location your TV shows. After the TV restarts, return to wireless setup and configure Wi-Fi again.
Improve the wireless signal and reduce congestion
Move your router closer to the TV and place it in an elevated, open position. Reduce obstructions between the two devices, adjust external antennas, and separate the router from microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors. These changes can help fix a weak Wi-Fi signal.
Pause large downloads and simultaneous streaming on other devices, then try playback again. This check is useful when congestion or buffering accompanies the problem. Use the TV’s connection test to determine whether Wi-Fi itself is still dropping.
If both your TV and router support 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, try the other band through Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless. Band support varies by model. If your combination does not support both, continue with placement and channel checks.
For a network you administer, read Wireless channel under Settings > Network > About, then sign into the router’s browser or mobile administration interface. Replace automatic channel selection with another supported channel; for 2.4 GHz in North America, try 1, 6, or 11. Save the configuration and restart the router as its manufacturer instructs, since router menu labels vary.
Try Ethernet or another network
If your TV has an Ethernet port, connect it to the router with an Ethernet cable. Press Home, then open Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wired. For a TV without an Ethernet port, use another wireless network or the hotspot test instead.
For an existing Ethernet connection that drops, disconnect the cable for 10 seconds and reconnect it. If the problem persists, substitute another Ethernet cable or test Wi-Fi. Roku associates errors 012 and 013 with Ethernet connection problems.
Streaming and updates over a phone hotspot consume mobile data. To compare another wireless connection, enable your phone’s hotspot. On the TV, open Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless, choose the hotspot, enter its password, and select Connect. Compare its stability with your home connection.
If the TV works on another network, ask your internet provider or network administrator to investigate the home connection. When coverage remains insufficient after the free troubleshooting steps, consider a newer dual-band router or mesh system, then reconnect the TV. This option is most relevant to older routers or persistent coverage limitations.
Install available software updates
Once you have a working connection, press Home and open Settings > System > Software update > Check Now. Available software and app updates install automatically, followed by a restart. Some Roku menus use System update and Check now instead, so follow those labels on your TV.
If your home connection will not stay working, use the hotspot test above to check another network. A working connection lets you run the online update check, though updates over a phone hotspot consume mobile data.
Check drops after standby or long viewing sessions
If the connection problem happens after you turn the TV off, check Fast TV start on TVs that offer it. Press Home, open Settings > System > Power > Fast TV start, then check Enable 'Fast TV Start'. Roku says this keeps the network connection active while the TV is powered off and uses more standby power.
Use that setting for standby connectivity; for drops during viewing, continue with the connection tests and network fixes. Those checks also apply if your TV does not offer the setting. For playback that stops after four hours without remote activity, check Bandwidth saver instead.
To disable that streaming timeout, press Home and open Settings > Network > Bandwidth saver > Off. At the inactivity prompt, you can select Keep streaming, or select Don't ask again for this app to suppress later prompts for that app. This changes a streaming timeout rather than Wi-Fi connectivity, and individual apps can have separate timeouts.
Troubleshoot an app when the TV stays connected
When another streaming app works, check the affected provider’s website for an outage. For an app that crashes, fails to load, or shows a black screen, press Home, highlight the app, press Star, and select Check for Updates. Reopen the app after updating.
Removing an app takes it off the TV and also affects other devices linked to the same Roku account. To remove an app from Roku, press Home, highlight the app, press Star, and select Remove app, then follow the confirmation on screen. Removal may be blocked during an active Roku-billed subscription or billing period; do not cancel a subscription just to troubleshoot without considering that consequence.
Adding an app also affects other devices linked to the same Roku account. To reinstall a supported free app, press Home, open Store > Apps, choose the app, and select Add app. These steps address app-specific failures rather than a failed Wi-Fi connection.
Leave a factory reset for last
A factory reset erases the TV’s settings, apps, and account linkage. After the other fixes fail, open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset, then select Factory reset everything. Follow the confirmation instructions on the TV and complete initial setup afterward.
If failures persist, contact Roku or your TV manufacturer for diagnosis and repair or replacement options, especially if the TV repeatedly restarts. Have the device ID available when you contact support. If another network works reliably, continue investigating the home connection with your internet provider or network administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Roku mobile app reconnect a TV that has gone offline?
The mobile remote can navigate troubleshooting menus only while it can communicate with your TV on the local network. It cannot reconnect a TV that is no longer reachable on that network.
Why might a Roku TV have trouble with a 5 GHz network?
Some 5 GHz-capable TVs have DFS channel incompatibilities, and DFS support depends on the model; supported hardware needs Roku OS 12.0 or later. For a TV with DFS incompatibility, exclude DFS channels in the router’s administration interface and choose a supported channel in 36 through 48 or 149 through 165, then reconnect the TV.
Can you update a Roku TV without an internet connection?
An eligible Roku TV can receive a software update by USB, using a computer to download the software through Roku’s official TV update portal. Roku describes this procedure for an unactivated TV set up for offline use, so it is not guaranteed for every activated model.
Should you use Recovery Mode for repeated Wi-Fi drops?
Recovery Mode is intended for supported Roku TVs with severe startup or update failures after ordinary restart or reset attempts. It erases data and is not a routine Wi-Fi fix.