You pick an app on your Roku TV and get a black screen, or the app closes, or it never opens. Start with a proper restart, then work out whether the problem is one app or the whole TV. The fixes below go in order: restarts, app updates, connection problems, reinstalling, and finally a factory reset.
Start with a proper restart
Restart the app first. If it still won't open, restart the whole TV.
- 1.Press Home, scroll to Apps, and highlight the installed app.
- 2.Press Star (*) and select Restart. If you don't see that option, go on to the TV restart.
- 3.Open Settings > System > Power > System restart > Restart. If there is no Power menu, use Settings > System > System restart.
- 4.If the menus are frozen, unplug the TV's power cord for at least 10 seconds, then plug it back in. TCL recommends waiting 60 seconds on its Roku TVs. Pressing the Power button on the remote or on the TV doesn't do this system restart.
- 5.Once the TV has restarted, try the app again.
Check the connection when several apps fail
If more than one streaming app won't open, a connection problem is often the cause.
Try another app, such as The Roku Channel. If it opens, test the affected service on another device. That tells you whether the problem is limited to your TV.
Check the service's official website for an outage. If the service is down, try again after it comes back.
Run the TV's connection test from Home > Settings > Network > Check connection. You can see the connection details under Settings > Network > About.
If the test fails, unplug your modem and router (or combined gateway). Wait 10 seconds, plug them back in, and give the network time to restart before you try the app.
Reconnect the TV through Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless. Select your network and enter its current password. If your network isn't listed, select Scan again.
If the connection keeps failing, reset it. Open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset > Reset connection. After the TV restarts, set up Wi-Fi again.
Bring the app and Roku software up to date
You can update a single app from the Home screen. Highlight its tile under Apps, press Star (*), and select Check for Updates. Wait for the update to finish before you open the app again.
To update Roku OS and all your installed apps at once, go to Home > Settings > System > Software update > Check Now. On some TVs this menu is called System update. Any available updates install automatically. Let the TV restart when they're done.
If the app doesn't offer an update option, run the system update check instead. If the app still won't open after updating, remove it and reinstall it.
Reinstall an app that keeps failing
Restart the TV after you remove the app and before you install it again.
- 1.Press Home and highlight the app under Apps.
- 2.Press Star (*), select Remove app, and confirm. On some TVs the option is Remove channel.
- 3.Restart the TV through Settings > System > Power > System restart > Restart. If there's no Power menu, skip that step in the path.
- 4.Go back to Home and open Streaming Store, or find the app with Search.
- 5.Open the app's details, select Add app, and finish any subscription steps it asks for.
- 6.Open the app and sign in again if it asks you to.
You may not be able to remove the app if you have an active Roku-billed subscription or a billing period that hasn't ended. You only need to cancel a subscription if Roku actually blocks the removal. Turning off auto-renew only stops future renewals. Removal can stay blocked until the current billing period ends.
To stop renewal for a subscription Roku manages, highlight the app, press Star (*), and select Manage subscription > Turn off auto-renew. Enter your Roku PIN if asked. For Disney+, Hulu, and Sling TV, you have to contact the provider directly, even when Roku handles the billing.
If the app isn't in Streaming Store, ask its provider whether it has been removed, replaced, or merged into another service. You can't reinstall an app that is no longer available for Roku.
Clear storage when memory errors appear
Removing apps you don't use frees up storage when the TV shows "Not enough memory," "Can't run app," or "Insufficient memory."
Highlight an app you don't use on the Home screen.
Press Star (*) and select Remove app.
Confirm the removal.
Try opening the problem app again.
Sort out sign-in and restricted-mode problems
If the app gets as far as an account screen, follow its on-screen instructions for signing in, entering an activation code, or linking your TV provider.
Check that your subscription is active on the service's website or at my.roku.com/subscriptions.
If the app's menus still work, sign out using Sign Out or Log Out (sometimes found under Account), then sign back in. The exact labels differ from app to app.
If the TV is in Kid & Teen Mode, select Exit Kid & Teen Mode from the left menu on the Home screen and enter the account holder's PIN. This needs a network connection.
If you want to keep Kid & Teen Mode on and allow one participating app, go to Settings > Kid & Teen Mode > App access in the standard Roku interface. Select the installed app and complete the parent or guardian confirmation and PIN prompt.
If Streaming Store says the TV is no longer linked, select Get Started and complete activation to link it to a Roku account again.
These account menus only help if the app opens far enough for you to reach them.
Strengthen weak Wi-Fi and lift network filtering
Try these fixes when your Wi-Fi signal is weak or when the app works on a different network. If Netflix won't load, custom VPN, proxy, or DNS settings can also be the cause.
Move the router closer to the TV and take it out of any enclosed cabinet. Clear anything blocking it, and keep it away from microwaves and cordless devices.
Pause large downloads and streaming on other devices, then try the app again.
If your TV has an Ethernet port, connect a cable from the TV to the router. Then select Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wired.
To rule out your home router or internet provider, try a phone hotspot. Go to Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless, select the hotspot, enter its password, and try the app. Keep in mind that hotspots use mobile data.
If Netflix won't load on a network with custom VPN, proxy, or DNS settings, set them back to their defaults. Your equipment maker or internet provider can tell you exactly how.
On an eero network with ad blocking turned on, open the eero app and go to Home > Security & privacy > Network controls. Turn off Ad Blocking, wait a few minutes, and try the app again.
On a managed home network, or at a hotel or dorm, ask whoever runs the network to remove any restriction that blocks the service. On an activated TV that offers Hotel & Dorm Connect, open Settings > Network > Set up new wireless connection, select the network, and choose I am at a hotel or college dorm. Then follow the TV's instructions in a browser on your phone or computer.
Reset the TV as a last resort
If only one app fails while everything else works, contact that app's provider before you reset the TV. Roku's Streaming services contact list links to the support sites of many top providers. If your service isn't listed, search the web for its official support page. Tell them the app won't launch and list the fixes you've already tried.
If several apps still fail after you've restarted, updated, and fixed the connection, you can factory reset the TV. This is the last resort because it deletes your apps, account information, and preferences. You'll have to set up and activate the TV again, reinstall your apps, and sign back in.
Go to Home > Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset > Factory reset everything. Follow the prompts to reset the TV and set it up again.
If apps still won't open after the reset, go to Roku Support and select Start chatting under Chat with us. For hardware repairs, you may need to contact your TV's manufacturer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Clear cache button for Roku TV apps?
Not in Roku's official troubleshooting. Roku's support guides don't include a universal Clear cache, Clear data, or Android-style Force stop option for Roku TV apps. Instead, restart the app or the TV, install updates, or remove the app, restart the TV, and reinstall it.
What should I try if Netflix opens to a black screen?
If you can still move around the menus, press Back to go to the previous menu, then open Netflix again. If you can hear audio because Picture off turned the display off, press OK to bring the picture back.
Can I use my phone if the Roku remote won’t open apps?
Yes. Connect the official Roku mobile app to your TV, select Devices, and choose your TV. Then open Apps on Roku and Your Roku Apps, and tap the app you want. You can also select Remote to control the TV from your phone. Your phone and TV must be on the same local network.
Will canceling a Roku subscription let me remove the app immediately?
Not always. Turning off auto-renew doesn't end the current billing period right away, so you may not be able to remove the app until that period is over. For Disney+, Hulu, and Sling TV, you have to contact the provider directly, even when Roku handles the billing.