Your Roku shows “Can't run channel” or “Can't run app,” and your streaming plans come to a stop. Insufficient storage and network trouble are primary causes. Start with a full restart, then work through storage, connection, and app fixes before reaching for a factory reset.
Start with a full Roku restart
Give Roku a system restart, then try the app again.
- 1.Press Home on your Roku remote.
- 2.Open Settings > System > Power > System restart. If Power is missing, select System restart directly under System.
- 3.If you cannot reach the menus, disconnect Roku's power cable for at least 10 seconds, then reconnect it. Turning a Roku TV off with its remote or physical power button does not perform this restart.
- 4.Once Roku restarts, reopen the affected app.
Make room for your apps
Start clearing storage by opening an unused app's options: on Home, highlight the app and press Star (*). Select Remove app and confirm. Some menus call this Remove channel. Removing an app also affects other devices linked to the same Roku account.
Repeat with other unused apps, choosing another app if Remove app is missing. An active Roku subscription or an unexpired billing period can block removal. Canceling the subscription does not guarantee immediate access to the removal option. Retry the failing app after clearing some space.
Check the connection behind the error
If the message says the channel could not be reinstalled from the network, check the connection next. Run the connection test through Home > Settings > Network > Check connection. Review the results under Settings > Network > About.
If Roku reaches your router but not the internet, open a public website on another device. Contact your internet service provider if that device cannot connect either. For a network-related failure, disconnect the modem, router, and Roku from power for about 15 seconds. Reconnect power in this order: modem first, router second, Roku last.
Open Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless to reconnect to Wi-Fi. If your network is missing, select Scan again to see all networks. Connect to your network by selecting its name and entering its password.
For a persistent connection failure, select Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset > Reset connection. Reconnect to Wi-Fi through Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless. If the connection still fails, test a phone hotspot through the same Wireless menu to identify whether the home network is responsible. Hotspots use mobile data.
Install updates when the app still will not open
If the app still refuses to open or keeps crashing, check for updates. Start with the affected app, then check Roku's software. Open the app's options by highlighting it on Home and pressing Star (*). Select Check for Updates and let the update finish.
Reopen the app, then run a device-wide check through Home > Settings > System > Software update > Check Now. Some menus use System update > Check now. Allow available software and app updates to install and Roku to restart. Try the affected app again afterward.
Give the affected app a fresh installation
Insufficient storage and network trouble are primary causes of this error, so address those before reinstalling. Try restarting just the app through its options: highlight it on Home, press Star (*), and select Restart. If that option is missing or the restart does not fix the error, continue below.
Check that the app is still listed in the Streaming Store before removing it. Reinstallation requires the app to remain available for your device and account. Open the app's options by highlighting it on Home and pressing Star (*). Select Remove app, or Remove channel, and confirm.
Restart Roku through Settings > System > Power > System restart. Without a Power submenu, select System restart under System. Finish this restart before reinstalling.
Find the app under Home > Store > Apps. Press OK to open its details. Select Add app for a free installation. Complete any account prompts.
Open the reinstalled app. Sign in again if requested. If the app opens but refuses access to content, follow its account-linking prompts. Check your subscription with the provider, or at your Roku subscriptions page for a Roku Pay subscription.
Check whether only one streaming service fails
If one app keeps failing, check whether the problem is limited to that service. An outage cannot be repaired through Roku settings. Try a different streaming app. If the problem is isolated, check the affected provider's official website for an outage.
Retry the app after service returns. If the app is missing from the Streaming Store, contact its provider about removal, a replacement app, or access to purchased content. Availability varies by region and device. For an app that remains available but still fails after reinstallation, contact its provider before resetting your entire Roku.
Save a factory reset for persistent problems
A factory reset is the last resort after less disruptive fixes fail, especially when multiple apps are affected. It erases settings and unlinks your Roku account, so you will need to set up the device and sign in again.
Open Home > Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset. On a Roku TV, select Factory reset everything. Follow the confirmation prompts. Complete Guided Setup after the reset.
Reinstall your apps through Home > Store > Apps, then sign in to your apps again. Test whether the apps open. If the error continues after setup, contact Roku Support for device-wide failures using Chat with us or Start chatting. If just one app still fails, contact that app's provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a Roku app from a web browser?
No. Roku does not support removing apps through Roku.com. In the Roku mobile app connected to your device, open Devices > Apps on Roku. Touch and hold the app, select Remove, and confirm.
How do I cancel a subscription that is blocking app removal?
If you intend to cancel, open the app's Star (*) menu and select Manage subscription to turn off auto-renew. You can also sign in at my.roku.com/subscriptions and open Active subscriptions, select the subscription, then choose Manage subscription > Turn off auto-renew. For Disney+, Hulu, or Sling TV, Roku directs you to the provider, including when Roku bills the subscription. Turning off renewal does not remove the app or free storage.
Can I fix the error without my physical Roku remote?
Use the Roku mobile app when your phone and Roku are connected to the same Wi-Fi. Install it using the App Store or Google Play links at https://www.roku.com/mobile-app. Sign in, select your Roku device, and tap Remote. A disconnected or freshly reset Roku may require a physical remote.
What if Roku asks for a PIN when I reinstall an app?
The account owner can sign in at my.roku.com and open My Account > Profile & Settings > PIN/Parental controls > Change PIN. Complete the prompts, then retry installation with the updated PIN. This resolves the installation restriction, not the original launch error.