Your Roku TV is on, but the app can't find it or won't connect. Start with the Wi-Fi network, your phone's permissions, and Roku's mobile-control setting. The fixes below take you from those checks to manual connection and app repairs for your Roku TV or streaming player.
Get your phone and Roku on the same network
Using your physical Roku remote, open Settings > Network > About to check which network Roku uses. Connect your phone to that network through its Wi-Fi settings.
If Roku is disconnected, use its remote to open Home > Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless. Select your home network. If it isn't listed, select Scan again. Enter the network password, then select Connect.
Open the Roku app and select your device. Tip: A disconnected, newly installed, or reset Roku needs network setup with a physical remote before the app can connect.
Allow the app to reach and control Roku
Check your phone's permission, then allow local-network control on Roku.
- 1.On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and enable Roku. On iOS 14, the path is Settings > Privacy > Local Network. You can also open Settings, select Roku, and turn on Local Network. Android users can skip this step.
- 2.Using the physical Roku remote, open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Control by mobile apps.
- 3.Select Enabled to permit control from the local network on devices displaying this option.
- 4.Return to the Roku app, select your device, and tap Remote.
If the connection is stuck, restart the app and Roku
This targets temporary app or device problems. On iPhone, open the app switcher; on Android, open Recents. Swipe Roku away, then reopen the Roku app to test the connection.
If it still won't connect, use the physical remote to select Home > Settings > System > Power > System restart. Skip Power if that menu isn't present.
For a power-cable restart instead, disconnect Roku from power for at least 10 seconds. Turning a TV off with its remote doesn't always restart the system. Reconnect Roku's power cable, then try the app again after Roku starts.
If the connection still fails on iPhone X or later, hold either volume button and the side button to display the power-off slider. On iPhone SE models from the second or third generation, hold the side button alone. Drag the power-off slider.
After 30 seconds, hold the side button to turn the iPhone back on. On Android, restart the phone using its manufacturer's restart controls.
A manual connection when Roku isn't listed
If automatic discovery fails, give the app Roku's address directly. On the TV, open Settings > Network > About to find the IP address.
In the Roku app, open Devices > Get help? > Connect manually. Enter the IP address shown on your Roku, then tap CONNECT.
Manual entry requires a reachable Roku. It cannot bypass network isolation, disabled mobile control, or a Roku that's offline.
When the network keeps your devices apart
A VPN that routes all your phone's traffic through its own network can keep the Roku app from seeing your Roku, and network isolation blocks communication between devices even when both have internet access. Disconnect your phone's VPN using your provider's controls, then retry the Roku app.
If your phone is on a guest network, connect it to Roku's home network through your phone's Wi-Fi settings. Guest networks with device isolation prevent devices from communicating.
For an Ethernet-connected Roku, check its address under Settings > Network > About. Some networks keep wired and wireless devices separate. Try connecting Roku over Wi-Fi through Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless, using the network setup steps above. On a work or managed network, ask the administrator to allow communication between your phone and Roku and provide private local-network addresses.
Update the software and repair the mobile app
Once the network and permissions are correct, work through these software fixes. Update the Roku app. On iPhone or iPad, open App Store > profile icon > App Updates and install the available Roku update.
On Android, open Google Play Store > profile icon > Manage apps & devices > Updates available and update Roku if listed. Update Roku through Home > Settings > System > Software update > Check Now. If your Roku shows System update instead, select that. Roku installs available updates and restarts automatically.
If the Android app is unresponsive, force-stop it. On Google Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Roku > Force stop > OK. Other Android manufacturers use different labels. Then reopen Roku.
Clear the Android app's cache. On Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Roku > Storage & cache > Clear cache. Comparable settings vary by manufacturer. Then reopen the app.
If the iPhone or iPad app still fails, touch and hold Roku, then choose Remove App > Delete App > Delete. Reinstall through the App Store link on Roku's official download page. Deleting the app puts locally saved app data at risk; removing only its Home Screen icon does not uninstall it.
If the Android app still fails, uninstall it. On Pixel, use Settings > Apps > See all apps > Roku > Uninstall > OK. Reinstall through the Google Play link on Roku's official download page. Uninstalling removes local app data.
Persistent Wi-Fi trouble needs a network fix
If Roku itself struggles to stay connected, check signal strength under Settings > Network > About. Run Settings > Network > Check connection.
If the signal is weak, move Roku and the router closer together. Reduce obstructions and interference between them. For a Streaming Stick, try an HDMI extender to improve placement.
If connection problems continue, unplug Roku, your router, and your modem for about 15 seconds. Reconnect the modem first, the router next, and Roku last.
For a player showing low-power warnings or unexplained restarts, use wall power instead of the TV's USB port. If Roku still has network problems, select Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset > Reset connection. Have your physical remote and network password ready for Wi-Fi setup afterward. Reconnect through Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless, following the network setup steps above.
If the app still won't connect, open Roku Support and choose Chat with us. Provide your Roku model and software version, phone operating system and app version, the exact error, and the fixes you've tried.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the app lose my Roku TV when the TV is off?
Standby affects network availability. On supported Roku TVs, open Home > Settings > System > Power > Fast TV start and check Enable 'Fast TV Start'. Roku says this preserves standby network connectivity and increases standby power consumption. It addresses network availability during standby, without guaranteeing app discovery.
What if the Android app says Unmet security requirements?
Open Google Play Store > profile icon > Settings > About > Update Play Store. Search Google Play for Google Play services and select Update if offered. Check Play Protect certification under Google Play Store > profile icon > Settings > About. If available, select Fix device issue; otherwise, contact the device manufacturer about certification failures. Turning off Play Protect does not fix certification. Roku warns that rooted or uncertified devices are not assured compatibility.
What if my iPhone won't let me delete Roku?
Check parental controls and set Deleting Apps to Allow. For a managed iPhone or iPad, contact its administrator. This permits app removal so you can reinstall Roku; it does not repair the network connection itself.
Should I factory-reset Roku if only the app won't connect?
Save a factory reset for a last resort after simpler troubleshooting fails. It erases settings, apps, and account linkage. Have a working physical remote and setup credentials ready to complete setup again.