To restart your Roku, press Home, press Left to open the Home Screen Menu, open Settings > System > Power > System restart, then select Restart. If your device has no Power submenu, select System restart directly under System. When the menus are frozen, disconnect the Roku’s power cord, wait at least 10 seconds, and reconnect it.
These restart methods apply to Roku TVs, streaming players, Streaming Sticks, Streambar SE, Streambar, Streambar Pro, and Smart Soundbar. You can also use the Roku mobile app as a remote when your compatible device has network connectivity and mobile app control enabled.
The short version
- Use Settings first: Open Settings > System > Power > System restart, then select Restart.
- Missing Power submenu: Choose System restart directly under System.
- No working remote: Use the Roku mobile app with your phone and compatible Roku on the same Wi-Fi network and mobile app control enabled.
- Frozen device: Disconnect power for at least 10 seconds before reconnecting it.
- Reset is different: A factory reset erases configuration and returns the device to setup.
| Method | When to use it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Settings restart | Your remote and menus respond | Restarts the Roku system |
| Mobile app remote | Your connected Roku allows mobile control | Opens the system restart setting |
| Disconnect power | Your menus or remote are unresponsive | Restarts after at least 10 seconds without power |
| Longer TV power cycle | Your Roku TV freezes or repeatedly restarts | Restarts after 60 seconds without power |
| TV USB power cycle | Your player’s TV USB port cuts power when off | Restarts the USB-powered player |
| Individual app restart | Your app offers Restart | Restarts that app only |
| Network connection reset | Your Roku offers the option and needs connection troubleshooting | Resets network configuration and restarts |
| Available software update | Your Roku TV or player has an update available | Installs the update and automatically reboots |
| Offline USB update | Your unconnected Roku TV supports setup without activation and USB updates | Installs software from USB and restarts |
| Settings factory reset | You need a destructive fallback on a supported TV, player, or projector | Erases configuration and restarts into setup |
| TCL Roku TV factory reset | Your TCL model follows the displayed-code procedure | Erases configuration and requires setup |
| Player or projector hardware reset | Your device has a Reset button | Factory-resets after holding the button for about 10 seconds |
| Roku TV hardware reset | Your supported Plus Series or Select Series TV has Reset | Factory-resets after holding the button for 12 seconds |
| Roku TV button combination | Your Pro Series or applicable Plus Series or Select Series TV uses paired buttons | Factory-resets using the TV-mounted buttons |
| Recovery Mode | Your supported Roku TV needs software recovery | Clears data, reinstalls software, and restarts |
| Battery-powered remote restart | Your simple or voice remote uses removable batteries | Restarts the remote only |
| Rechargeable voice remote restart | Your rechargeable voice remote needs restarting | Restarts the remote only |
| Wireless speaker restart | Your paired Roku wireless speakers need restarting | Restarts the speakers only |
| TV Wireless Soundbar restart | Your Roku TV Wireless Soundbar needs restarting | Restarts that soundbar only |
Restart your Roku from Settings
Press Home on your Roku remote, press Left to open the Home Screen Menu, then select Settings > System > Power > System restart. Choose Restart to begin.
On a device without the Power submenu, open Settings > System > System restart, then select Restart. The submenu varies by device, so use the path shown on your screen. If you cannot move through the menus, disconnect power using the steps below.
Use your phone as the Roku remote
If you need the Roku app, get it through Roku’s official mobile app page, which links to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Connect your phone and Roku to the same Wi-Fi network. Open the Roku app, sign in, select your Roku device, and tap Remote.
Tap Home on the app remote, then use its navigation controls to open Settings > System > Power > System restart. Select Restart. For a Roku without the Power submenu, choose System restart directly under System, then select Restart.
This method requires a compatible Roku with network connectivity and mobile app control enabled. If your Roku TV cannot connect and you have no working remote, follow the steps for connecting Roku without a remote. To restart immediately when app control cannot reach the device, disconnect its power cord.
Disconnect power when the menus are frozen
Unplug your Roku device’s power cord and wait at least 10 seconds. Reconnect the cord, then allow startup to finish. You can use this method on the Roku TVs, players, Streaming Sticks, and streaming soundbars named above.
For a Roku TV stuck at the startup logo or repeatedly restarting, leave the TV unplugged for 60 seconds. Plug it back in and turn it on. Try this longer power cycle before considering Recovery Mode.
If your player or Streaming Stick receives power from your television’s USB port, turn the television off so the port loses power, then turn it back on. This restarts the player only if your TV actually stops supplying USB power while off or in standby. It does not apply to wall-powered players; disconnect the player’s power cord instead.
Restart only the affected streaming app
When you only need to restart one streaming app, press Home and highlight that app. Press Star, then select Restart in its options menu. This restarts the app rather than the entire Roku.
Use this method only for apps whose options menu includes Restart. If that option is absent, use a system restart instead. Removing an app is a separate troubleshooting step; follow the instructions to remove apps from your Roku only when you intend to uninstall it.
Reset the connection for persistent Wi Fi trouble
A network connection reset also restarts your Roku, but it resets network configuration as well. Use it for connection troubleshooting rather than as your routine restart method. On a Roku that offers this option, open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset.
Select Reset connection and let the Roku restart. Reconnect the device to Wi-Fi afterward. If your Roku TV still cannot connect, continue with the steps for fixing Roku TV Wi-Fi connections.
Install an available software update
For a Roku TV or streaming player with an available update, installing it also triggers an automatic reboot. Press Home, then open Settings > System > Software update. Select Check Now and allow an available update to download and install.
Some Roku menus use System update and Check now instead. Roku says the device automatically reboots after the update installs. Checking for updates alone does not guarantee a restart, so use System restart when you simply want to reboot.
For an unconnected Roku TV that supports offline USB updates, you can install software from a USB drive. Roku’s procedure assumes the TV was set up without activation, and availability varies because some TVs require internet activation. Use this option only if your model supports that setup.
On a computer, open Roku’s official TV software download portal and choose your TV brand. Enter the TV’s Hardware ID and Serial Number from Settings > System > About, then select Download Software. Copy the update.roku file to the root of a FAT16/FAT32 USB drive with at least 256MB of capacity.
Connect the USB drive to your TV, open Settings > System > System update, and select I can’t connect. Enter the TV’s 12-digit code on the portal, then enter the portal’s 6-digit code on the TV. The TV installs the update and restarts.
Keep factory reset separate from restarting
A factory reset erases stored configuration and restarts your Roku into setup. Choose it only when you intend to erase that configuration. Holding a physical Reset button on a supported player or TV can also trigger a factory reset.
For a supported Roku TV, player, or projector, press Home and open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset. On a Roku TV, select Factory reset everything. Follow the confirmation instructions for your specific device before proceeding.
On TCL Roku TVs covered by TCL’s displayed-code reset procedure, enter the code shown on the TV after selecting Factory reset everything, then select OK. That confirmation code changes each time. Complete Guided Setup after the reset finishes.
For a Roku streaming player or projector with a tactile or pinhole Reset button, keep the device powered on and locate the button on its back or bottom. Hold Reset for about 10 seconds, then release it when the status LED blinks rapidly. The device factory-resets and restarts into setup.
On Roku Plus Series and Select Series HD/4K TVs equipped with a Reset button, hold it for 12 seconds to factory-reset the TV and restart into setup. Partner-brand TV timings can differ, so use the instructions for your model.
On Roku Pro Series TVs and Plus Series or Select Series HD/4K models that use a button combination instead, find Find My Remote on the TV. Hold that button and the TV’s physical Power button together for 12 seconds. This factory-resets the TV and restarts it into setup.
Use Recovery Mode for a Roku TV that keeps restarting
If your Roku TV still freezes or repeatedly restarts after the 60-second power cycle, Recovery Mode is a last resort on models that support it. It clears data and reinstalls Roku software. Choose it only when you are prepared to set up the TV again.
Hold the TV’s Reset button for at least 20 seconds, then release it when the TV restarts and displays Recovery Mode. Choose a language, select Wireless, and connect to Wi-Fi. Select Update now to reinstall the software and restart into setup.
Recovery Mode availability varies by TV model. If it does not appear after 30 seconds, contact support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you restart a Roku by pressing the power button?
Pressing a Roku TV’s remote or physical Power button alone is not Roku’s documented system restart. Use System restart in Settings or disconnect and reconnect power to restart the system.
Which phones and tablets can run the Roku mobile app?
The current App Store listing for the Roku app requires iOS 16.0 or later on iPhone and iPadOS 16.0 or later on iPad. On Android, use a compatible device. Check the relevant store listing for your device’s compatibility before installing it.
How do you restart a battery powered Roku remote?
Remove both batteries, press any two buttons, then reinsert the batteries with the negative end first and replace the cover. For a simple remote with depleted batteries, install a fresh matching pair. This restarts the remote only, not your Roku TV or player.
How do you restart a rechargeable Roku voice remote?
If your rechargeable voice remote has a Pairing button, hold it for 20 seconds; otherwise, hold Back and Home together for 20 seconds. With either method, wait for the remote’s light to stop flashing. If you also need to pair a remote without a pairing button, follow the steps to set up your Roku remote.
How do you restart Roku wireless speakers?
For Roku wireless speakers paired with a compatible Roku TV, Streambar, Streambar Pro, or Smart Soundbar, briefly press Reset on the back of each speaker, or disconnect and reconnect their power cables. Allow approximately a minute for reconnection. Holding Reset for 10 seconds performs a factory reset instead.
How do you restart a Roku TV Wireless Soundbar?
Press and release Reset on the back of the soundbar, or disconnect and reconnect its power cable. This applies to the Roku TV Wireless Soundbar, which is a different product from Roku Streambar and Roku Smart Soundbar.