Roku devices are dependent upon an active internet connection, a temporary outage or poor signal can cause additional performance issues on the device. Connection errors can appear for several reasons, stopping media playback, and sometimes affecting the performance of the Roku device. A strong internet connectivity is necessary for accessing all the content available to you on Roku. A weak connection will interrupt streaming or keep you away from accessing media entirely.
Roku Not Connecting: Common Issues
- A poor Wi-Fi signal can freeze playback or cause performance problems.
- A power or router outage may temporarily interrupt service.
- Additional network devices like game consoles or computers may be using up the network bandwidth.
- The Ethernet cable for wired devices may have come unplugged.
- In rare cases, the Roku device may be failing or malfunctioning.
The most common problem of Roku is that sometimes the device doesn’t connect to the wireless network. As common as this problem is, there are many ways to solve it.
- If your Roku is not connected to WiFi, restart the Roku. This should usually fix it.
- If it does not work, then check if your internet connection is active or not.
If your Roku doesn’t have a solid connection, it means that the network is experiencing issues.
i) Go to the home screen. Press the left arrow on your Roku remote. Scroll down to Settings.
ii) Press the right arrow to access the Settings menu. Press right for Network, then right again for the Network page.
iii) Read the About page for connection information, including connection type, download speed, and signal strength. If you don’t see this information, you’re not connected to the internet.
iv) If you’re connected to the internet but you’re still having issues, scroll down to Check Connection, then press the OK button.
v) Try to stream something on your Roku to see if the problem is fixed. If not, try reconnecting your Roku to WiFi
In case your signal strength is just too weak, follow the following steps:
Reboot Your Roku
Rebooting your Roku can help it to clear up a lot of unwanted data and give your Roku a fresh speed boost. Although, if your Roku keeps restarting for no reason, that might indicate other problems with your device.
To restart Roku, follow the following steps provided below:
- Go to the home screen. Press the left arrow on your Roku remote. Scroll down to Settings.
- Press the right arrow to access the Settings menu. Scroll down to System.
- Press the right arrow to access the System menu. Scroll down to System Restart.
- Press the right arrow to highlight Restart, then press the OK button
Reset Network Equipment
Resetting your network equipment like routers and the Roku device itself can be a good option. Unplug your wireless router and the Roku device and replug them after 30 seconds. This will make them reset.
Relocate Roku Closer to the Router
If the signal shows weak strength, move your router and Roku closer together. Placing them closer makes it stronger, the signal strength and the internet connectivity. This can even be a solution to resolve the connectivity issue.
Connect an Ethernet Cable to Roku
Ethernet cables are mainly used to connect your router to the internet entry port of your device. This option is not available for the Roku Stick but is a perfect fit for Roku TV and Roku player.
After connecting the cable manually between your device and router, go to the Network option in your settings. Next, choose the Wired option and follow the instructions displayed on the screen to set up an internet connection. The streaming will run smoothly with an optimized internet connection.
Disable Network Pings
Network pings can be another possibility preventing your Roku from connecting to the internet. Unfortunately, disabling network pings can be a bit tricky. This feature is located in a hidden setting menu, you may have to navigate it carefully by pressing the following buttons in the same given order:
- Press Home 5 times.
- Press Fast Forward.
- Press Play.
- Press Rewind.
- Press Play.
- Press Fast Forward.
Conclusion – Roku Not Working
Basically there are a wide range of reasons on both the user’s and device’s part for your internet connection to not work with Roku. But they all are easily fixable. Connection issues due to distance between device and router, signal strength, and incorrect typing on the user’s part are not so serious matters. You can use your mobile data as a hotspot, but be sure that it may consume extra data for it.
But on the other hand, issues like network equipment, network pings, Wi-Fi bandwidth, DNS settings, etc., are more complicated. This requires more serious attention and if you are unable to do this on your own, call for a technician.
