Your Roku device is giving you a headache instead of joy and entertainment?
The easy-to-Set-Up promise turned out to be not so easy after all?
If you are one of the users who can’t make their Roku device work for no apparent reason, you’ve come to the right place.
This article will explain the most common reasons for your Roku device issues and provide you with the most proven ways to solve the problem at hand.
It can be very frustrating to buy a new product, excited about new features and capabilities, just to find yourself angry because you can’t make the product work, and the support keeps brushing you off.
Don’t worry. We’re here to help. So, let’s take it from the top.
CONTENTS
What Can Cause Roku to Connect to Wi-Fi But Fail to Work?
Several reasons can make your Roku device misbehave and not allow you to watch the streams, but they all pretty much fall into one of the following categories:
- Roku software settings and bugs
- Wi-Fi signal strength and quality
- Router software settings and bugs
- Hardware failure
As you can see from the list above, there are many possible failure points you need to cover. Still, don’t worry, as you can go through most of them in a matter of minutes.
Roku Software Settings and Bugs
Just like any other device connected to your network, Roku uses an operating system and various network protocols to work. During the initial setup process, your Roku device will verify your connection but may become unable to use it at some point.
In most cases, this type of situation can be resolved by a simple reboot of the Roku device. Depending on the type of device, you can do this by unplugging it from a power source for a couple of minutes or by using your Roku remote.
If you want to use the remote for the restart, do the following:
- Press the Home button 5x
- Press the Up button on the direction pad 1x
- Press the Rewind button 2x, then the Fast Forward button 2x.
The system will freeze for a couple of seconds, then reboot.
If this doesn’t work, it would be a good idea to explore the signal strength and quality,
Wi-Fi Signal Strength and Quality
If your Roku is connected via Wi-Fi, try using an ethernet cable just to test the things. If you can use the service via cable, you’ll know that the problem is specifically Wi-Fi-related.
Once you know that the problem is Wi-Fi-related, you can start by entering the secret menu.
Go to the Home screen, then use your remote and press the following sequence of buttons:
Homex5, Fast Forward, Play, Rewind, Play, Fast Forward.
Once inside, go to the Wireless Secret Screen and check the antenna, signal strength, and glitch/sec.
You can see if there is a problem with signal strength and quality and adjust the settings accordingly.
In some cases, minor adjustments like moving a TV or router for just 1 inch left or right can significantly affect signal strength and quality.
Feel free to experiment for the best results.
Some users reported that changing the Wi-Fi frequency bad resolved their issue, so it is an idea worth exploring since the 5 GHz band is more robust, faster, and less congested than the 2,4 GHz. This option is applicable only if your Roku and router have two-band support.
Router’s Software Settings and Bugs
Your router/gateway is also a significant piece of the puzzle. More than a few users reported a situation where they left their home for a couple of days, only to find out their Roku devices stopped working after they came back.
While they were gone, their ISP probably performed some kind of update on their routers that didn’t go as planned. If there is a chance this happened to you, you should power-cycle the router even if other devices can connect to it.
Even if there was no update, routers are notorious for piling up bugs and software glitches over time, and it is a generally good idea to power cycle them every once in a while to clear the software bugs.
Hardware Failure
If none of the above-described fixes couldn’t solve your connectivity problem, there is a good chance you have a faulty device. Depending on the age of the device, it would be a good idea to upgrade or ask for a replacement. All electronic devices can fail, and Roku is not an exception.
Summary
If your Roku can connect to Wi-Fi but won’t go online, there is no need to panic. There is a good chance that the problem is easily fixable in a matter of minutes.
Firstly, try restarting your Roku device to see if there is a software glitch that is behind your current problem. If that doesn’t help, enter the secret menu to check the Wi-Fi stats on the Secret Wireless Screen. Those will give you a good indication of how to pinpoint the problem.
Sometimes it is, moving a TV or router just for an inch enough to boost the signal to the next level. Also, if your Roku and router support Wi-Fi two-bands, try switching between them. The 5GHz band is faster and less congested, even when it is more limited in range.
Power-cycling the router should be the next move on your checklist. They can start acting up over time even when there are no outages or updates that can make them start acting up. Regular reboots will clear the cache memory and significantly improve performance.
Lastly, if nothing works, consider the option that your Roku device is faulty or broken, and it is time to get a new one.
As you can see, going through the checklist of possible causes for your Roku connectivity problem is not that complicated or challenging. We hope we have helped you solve your problem and see you again whenever you search for know-how about your home network devices.
Hey, I’m Jeremy Clifford. I hold a bachelor’s degree in information systems, and I’m a certified network specialist. I worked for several internet providers in LA, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle over the past 21 years.
I worked as a customer service operator, field technician, network engineer, and network specialist. During my career in networking, I’ve come across numerous modems, gateways, routers, and other networking hardware. I’ve installed network equipment, fixed it, designed and administrated networks, etc.
Networking is my passion, and I’m eager to share everything I know with you. On this website, you can read my modem and router reviews, as well as various how-to guides designed to help you solve your network problems. I want to liberate you from the fear that most users feel when they have to deal with modem and router settings.
My favorite free-time activities are gaming, movie-watching, and cooking. I also enjoy fishing, although I’m not good at it. What I’m good at is annoying David when we are fishing together. Apparently, you’re not supposed to talk or laugh while fishing – it scares the fishes.
