Purple is 1 of my favorite colors.
But seeing it blink on my Roku device for hours…
Made it somewhat of an eyesore.
But fortunately, this problem was effortless to fix.
And if you’re experiencing the same…
I can provide you with several effective solutions to solve this issue.
Continue reading to find out:
- 7 quick fixes to stop this blinking purple light.
- The reasons why your device is having this problem.
- How removing the micro SD card from your Roku can eliminate this issue.
- And a lot more…
Why is my Roku blinking purple light?
Your Roku is blinking purple light because your device isn’t getting enough power. Sometimes, it’s also because your Roku’s memory SD card has a bug and needs to be removed. In other cases, it’s due to a faulty screensaver active on your Roku.
Roku blinking purple light: 7 fixes
#1: Restart your Roku device
When anything seems unusual with your Roku device…
The first solution you should always try is to restart your unit.
Not only is this the easiest method…
But it can also fix the majority of minor Roku glitches in minutes.
If you’ve restarted your device already, you can move ahead to the next step.
But if you haven’t yet, don’t worry, as I’ll teach you how to do it.
Note: The exact step-by-step process will depend on your Roku model.
But for models:
- Roku TV™.
- Roku Streaming Stick.
- Roku Smart Soundbar.
- Roku streaming player.
- Roku Streambar or Streambar Pro.
Here’s how you can do a system restart:
- On your Roku remote, press Home.
- Scroll down and find Settings.
- Tap System.
- Select Power.
- Click System Restart.
Note: If your Roku doesn’t show the Power submenu from the 4th step, just skip it.
#2: Change the power source of your device
It’s common knowledge that Roku devices need a power source to work…
But what’s not so common is the fact that…
Using your TV as your Roku’s power source isn’t efficient in the long term.
While the USB ports on TVs can power Roku devices…
Most TV models can’t provide enough power to keep these players at their best performance.
And a blinking purple light can be an indication of this issue.
But fret not.
You can quickly fix this matter by plugging your Roku into a wall outlet.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Turn your TV off.
- Unplug the power USB cable from the TV.
- Disconnect the other end from your Roku unit.
- Find a Roku charger adapter with a working cable.
- Insert the end of the cord to your Roku’s power input.
- Plug the adapter head into a wall outlet.
‘You might also want to know: Do I Need A Roku For Each TV? 3 Answers
#3: Remove your Roku’s microchip
Some Roku players allow users to insert micro SD cards to expand the device’s memory.
And while this is a great and practical addition…
This internal memory expansion is also prone to glitches, like any software storage.
As mentioned earlier…
A system restart is usually enough to clear minor glitches from your Roku’s system.
But as SD cards aren’t directly part of your software…
Restarting alone might not be able to remove the glitches from this extra memory slot.
So how can you work around this problem?
It’s easy. All you need to do is remove and insert the SD card into your Roku again.
There are 2 parts to this process.
But don’t worry, as 1 is as easy as the other.
To remove the SD card from your Roku device:
Step 1: Leave your device unplugged for 1 hour.
This will completely drain its power and allow your device to reset.
Step 2: Remove the HDMI cable from your Roku device.
Step 3: Locate the micro SD slot of your unit.
You can usually find this above or below the HDMI port of your Roku player.
Step 4: Push the SD card gently.
This will automatically eject it from the device.
Step 5: Pull the microchip out.
Note: Removing your SD card won’t delete any channels or games currently stored in it.
Now that you’ve removed the SD card, plug your Roku into its power source again.
Insert the HDMI cable to your player and see if it’s still blinking purple lights.
If it is…
Don’t worry, as there are still 4 other fixes you can try.
But for now, follow these steps to…
Reinstall the micro SD card to your Roku:
- Unplug your Roku device from its power source.
- Remove its HDMI cable.
- Insert the SD card.
- You’ll hear a click once it locks in place.
Further reading: 22 Steps To Connect Vizio Soundbar To Roku TV
#4: Disable your screensavers
Roku screensavers make watching TV much more convenient.
But just like any factors or components of Roku…
They’re not always perfect.
It’s been recognized that…
Faulty screensavers are 1 of the reasons why apps like Youtube TV stop working on Roku.
So it’s not surprising that they can also be the culprit of other glitches…
Like this blinking purple light on your Roku device now.
But not to worry. Disabling screensavers is easy.
Moreover, you can always turn it ON later if it’s not the 1 causing this problem.
To disable screensavers on your Roku:
- On your Roku remote, press Home.
- Head to Settings.
- Find Theme and go to Screensavers.
- Tap Change wait time.
- Click Disable screensaver.
Is your Roku device still blinking?
If it is, try to…
#5: Update your Roku
All Roku players are designed to update when you’re not using the device automatically.
But sometimes, different factors can stop these automatic updates…
Causing your Roku to run on outdated software without you realizing it.
If recently, you’ve:
- Installed a channel from channel.roku.com.
- Installed a channel that’s not certified by Roku.
- Left your device disconnected for quite some time.
Then you should check if you have upcoming updates manually.
But even if you don’t fall into any of these categories…
It’s always best to double-check that your device is running on its latest version…
Especially if you’re experiencing some trouble.
Don’t worry. Roku updates don’t last forever to install.
To manually check for Roku updates:
- On your Roku remote, press Home.
- Scroll until your hover over Settings.
- Click it and select System > System update.
- Tap Check Now.
- Your device will automatically install any available updates.
#6: Factory reset your device
If you’ve reached this far and the purple light on your Roku is still blinking…
You might need to factory reset your Roku player.
“What does a factory reset do?”
A factory reset deletes most of the data stored on your Roku.
This reset also restores your device’s default settings when it’s brand new.
It’s essentially making your device forget that you used it in the first place.
And to be more specific, it’ll:
- Unlink your Roku account.
- Delete your customized settings.
- Remove any personal preferences saved.
- Bring the device back to its initial setup state.
Once you conduct this reset, you won’t be able to reaccess your previous data.
So….
Pro tip: Remember the current apps and log-in credentials on your Roku. Doing so will make the setup phase much easier later.
There are 2 ways to factory reset a Roku player.
To reset your device using its Settings:
- Press Home on your remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap System > Advanced system settings.
- Select Factory reset. Or, in some models, Factory reset everything.
- Follow the instructions you see on the screen.
To reset your Roku using its button:
Step 1: Find the RESET button on your Roku.
This will either be a long tactile button or a circular pinhole.
Either way, it’ll be labeled with the word “RESET.”
Step 2: Press the button for 10 seconds.
For models with pinhole designs…
Use a sharp object like a pen or paperclip to poke the hole for the same duration.
Step 3: Wait for the indicator light to blink.
This means that the factory reset has been completed.
Step 4: Start the setup process.
If you need a refresher on how to set up your Roku again, you can watch this video:
#7: Contact Roku’s customer support
At this point, it’s safe to assume that your Roku is experiencing some hardware defects.
And you can only fix these types of problems with the help of professionals.
To contact Roku…
Go to their support page and follow their on-screen instructions.