Don’t you just hate it when your movie night gets interrupted?
Like, you’re in the middle of binge-watching on Roku…
When all of a sudden…
The channel stops working.
And now you’re seeing a blinking white light.
Good thing it’s easily fixable.
Continue reading to find out:
- 9 effective fixes to resolve Roku’s blinking white light.
- What’s actually causing your Roku’s light indicator to keep blinking.
- Which Roku devices can connect to a modem if the router’s the cause of the issue.
- And a lot more…
Why is my Roku blinking white light?
Your Roku is blinking white light because of connection issues. It’s either a problem with your HDMI cable or your internet connection. So ensure that your HDMI cable is plugged in securely. Or replace it if it’s faulty. And for WiFi problems, you can try to reset your modem and router to fix it.
Roku blinking white light: 9 fixes
#1: Ensure that cable connections are secure
Roku’s light indicators are extremely helpful in troubleshooting.
They’ll let you know what’s wrong. This lets you know what type of problem needs fixing so that you can apply the correct fixes.
Now, a red blinking light usually means power failure.
And for a blinking white light…
The most common cause is an unsecured or faulty cable connection.
And almost all Roku devices use an HDMI cable.
While Roku Express+ is the only exception as it uses an RCA cable.
So when trying to fix the white light issue, first ensure that the cable connection is secure.
Whether it’s an HDMI or RCA, see to it that it’s connected properly.
You can try to unplug the cable from the TV and the Roku player. And then plug it back in.
Do this while the TV is on to see the changes in real-time.
#2: Connect the Roku device to another TV port
Another thing that you can check is your TV port.
The HDMI or RCA cables may be fine. But it’s the TV port that’s causing the connection issue.
Several ports should be available if you’re using one of those modern TVs.
Most will have anywhere from 2 to 8 HDMI ports.
So try to connect your Roku’s HDMI to one of those other ports.
Note: When connecting to other ports, ensure that you also switch to the correct TV input settings.
In addition, it’s also worth noting that ports can malfunction simply due to dirt build-up.
You can clean the ports by using an air duster. This tool is especially effective in eliminating dust and debris in electronic devices.
Other objects you can use to clean your TV’s port include:
- Cotton swabs.
- Cleaning brush.
- Dry, clean cloth.
#3: Replace faulty connectors
So you’ve checked the cable. And you know it’s secure. And you know your TV port’s fine.
But you’re still getting the blinking white light.
Then it’s likely that your HDMI or RCA cable is faulty.
There’ve actually been reports from users regarding that. Some have experienced white light issues upon initial setup.
And it’s all because of the faulty HDMI cable that came with their Roku player.
The good thing is that non-Roku HDMI cables will work perfectly fine with your device.
Do you happen to have another HDMI or RCA cable at home?
One that you’re sure is working?
If so, try to use that instead. And see if that resolves the white light issue.
Now, if you don’t have a spare one, you can always order online.
Good HDMI brands like PowerBear are readily available for purchase.
As for RCA cables, the JSAUX brand is a great choice.
#4: Check for any network connection problems
An unsecured or faulty cable connection may be the main reason for a blinking white light.
But a poor or unstable internet connection can also cause it.
First of all, your Roku player needs about 1 Mbps when streaming in Standard Definition or SD. And at least 3 Mbps for High Definition or HD.
Of course, you can use Roku without the internet. You just wouldn’t be able to stream from the channels.
So if your stream suddenly stops. And you see a blinking white light…
Check your Roku’s connection status first.
How to check your Roku player’s connection
- Click the Home button on your remote.
- Navigate to Settings and select it.
- Select Network.
- Click the Check connection option.
“So what exactly happens with Check Connection?”
Roku will begin inspecting your WiFi signal strength when you select it.
If it finds a network with a stronger signal, it’ll ask you to connect to that instead.
Also, Roku will try to measure your internet speed.
You should then see a message saying, “Connection check was successful”.
After that, you may go ahead and review the results.
How to review the Connection Check results
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Select Settings.
- Select Network.
- Select About.
You’ll see your internet download speed. As well as your signal strength.
And if your signal strength is Fair or Poor…
Then reset your modem and router. This process is also known as a power cycle.
It’s simple. Yet very effective in resolving a lot of issues. Including a poor WiFi signal.
How to power cycle your modem and router
- Disconnect your router and modem from the power source.
- Wait for 30 seconds.
- Plug the 2 devices back into the power source.
Wait for all the light indicators to be green and steady. Your Roku should then automatically reconnect to the WiFi.
And once it’s reconnected, check if you’re still seeing the blinking white light.
#5: Reset your Roku player’s network connection
Now, if power cycling your modem doesn’t work…
Then consider resetting your Roku’s network connection.
Note: Roku will forget your home WiFi network once you do this. So you’ll have to reconnect and enter your password again.
How to reset your device’s network connection
- On your Roku remote, press the Home button.
- Scroll down and select Settings.
- Navigate to Advanced system settings and click it.
- Look for the Network connection reset and click it.
- Select Reset connection.
The reset process should automatically begin. Once it’s done, your Roku player will restart. And you’ll have to reconnect to your home WiFi.
How to reconnect to WiFi
- On your Roku remote, click Home.
- Look for the Settings menu and click it.
- Select Network.
- Click the Set up connection option.
- Select Wireless since you’re connecting to WiFi.
- Find your home network and select it.
- Type in your network’s password via the virtual keyboard.
- Click Connect.
A video guide will also be helpful. So you may check this one below:
#6: Connect your Roku device directly to the modem
In some instances, the internet is fine. The modem is working well.
But it’s the router that’s causing issues with Roku’s connection.
If that’s the case, you can connect the modem directly to the Roku via an ethernet cable.
These are the Roku players with a dedicated ethernet port:
Using a different Roku player?
Don’t worry. You can simply use an ethernet adapter.
The following Roku players are compatible with an ethernet adapter:
Now connecting your Roku to the modem is really easy.
How to connect your Roku directly to a modem
Step #1: Plug one end of the ethernet cable into the modem’s internet port.
Step #2: If your Roku has an ethernet port, connect the other end of the cable to it. That’s it.
If you’re using an adapter, connect the other end of the cable to that. Proceed to the next step.
Step #3: Connect the ethernet adapter to one of your Roku’s HDMI ports.
After this, you’d need to change your Roku’s connection setting to Wired.
How to change your Roku’s connection setting to Wired
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Select Settings.
- Select Network.
- Select Set up connection.
- Click the Wired option.
#7: Restart your Roku player
A glitch on your Roku device can cause the light indicator to blink in rare cases.
An easy solution to that is to power cycle your device.
This is effective in resolving a wide range of issues. From Netflix not working on Roku to red and white light problems on the device.
You can do that in 3 different ways:
- By unplugging.
- Via a remote shortcut.
- Using the Settings menu.
All of these methods are easy. And it should only take you a few seconds to do.
Restart your Roku by disconnecting from the outlet
- Unplug your Roku player from the power outlet.
- Unplug it from the HDMI or RCA port.
- Wait for around half a minute.
- Connect your Roku back to your TV port .
- Plug it again into the power outlet.
Restart through Settings
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select Settings.
- Select System.
- Look for the Power option and click it.
- Select System restart.
Restart via a remote shortcut
- Press the Home button 5 consecutive times.
- Press the Up arrow button once.
- Press the Rewind button 2 times.
- Press the Fast Forward button 2 times.
#8: Perform a factory reset on your Roku player
Consider this a last resort.
If the blinking white light is still there, consider a factory reset.
When you do this, it’ll erase all of your personal preferences. Your Roku account will also be unlinked from the player. All of the channels you installed will also be deleted.
So always proceed with caution.
Now, there are actually 2 ways to factory reset a Roku.
- Via the Settings menu.
- By pressing the Reset button.
How to factory reset using the Reset button
Look for the Reset button on your device first. In some models, it’s at the back. In others, it’s on the bottom. Then do these steps:
- Press and hold the Reset button.
- Wait for about 10 seconds.
- Release the hold.
How to factory reset via the Settings menu
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Select Settings.
- Select System.
- Click the Advanced system settings option.
- Look for the Factory reset option and click it.
- Select the Factory reset everything option.
The reset process should start. The light indicator will blink really fast once it’s done.
#9: Contact Roku for technical or customer support
If the fixes didn’t resolve your issue, it might be a hardware problem.
Your Roku player is likely defective. In time, Rokus can go bad from the usual wear and tear.
And for that, you should contact Roku for support.
Further reading: Why Is Your Roku TV Screen Black? 5 Reasons & Quick Fixes