Roku’s one of the most powerful streaming companies…
With over 50 million active accounts.
Yet, your Roku TV won’t connect to the WiFi at all.
Well, before you lose hope in it…
Continue reading to learn:
- Why your Roku TV won’t connect to WiFi.
- 11 speedy fixes to reconnect your Roku TV to the WiFi.
- 5 hardly-known tips on how to improve Internet connection speeds.
- And much, much more…
Why won’t my Roku TV connect to WiFi?
Your Roku TV won’t connect to WiFi due to glitches in your device or Internet connection. Poor network speed can also cause this issue, especially if both devices are too far from each other. And if you changed your network password, your Roku TV needs reconnection to the Internet.
Roku TV won’t connect to Wifi: 11 fixes
#1: Reconnect your TV to the WiFi
It’s only right that we start with the easiest fix.
Try once more and reconnect your TV to the WiFi. And here’s how to do so:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Network.
- Choose Set Up Connection.
- Select Wireless.
- Roku will scan for wireless connections. So wait for yours to appear.
- Once your network shows on the screen, select it.
- Enter your network password, and wait for it to connect.
Tip: Make it a habit to check your Roku TV’s network connection when changing your WiFi password, too.
Why?
You see, when you change your WiFi password…
You also alter its Service Set Identifier or SSID.
With that, your Roku TV will no longer recognize your network. So you’ll need to reconnect it.
Note: This applies to all devices that are once connected to the said network connection.
For further reading: Roku TV No Sound: 15 Ways To Fix It In Seconds
#2: Check whether your WiFi is working or not
Your WiFi might not be working at the moment.
Are other devices in your home unable to connect?
So, go check if that’s the case.
Try streaming YouTube on your phone and see if it works.
Or any other app that needs an Internet connection, too.
And not just one. Open a couple more apps to confirm further.
If most or all of them won’t load at all…
Then, your WiFi isn’t working.
With that, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to work things out.
#3: Check your Internet speed
This is for those who tried #2, and some of the apps managed to load.
Okay, you have a working Internet connection…
And its speed is right for those applications that you tried to open.
But it might not be enough for your Roku TV.
According to Roku, here’s the required Internet speed to stream:
Minimum download speed | Quality |
3.0 Mbps | Standard definition |
9.0 Mbps | HD content |
Now, check to see if your network meets the requirement:
- Go to https://www.speedtest.net/.
- Press Go.
- Wait for it to connect and detect your network speed.
Tip: Run this test more than once. And do it at different times of the day. This will give you a complete idea of whether it’s a one-time occurrence or a recurring issue.
And if you find that your Internet speed is always less than what you’re paying for…
Contact your ISP immediately.
You might also be interested: Can You Use Roku On A Non-Smart TV? 4 Answers
#4: Move your Roku TV and router close to each other
Internet connection speed is looking good?
I understand that you might be wondering what’s still wrong…
Well, have you considered the placement of your Roku TV and your router?
I ask because…
The distance between devices plays a big part in distributing bandwidth.
Simply put, if your Roku TV is too far from the router…
Then, it’ll have trouble getting most of its bandwidth.
So, the closer the Roku TV is to the router, the better.
Now, for optimal Internet connection…
And so that you don’t experience this again…
I got some more tips for you.
Note: Your Roku TV won’t be the only one reaping the benefits of the tips below. All of your home devices’ Internet shall improve as well.
Tip 1: Central router placement
Whether you live in a single or multi-story house…
Place your router in the center of your home.
Moreover, don’t put it somewhere low.
Yep, definitely not on the floor.
Instead, opt for an elevated spot.
For example, putting it on a shelf would do.
Further tip: Don’t place it near the window as well. If so, you might find that the best Internet performance is outside of your home instead of in it.
Tip 2: Don’t put your router behind your TV
I get it…
I just told you that the closer the router is to the TV…
The less likely you’re gonna experience this again.
So far, so good.
However, don’t put your router behind your TV.
Not only can they weaken each other’s performance…
But they can also heat up each other, therefore causing damage.
Tip 3: Steer clear of potential blockers
Say that your router could be in the center of your home…
And it can distribute its signal evenly…
But you can still encounter this problem again and again.
That’s if you don’t consider the potential blockers. I’m talking about the following:
- Microwave.
- Other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
- Fish tanks (the signal doesn’t pass through water).
Moreover, even walls and mirrors can block the signal.
So, avoid those being nearby when placing your router somewhere.
Tip 4: Don’t hide your router
Routers aren’t the prettiest devices, sure…
But don’t hide them behind your books or whatnot.
Doing so will only prevent them from providing you optimal signal.
Tip 5: Reset your router regularly
It’s easy to leave your router on 24/7.
After all, this allows you to access the Internet anytime.
Regardless, you still need to reboot your router regularly.
I’m talking once a month.
And if you practice this, you’d know…
A couple of minutes without Internet is much better than recurrent connection problems.
To know how to reset your router, refer to fix #8.
#5: Disconnect other devices
Network connection? Present.
Internet speed? Amazing.
Router placement? Optimal.
Regardless, your Roku TV is still being stubborn.
For some reason, you still can’t connect your Roku TV to your WiFi.
“I know, right…
What’s going on?”
I have another explanation.
You see, about 250 devices can connect to a router.
But that doesn’t mean that you should abuse the privilege.
Why?
Because the more devices that are connected to the router…
The lesser bandwidth is distributed to each device.
With that, if you wanna stream something on your Roku TV…
Disconnect a device or 2 from the Internet.
If you don’t want to do that because it can be a hassle…
Then, don’t use any other bandwidth-hogging devices or apps. Just while you’re trying to stream on your Roku TV.
For example…
Tell your kids to ditch their devices. So, no playing with the Xbox for now. Or even streaming on Disney Plus.
Invite them with you and turn it into a family movie viewing.
#6: Power cycle your Roku TV
Whatever issue it is that you’re facing with your Roku TV…
Your Netflix, Spotify, Funimation, Hulu, or any other app might not be working…
A restart is a widely known fix.
That’s why it’s something that you might’ve already tried.
But it didn’t work…
Why?
Because, as easy as it may sound…
And even though a restart can be effective at times…
It isn’t the right process.
Instead, what you need to do is to power cycle your TV. Here’s how:
- Turn your TV off.
- Unplug it from any electrical source.
- Wait for 30 seconds.
- Plug it back on the electrical outlet.
- Turn your TV on.
If you want a visual guide, I got you.
Here’s a comprehensive video on how to power cycle your Roku TV:
#7: Restart your modem and router
This is a perfect follow-up on fix #6…
Just to be safe and sure, restart or power cycle your modem and router, too.
And it’s just a quick process.
So, here’s…
How to power cycle your modem and router
- Unplug your modem and router from the socket.
- Wait for no less than 15 seconds.
- Plug the modem back on the outlet first.
- Wait for at least 1 to 2 minutes before plugging back the router.
- Wait for every panel light on your modem to light up with green.
- Connect your device to the Internet.
#8: Use ethernet cable
Still not looking good with the wireless network connection?
Alright, it’s time to get wired.
What I mean is to use an ethernet cable on your Roku TV.
When you use one, the connection is more direct.
And with it, you get faster speeds.
That said, here’s…
How to set up a wired connection in your Roku TV
Step 1: Connect the cable to their designated ports
Connect one end of the cable on your router. And the other should be on your Roku TV.
Note: Only Roku Ultra and Roku Ultra LT have an Ethernet port. For other models like:
- Roku Streambar.
- Roku Express 4K.
- Roku Express 4K+.
…you’d have to use an ethernet adapter.
Step 2: On-screen setup
- Press your remote’s Home button.
- Go to Setting.
- Choose Network.
- Select Set Up Connection.
- Choose Wired.
- Select Connect to wired network.
After that, your Roku TV will automatically scan for network information.
Tip: You might experience internet connection issues again despite a wired connection. That’s when you disconnect the cables, whether intentional or not. So always ensure that the cable is perfectly connected to its designated ports.
#9: Buy a Wi-Fi extender
Before you get confused…
People often use WiFi extender and WiFi booster interchangeably. But they’re basically the same.
The latter is the general term for:
WiFi Extender or WiFi Repeater
The difference between the 2 is the type of connection.
However, 1 device can be both an extender and repeater.
For one, extenders use ethernet cable that’s connected to your router.
While the repeater works wirelessly.
Now, what’s a better choice between the 2?
Well, both work just fine. However, for best results, opt to use your WiFi Booster as an extender.
Why so?
That’s because using an ethernet cable doesn’t cause any latency.
Sure, the WiFi Repeater works, too. But in some cases, it beats its purpose. That’s instead of improving speeds, it slows it down even more.
So, make sure that when you buy a WiFi Booster…
Test out both approach. See whether what works best for you.
#10: Factory reset your Roku TV
A while ago. I mentioned the imperfection of technology.
With it comes glitches.
And sometimes, you can’t beat them with simple restarts or power cycles.
It comes to the point that you’ll need to factory reset your TV.
Now, how can this eliminate the glitches?
A simple explanation is…
It gets rid of everything.
Along with the glitches, you’ll also say bye to the following:
- Preferred settings.
- Link to other devices.
- Other unknown errors you haven’t discovered.
And after it, you’ll say hello to:
- A faster Roku TV.
- Glitch and error-free device.
- The default settings and initial setup mode.
So, without further ado, here’s…
How to factory reset your Roku TV
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Find System. Under it, select Advanced System Settings.
- Choose Factory Reset.
- Select Factory Reset Everything.
- Follow on-screen directions.
You might also want to know: Do Rokus Ever Go Bad? Common Problems, Signs & Tips
#11: Contact Roku support
If all else fails…
Don’t be too quick to think it’s the end for your Roku TV.
But the problem might be out of your hands.
With that, you’ll need the assistance of professionals from Roku themself.
So contact a Roku agent for support.