What to Do If Your Roku TV Won’t Turn On

Ever felt frustrated when your Roku TV wouldn’t turn on when you’re ready to relax and watch your favorite movie or television show? There are many reasons Roku TV won’t turn on, and this article provides a list of solutions for many common Roku issues.

Good to Know: Roku is just one platform for smart TVs. Learn the differences between Android TV and Google TV.

Basic Troubleshooting

Before troubleshooting, try these simple steps to fix a Roku TV.

• Change the batteries: depleted or improperly inserted batteries may prevent the remote control from powering on the TV by interrupting signal transmission. If your Roku TV fails to turn on, try replacing the remote batteries.
• Check the power cord: a loose power cable connection may prevent the Roku TV from turning on. Ensure proper connection to both the power outlet and TV.
• Unplug the TV: Unplug your TV from the power outlet. Wait for at least 30 to 40 seconds, then plug the TV back in, and try turning it on again.

If none of these measures work, try the additional troubleshooting tips below:

1. Use the TV’s Power Button

Instead of trying to turn on the Roku TV using the remote, use the physical power button on your television. Based on the manufacturer, it may be located at the top or bottom of your TV. Press it and check whether your Roku TV turns on.

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2. Check for Interference

Your Roku remote may sometimes face difficulty connecting to your TV because of infrared interference. To avoid this, ensure that the remote is within proximity to the TV and directly pointed toward it.

Additionally, any small objects near the TV should be removed to prevent signal blockage.

3. Try Alternate Power Outlet

The Roku TV may fail to turn on if it is not receiving electricity from the power outlet. This can be due to a defective outlet. To determine the issue, plug in another device, and check whether it works properly. If the second device does not work either, the problem lies with the power outlet.

Unplug the TV from the existing outlet, and connect it to another power outlet to resolve the issue.

4. Use the Roku Remote App

If your Roku TV remote control loses its pairing, you may be unable to turn it on. Troubleshooting the issue can take some time, so instead of going through that, use the Roku Remote app to turn on the Roku TV. To use the remote app, your smartphone and Roku TV should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

If you have not used the app before, download it from the Google Play Store or the App Store. After installation, the app will automatically search for nearby Roku devices. If not, tap the Remote icon to connect the app to your Roku TV.

5. Reboot Roku TV

If your Roku TV is not switched on, try restarting it without unplugging it. To force a soft reboot using your remote, press the Home button five times, press the Up arrow once, the Rewind button twice, and the Forward button twice to reboot your Roku TV.

Roku TV Turns On and Off By Itself

If your Roku TV is constantly restarting, the first thing you can try is a system restart. To do that, navigate to Settings -> System -> Power ->System restart or Settings -> System -> System restart on your Roku device.

If a system restart doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need a factory reset. Based on your device, it can be Settings -> System -> Advanced system settings -> Factory reset or Settings -> Factory reset.

You can also do a hard reset by pressing and holding the Reset button on the back of the device for at least 20 to 30 seconds. All content and settings will be erased when you perform a factory reset, and you must set up your Roku device once again, as if it were new.

Additionally, ensure that the Roku TV is running the latest software version. To check for and install updates, go to Settings -> System -> System update -> Check now.

Also helpful: if you’re considering replacing your Roku, check out these options for Roku streaming devices.

Roku TV Won’t Turn On, But Red Light is Blinking

Roku players usually have a light on the front panel. This light remains off or white during regular usage but may blink when you use the remote. It will flash red if your device runs out of power.

Image source: Roku

The Roku website suggests trying the following steps to resolve the flashing red light issue.

• If you use a USB cable other than the one that came with your Roku device, replace it with the original cable. This could help resolve any issues related to power or connectivity.

• Different USB ports have varying power capacities. Therefore, connect your Roku player or streaming stick to a different USB port on your TV to resolve any power-related issues.
• Instead of a USB port, connect your Roku player or streaming stick to a working power outlet in the wall. A typical 5V, 1A (1000mA) USB charger should suffice.

Roku TV with a Black Screen

If you’re experiencing a black screen on your Roku TV, it could be caused by a loose connection or faulty HDMI cable. We suggest replacing the HDMI cable or connecting it to another HDMI port to see if it resolves the issue. If not, try a factory reset or firmware update.

For example, if your TCL Roku TV is turned on but shows a black screen, locate the Reset button, and press and hold it for about 30 seconds until the TV shows a recovery screen. Once you see the recovery screen, follow the instructions to connect to your wireless network. The TV will perform a firmware update and reboot to the Home screen successfully.

If none of the troubleshooting methods mentioned above solve the issue with your Roku TV, it’s recommended that you contact Roku TV support or the manufacturer of your TV. If you’re not satisfied with Roku TV, you may want to consider purchasing an Amazon Fire TV stick. Alternatively, if you want more out of your Fire TV stick, learn more about jailbreaking it.

Image credit: DepositPhotos

Meenatchi is always passionate about learning new technological advancements and would love to try out new gadgets, software, and apps. After quitting her career as an Embedded Software Developer in 2009, she took up a career in content writing.