The Roku is an immensely popular streaming device, offering a multitude of features that you might not expect with other popular alternatives like the Amazon Fire TV Stick. It provides a full, rich smart TV interface, with robust features and a host of smart TV apps.
Furthermore, you might sometimes face problems with your Roku devices. Many Roku users face the issue of their devices not connecting to the WiFi network.
A strong, fast internet connection is a must for uninterrupted enjoyment of content. Therefore, you need to solve this issue immediately.
Read on to know the steps you can take to resolve the issue of the Roku not connecting to WiFi.
Step 1. Confirm if You Are Connected
At the very outset, you should ascertain if your Roku device is connected to the WiFi or not. Sometimes, if you are unable to view content on your TV, it can also mean a problem with your ISP or Internet Service Provider.
In cases of this kind, streaming will not work even when your Roku is connected to your home WiFi. To rule this out, check your connection first.
To do this, press the Left button on the home screen. This will get you into the sidebar menu. From there, navigate to the Settings page and enter the Network settings page.
Here, in the About section, you should be able to see the details of your connection if you are indeed connected. These details will include the local IP address, network SSID, WiFi channel, and other details.
If you see none of these details in the about section, it means that you are not connected to the WiFi. In relation to this, if you see these details but your connection is now working in spite of that, you can go ahead and check for connection issues as detailed in the next step of this guide.
Step 2. Check Your Internet Connection
In the same menu, you will find a Check Connection option. Select this, and the Roku will attempt to diagnose the connection and give you a set of important details.
You can use these details to further pinpoint the source of the problem. If it finds that the connection is stable and the signal strength is sufficient, the Roku should function as intended.
Pertaining to this, if you see any tell-tale signs of problems, like abysmally low signal strength or wrong information about your home WiFi SSID, you should move on to the other steps described here to sort out the issue.
*If your Roku isn’t maintaining a solid connection, there might be a quick fix. There should be an option for “Network Connection Reset” within your settings. Select this option and then re-connect your Roku to the internet.
Step 3. Restart Your Roku Device
As it happens often with hardware, sometimes the simplest of remedies take care of an issue. In the case of the Roku, a simple restart might be all that is needed to fix the problem and get you back online.
To restart your Roku, go back to the left sidebar menu and move to the Settings page. Here, you will see an entry named System. Go inside the System menu and you will see an option for System Restart.
Choose this option and give your Roku device time to reboot completely. Once it is rebooted, try to stream some content to check if the internet connectivity has been restored. If not, follow Step 1 and check your connection again.
If your Roku is still not connecting to your home WiFi, the issue might be with your router. Move on to the next step and try the following fixes.
Step 4. Check and Restart Your Router
When you have ruled out immediate connection issues with your Roku device, it is time to check your router for problems. There can be many issues where modern routers can lose connections or provide feeble signal strength due to interference in the room from other networks and appliances.
First, go into your router settings and see if everything is in order. Typically, you would be looking for any recent changes you have made to your WiFi SSID and password. If you have changed either, your Roku will not connect until you make the same changes in its settings.
Also, take a look at the wireless channel. If there is a signal strength issue due to interference, choose a different channel.
If there is no apparent problem with the settings, the next thing to do is to restart the router. To do this, simply turn off the switch to the router from the wall outlet and take the power wire out.
Wait for a couple of minutes, then plug it back in and turn it on. Wait for the router to completely boot up and then check your Roku to see if there is a connection.
*Before factory resetting a router, consider the consequences. If you ever have to do a full factory reset, you will quickly remember how many different devices in your home rely on a WiFi connection!
Step 5. Reposition Your Roku
The loss of WiFi signal can often happen due to large obstacles in the way, which can block radio signals and cause spotty connections.
Signal drops can also occur if your router and your Roku device are located very far from each other. In such cases, it’s a prudent idea to reposition your Roku and also possibly your router to resolve the issue.
Of the two, the Roku should be much easier to reposition. To do this, simply unplug it and move it closer to your router, taking care to choose a location where there is a minimal obstruction between the two.
While having a clear line of sight between the router and the Roku is not strictly necessary, it can be a sunny thing while troubleshooting as it allows you to eliminate other possibilities and ascertain whether it is an obstruction that is indeed causing the issue.
You can also minimize interference by placing both devices away from other devices such as microwave ovens, computer monitors, and so on.
Step 6. Try a Wired Connection
If you have a Roku stick model, this step would not be applicable to you. However, if you have a standard Roku TV or a Roku Player model, your device will come with an ethernet port, which can be used to create a direct, wired connection with your router, bypassing the need to use WiFi.
For this, you will need an ethernet cable that terminates at both ends in RJ45 plugs. While purchasing an ethernet cable for this purpose, keep in mind that you need a patch cable, not a cross cable.
Switch off your Roku device and your router. Now, connect one end of the cable to the ethernet port of your Roku and the other to one of the available ports on your router that is clearly labeled “LAN”. Turn both devices on and wait for them to boot completely.
Then, go into your Roku settings, enter the network settings, and the option for a wired connection. Follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the connection and check if this leads to a seamless connection.
Step 7. Double-Check Your DNS Settings
Incorrect DNS settings might cause issues with the Roku while connecting to the internet. DNS or Domain Name System helps resolve URLs into actual IP addresses on the internet. To rule out DNS issues, check the DNS settings on your router.
To do this, log into your router admin panel. The DNS settings are typically found in the section containing parameters for the WAN connection. Navigate to that area and check the DNS entries. If they are improper, you can change them to the DNS data recommended by your ISP.
Another positive idea is to utilize the free DNS from Google, which will help diagnose issues with your ISPs DNS service. To do this, enter 8.8.8.8 in the field for the first DNS server and 8.8.4.4 in the field for the second DNS server.
Restart the router and check to see if the issue is resolved. You might also have to restart the Roku and wait for it to re-establish the WiFi connection for the DNS settings to take hold.
Step 8. Check WiFi Band (2.4 vs. 5 GHz) & b/g/n Settings
Some Roku models only function on a 2.4 GHz WiFi band. This wouldn’t be a problem, except that some routers disable the 2.4 GHz band in favor of 5.0 GHz.
Additionally, some routers will switch out of b/g/n mode to disable either the “b” or “g” protocol. At this point, you should change your router settings back to “b/g/n.”
Depending on your level of tech savvy, you may be able to play with router settings and get things corrected. Otherwise, it might be time to factory reset your router.
If you have an app for your WiFi service (Xfinity, Cox, etc.), you may be able to adjust these settings within the app.
*After changing the necessary settings on your router, you may need to disconnect and re-connect your Roku to the WiFi.
Step 9. Call Support
If all else fails, it is likely that the issue is being caused due to a hardware issue on the Roku device itself. In that case, there is nothing you can do except to get in touch with Roku support and follow their instructions regarding sending the device in for repair.
Based on this, if you try the above steps first, you can make it easier for the Roku technician speaking to you on the phone to diagnose the issue. If you have tried all the above steps and failed to solve the problem, let the technician know so that they can reach the correct diagnosis.
Final Thoughts
A steady, fast WiFi connection is instrumental if you want to watch streaming content in high quality and without inconvenient breaks in action.
If your Roku has not been connecting to your home WiFi, following this guide will give you the best chance to arrive at a possible fix by yourself.
If nothing works, you can always call support and get your Roku device repaired. Moreover, one of these fixes can work for you and preclude the need to go through all that trouble.
