Why Is Roku Not Turning On? – Complete Fix Guide

Whenever Roku not turning on we can’t assume what’s wrong exactly from the start before we start inspecting all possibilities. The solution is simple so stay invested throughout this guide!

The primary reason why Roku is refusing to turn on is due to power issues with the equipment and setup.

In addition, the Roku player might be working and only the video connection is lost to the TV, which is a possibility that all users need to inspect.

Keep reading further to learn more!

5 Reasons Why Is My Roku Not Turning On?

1. A connection fault with the TV
2. An issue with the power supply
3. Problem with the Roku remote
4. Improper TV HDMI input source
5. Fault with the television settings

Is your Roku Properly Connected?

Before we start, ensure that your Roku is plugged and secured into the power as well as in the TV’s HDMI port.

It’s important to ensure that both essential connections – video and power are secured by unplugging and inspecting the connectors and ports for issues or dust accumulation.

Tip: Also verify that the batteries of your Roku remote are situated properly!

Quickest Ways to Fix When Roku Not Turning On!

Note: There is one important thing to do before the troubleshooting steps!

How To Know When Roku Is Working?

It will be necessary to check if your streaming stick is working multiple times throughout this guide.

To know if a Roku player is functional, check if the power LED on the physical player is blinking, since in a working state, there should be a periodical blinking.

1. Select the Correct Input Source

Though it may appear that your Roku is failing to startup, the problem could be related to the selected input source on your TV.

The most forward thing we’ll do is verify that the appropriate TV source is selected to determine if the Roku will be displayed on the screen.

Here’s how to select the correct input source on the TV:

1. Using your TV’s remote, press the “Source” button.
2. Which TV HDMI port is the Roku player connected to? 
3. Select the HDMI port where your Roku is connected.
4. Press “OK” and wait for a couple of seconds for the visual.

Info: Newer TV models could have up to 4 HDMI inputs, labeled with consecutive numbers in the source menu (HDMI 1,2,3, and SIDE). 

2. Reconnect Roku’s Power Cable

Based on the model of the Roku streaming stick, you either connect the device to the TV via USB (USB 2.0), or directly into power (adapter).

Older Roku streaming sticks tend to connect directly to power, while the other plug into the TV via USB to receive power.

How to Reconnect Roku USB Cable:

1. Unplug the USB cable of your Roku, from the TV.
2. Wait for 60 seconds while the player is unplugged.
3. Re-attach Roku’s USB cable back into the TV port.

How to Reconnect Roku Power Adapter:

1. Unplug the power cable of your Roku device.
2. Wait for about  2-3 minutes in order to discharge.
3. Reconnect the power cable back into the power source.

Tip: If Roku receives power through a USB port on your TV, try using an alternative USB port on the television. 

In case of a faulty USB port on your TV, the Roku stick might not turn on!

3. Connect to a Different Outlet

If you have a Roku streaming stick that plugs into an electrical outlet via an adapter, you should test by connecting the player to a different power source.

If there’s a fault with the outlet, your Roku will not receive power therefore it’ll not startup upon pressing “power” on the remote!

Follow these steps to connect your Roku to a different outlet:

1. Unplug the power adapter of your Roku from both ends.
2. Locate another suitable electrical outlet for the player.
3. Connect the micro connector of the adapter to your Roku.
4. Plug the other end of the supplying cable into the new outlet.
5. Use the Roku remote control to turn on your player.

Faulty Power Source?

If there are no other power sources close to your Roku, use a power cable extender to extend the cable from a working power source. There are extenders in different sizes (up to 25 meters).

4. Unplug the Streaming Player!

Perhaps, your Roku has failed to make communication with the TV, so its broadcast is not forwarded to the screen. To settle this problem, you should reconnect the Roku stick from the back of your TV and keep it unplugged for a while.

• Disconnect your Roku player from the TV and wait for 30-60 seconds!

The key to achieving a proper power cycle for the Roku player is keeping it unplugged from the TV for as long as possible. Whilst plugging in the player, check if the power LED will blink!

Tip: If your TV is still failing to display the broadcast of your Roku player, connect the device to a different HDMI port. 

5. Remove ALL External Equipment!

When there are other HDMI devices connected to your TV, there could be a conflict between the HDMI inputs, hence your Roku would appear nonworking.

The best way to justify this theory is by unplugging ALL external devices from your TV.

Unplug HDMI devices such as consoles, computers, and other streaming players. Also, verify that no other input is received by your TV such as wireless screen casting from external devices and apps. 

Tip: Restart your equipment when all devices are disconnected.

6. Inspect the Remote

If you’ve tried everything but Roku still fails to startup, you should check the remote for faults.

The only way to power on your Roku without installing the mobile application is through the remote, so if the device goes faulty, you’ll be unable to start up your Roku player.

How to Troubleshoot a Roku Remote:

• Power cycle the remote – eject the batteries of the remote for 30-40 seconds
• Solve interference – dislocate any objects between your Roku and remote
• Reset the remote – hold “Reset” in the Roku remote’s battery compartment
• Replace the batteries – insert a fresh set of new batteries (AA or AAA)

Faulty Roku Remote?

If your Roku remote withstood heavy hardware damage and has visual signs of a fault, try using the Roku remote app to control your player.

All you have to do is download and install the application (available for iOS and Android) on connect to your Roku TV via WiFi.

7. Perform a Factory Reset

If your Roku is working but you’re unable to view the broadcast on the TV, there’s a way through button combinations to factory reset the device.

All Roku devices come with an equipped (in-build) factory reset button on either of their panels (usually at the back with Roku TCL TVs).

Follow these steps to perform a factory reset on Roku:

1. Locate the Reset button on the back/side of the Roku device.
2. Press and hold the reset button for about 10-15 seconds.
3. Unplug the Roku (or disconnect the TV for TCL Roku TVs).
4. Keep the device off until 1 or 2 minutes have passed.
5. Reconnect the device’s power adapter (or replug the streaming stick).

Note: Not holding the reset button for long enough may fail to trigger the factory reset. 

Also not unplugging the Roku device on time, could also cancel the process.

My Roku Still Not Turning On…

The final step is to test your Roku player on a different monitor, especially if you’re using a USB cable (without an adapter) to power the streaming stick.

Luckily, you can connect Roku to any HDMI monitor such as a computer monitor only to test whether the device would work.

Simply connect your Roku via HDMI to any computer monitor, then power on both devices – your Roku and the display monitor. Then by pressing the power button on the Roku remote you should be able to see the home screen of your Roku streaming stick.

Note: In case your Roku is not working even on a different monitor, rather than a TV, check whether the warranty is intact and contact Roku Customer Service.

Quick Recap:

We’ve learned that when Roku not turning on, the best solution is to power cycle the stick and examine all of the device equipment.

If you’re still having issues, connect the streaming stick to a different HDMI input and perform a factory default restoration!

Read Next: How To Reset TCL Roku TV With Black Screen?