Online streaming has become quite popular these days with people consuming most of their content from platforms like YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to name a few. There’s also an influx of streaming devices on the market that help turn TVs into streaming displays.
In this article, we’re looking at some errors in Roku, in particular, why your Roku light is blinking, what’s causing the issue and how you can fix the problem.
What causes this issue?
The light on your Roku streaming device can blink in two colours — red and white. Depending on what colour the light is blinking in, it can indicate different errors.
- Red blinking: A red blinking light on your Roku indicates a power failure or error on the advice generally meaning that the device doesn’t have enough power to operate properly.
- While blinking: White blinks generally indicate connection issues with your device.
There are some lights on the Roku remote as well. Once again, depending on which light is blinking, your remote either doesn’t have enough battery power or is facing a pairing issue.
Also read: Roku vs Firestick vs Chromecast: Which one’s the best pick?
Fixing blinking lights on a Roku device
If the light on your Roku is blinking, try one of these x fixes to solve the problem.
Check your internet connection
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your internet connection. 4k content is heavy on the bandwidth to stream, and if you don’t have enough of it, you can sometimes run into problems. At least 25mbps upload and download speeds are recommended.
Check the power adaptor
If you’ve got the Roku power adaptor plugged into a power strip or some secondary power source, there’s a good chance that you’re not getting enough power to the device for it to function properly. Try connecting the power adaptor directly to a wall socket to see if that fixes the problem.
Restart your Roku
Restarting your Roku and your TV is also a good idea and, more often than not, will fix any random issues you might face, including any problems indicated by blinking lights.
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Check the WiFi credentials
Check if you’ve entered the right WiFi SSID and password in your Roku wireless settings. You can find these settings inside Settings > Network > Setup Connection.
Some users have also reported that the error was caused because they had symbols or punctuation marks in their WiFi passwords. Changing your WiFi password to a simpler string might also eliminate the problem.
Alternatively, your WiFi band might also impact your connection to the Roku servers. If you’re using the g/n band, try switching to b/g/n to see if that helps. If you don’t have access to your router’s settings, you might have to ask your ISP to make the change for you.
Check for Software Update
Resetting network settings and connecting to your WiFi again can also help get the bug fixed.
Step 1: On your Roku remote, press the Home button.
Step 2: Select Settings.
Step 3: Inside settings, select System.
Step 4: Choose System restart, followed by Network connection reset.
Wait for your Roku to finish rebooting, then connect it to your WiFi again. This should solve your problem.
Factory reset your Roku
If all fails, you can factory reset your Roku. This should take care of just about any error you’re facing.
Step 1: Press the Home button on your Roku remote, and go to Settings.
Step 2: Inside Settings, select System.
Step 3: Select the Advanced system settings and select the Factory reset option.
Also read: Roku error code 014.40: 5 Fixes
Fixing blinking lights on a Roku remote
If you’ve got blinking lights on a Roku remote instead, try these x fixes.
Try charging the battery
Perhaps the most popular reason why Roku remotes start malfunctioning is that their battery levels dip too low. This is true for both rechargeable and battery-operated Roku remotes.
So if you find your remote unresponsive or very laggy, the first thing you should do is try and charge the remote or replace the batteries, depending upon what kind of remote you have.
Check for a blocked signal
Roku remotes IR signals that require a clear line of sight between the remote and the device it’s operating. If there’s something like a wall or a piece of furniture between the Roku and the Roku remote, the remote isn’t going to work.
The issue mainly arises when you have a Roku player trying to control the volume and power on your TV.
Check the HDMI connection
If you’re using a Roku Streaming Stick or Streaming Stick+, connecting it directly to your TV’s HDMI port can cause performance issues with the device caused by wireless interference from the HDMI port.
The solution to this is installing an HDMI extension which Roku hands out for free. Just fill out this form, and you’re good to go.Â
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Restart the Roku device and remote
If your remote has batteries, remove them and insert them back again. For your Roku device, disconnect the power supply, wait for five seconds then reconnect the power. For rechargeable remotes, press and hold the pairing button for 20 seconds. The status light will slowly flash green and then start flashing rapidly.
Note that all Roku devices, except the Roku Streaming Stick, can be controlled with a Roku simple remote. If you have one lying around, you can use it to restart a Roku device by going to Settings > System > System restart > Restart on a player or Settings > System > Power > System restart > Restart on a Roku TV.
Use the Roku app
This is more of a workaround rather than a solution, but it still works pretty well. If you’re experiencing problems using a remote with your Roku device, you can always download the Roku app. The app can double up as a remote and makes text entry easier as well.
Also read: Roku error 014.30: 5 Fixes
