# Fix my Roku (please!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978 "2021-08-03T17:38:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/1 "2021-08-03T17:38:31Z")
Up until a recent loss of power my Roku Express had no problem finding our wifi signal and worked swell for years. Now it cannot find our signal (nor any of our neighbors signals, for that matter). The router is about 20’ way from the Roku. All of our other wifi-requiring devices have no problem finding signal. Here’s the fixes I’ve attempted (to no avail) so far: 1. Restarting the router (3 times) 2. Resetting Roku back to factory settings 3. Switched router to a variety of different wifi channels 4. Bought a new Roku Express (no better) 5. Watched a YouTube video purporting to fix my problem that involved punching a variety of buttons on the Roku remote which pulled up a “secret” screen that made it possible to “enable network pings.” Help! ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/2 "2021-08-03T22:19:46Z")
I’m not going to be able to help much, I’m sure. It seems to me that if your Roku and new Roku Express won’t work, I’m suspecting the router might be preventing connection. In your place, I would probably do a Factory Reset on the router. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/3 "2021-08-03T22:44:05Z")
Try turning on your phone’s wifi hotspot and see if your roku can see that wifi. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/4 "2021-08-03T23:03:31Z")
you need to get into the roku settings and have it search for the router.it sounds like it didn’t save the settings it had before. you will need the router password ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/5 "2021-08-03T23:34:00Z")
I experienced the same thing with my PC and it turned out the network adapter was blown. It was a PC so I could replace it, but if that has happened on your Roku, I bet you need a new Roku. Unless it is under warranty, then they need to send you a new one. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/6 "2021-08-03T23:56:40Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I bet you need a new Roku. The OP purchased a new Roku Express. It has the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/7 "2021-08-04T00:13:36Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > The OP purchased a new Roku Express. It has the same problem. Oh, I see that step now. Sorry, that is very strange. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/8 "2021-08-04T00:25:02Z")
The _ **new** _ Roku Express can’t see _any_ networks either? Including nearby /neighbor’s networks? Very odd. A long shot…did you use the _ **new** _ power adapter when you hooked up the new express?(I’m thinking that maybe the original power adapter got messed up when the power came back on after the outage) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/9 "2021-08-04T04:43:28Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > (I’m thinking that maybe the original power adapter got messed up when the power came back on after the outage On a similar note: actually use the included power adaptor instead of connecting to the TV’s USB port. The latter may not provide enough power. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/10 "2021-08-04T10:20:23Z")
I reused the old power adapter as I couldn’t imagine what possible difference it would make. Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/11 "2021-08-04T13:43:17Z")
If it’s a bad power adapter, the Roku(s) would not turn on at all, right? The OP implies that the Roku is on, but can’t see the router. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/12 "2021-08-04T14:05:03Z")
As an example, I’ll cite my TP-Link 16-port gigabit router. The 12 VDC wall wart failed just enough that the power indicator would come on, but the status lights on the ports did not work. Obviously, the network switching didn’t work either. But the light was on and that convinced me that I needed to buy a new switch. I just changed the switch itself and no joy. I put the power supply from the new switch on the old one and the old one worked fine. I could have just replaced the power supply with a $7 Amazon no-name unit instead of buying a whole new switch. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/13 "2021-08-04T14:36:04Z")
Wow! Roku is able to see my iPhone’s hotspot. What does that mean and now what do I do? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/14 "2021-08-04T14:49:52Z")
It may be that your router stopped broadcasting on the 2.4g signal and is just on 5g. Older routers just used 2.4g, but newer ones will use both frequencies. I don’t think the Express can use the 5g signal. So if for some reason the 2.4g signal isn’t working on your router, older devices might have trouble connecting. On your phone you should be able to see what frequency your router is sending out. After you connect to the wifi, check the wifi settings and it should say if it’s 5g or 2.4g. Typically, the frequencies will have different wifi names. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/15 "2021-08-04T17:19:06Z")
My iPhone is keeping the frequency a secret. I went back to the router to see if I could get that information but if it’s there I sure can’t find it. It appears that the router (which is at least 9 years old) can broadcast on either frequency but I don’t see anything that indicates which one it is using. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fix-my-roku-please/947978/16 "2021-08-05T02:48:39Z")
If you log into your router, you should be able to see the wifi frequencies and what each one is named. By default there should be two names like Netgear12334\_2g and Netgear12334\_5g. But you can change the wifi names, so it may be different if you’ve changed it. But even if the router thinks it’s sending both signals, sometimes the hardware inside breaks and the signal isn’t actually being sent. But if your phone only sees one of the wifi signals, then likely the router is only sending out one. One thing you can try is to do a hard reset of the router. Each router does it differently, but typically it involves putting a paper clip in a tiny reset hole on the back and holding it there for some time. You’ll have to look up the procedure for your specific router. The router will reset back to factory settings like new. You’ll have to setup the wifi name and password again (use the same ones as before so your devices can reconnect). But if it’s not sending the 2g signal, this may get it working again.