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If the TV is working fine otherwise, and only the Roku has a black screen, then it's the Roku in need of troubleshooting, and most of the tips below will be helpful. If you find the black screen while using the streaming device, but the issue lies with the TV, we also have some help for that. The reason for a Roku black screen could be as tame as a loose cable or wrong input selection, to something more extreme like a lousy TV screen.
Restart the device after reverting the changes for better results. Making changes on your Roku has been reported to result in frozen screens and flickering interfaces. Make sure you have stable internet by checking the speeds using a speed testing software on your mobile or PC. If you are using an external Roku device connected to a smart TV like Samsung's smart TVs, the Roku won't show up if the HDMI connections are shaky. Always make sure to cover the basic stuff when troubleshooting a problem.
Check your Internet Connectivity
One major cause for devices behaving strangely is too much heat. As with most devices nowadays, Roku devices are compact by nature and don’t come equipped with internal fans; less moving parts means less chance for failure. As a consequence, they instead rely on the natural process of heat transference and circulation, that’s why certain parts face a certain way and are have heatsinks. If there's a picture after doing so, change the resolution on the Roku to anything else. For example, first, try Auto detect if that's not already chosen.
I had to use the Roku remote in order to log into my apps and pick my show, but needed the TV remote to change the volume once I was watching it. I'm sure there are plenty of organized people that won't have this issue, but I found it extremely frustrating. The lack of hardware features on the Express hold back the excellent Roku software. Once I got past the hassle of needing the overall setup was easy and straightforward. Plugging the Express into the USB port on my TV was slightly difficult due to the port's placement on the back of my television. Luckily, I was able to use my small hands to wiggle it in place, though it would have been a lot easier to just plug it directly into my power strip.
What Causes a Roku Device to Freeze or Restart
Below are several troubleshooting steps to help you understand how to get the picture back. This adapter is designed to deliver the correct amount of power your Roku needs. If, after switching to the included adapter, you still get the insufficient power warning, you should try plugging the adapter into a different power outlet. If you’re using a power strip or an extension cord, try plugging the adapter straight into a wall socket. If your Roku device is powered by USB — e.g., Streaming Sticks and Roku Express — there’s a possibility it’s not getting enough power. This usually happens when people plug their USB power cable into an available USB port on their TV or their A/V receiver.
Another solution is to switch your Roku to your router’s 5GHz network if it has one. IR remotes need to be able to “see” the Roku device they control. Almost all problems with IR remotes stem from the remote not having a direct line of sight to your Roku device. On some Roku products, like the Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick+ 4K, the reset button can be pushed with your finger. On set-top devices like the Roku Ultra, it’s usually a recessed button that requires a paperclip or other small, pointed object to press. Designed for the cord-cutters and internet devotees of the A/V world, Roku devices are incredible, reliable, and fairly low-cost, but that doesn't mean they're invincible.
How to manually adjust your video bit rate
If the connection seems to be faulty, try refreshing the connection by unpairing and re-pairing the remote with Roku. An unstable internet can cause all sorts of problems, a frozen screen being one of them. WiFi issues have always been an issue for select TCL Roku TV models too. Depending on the model you have, you may want to select the appropriate cable. A 4K capable device may require an HDMI 2.0 supported cable.
Most Roku remotes now use a different technology called RF, or radio frequency, that doesn't require you to point directly at a device. RF remotes can pick up your button presses from anywhere in your room and make it easy to place your streaming device in the back of your TV, instead of sitting in front. Does your Roku freeze or reboot on a specific app or channel within the app? Is it always the same thing you’re doing when it happens? If it seems channel or app-related, remove it and reinstall it. If it’s a menu or navigation issue, remove some channels you no longer watch to reduce the memory footprint.
Re: Roku
I might prefer the Roku system, but that doesn't mean I recommend the basic Express. In fact, you should absolutely avoid this device at all costs. Its missing power brick and inferior remote make it a non-starter in 2022 and 2023. If you really can't pay more than $30 and want an HD streamer, the Chromecast with Google TV HD is the one to get. Despite depending on my TV's USB port for power, the Express managed to turn on quickly. Roku's simple setup process remains unchanged on the Express, so I was up and running in about five minutes.
You can also press and hold the reset button on your Roku to bring up a recovery mode screen. I've always found navigating the Roku interface to be simple and intuitive. Roku also tends to have the most streaming app options, and the best search functions, without favoring one content provider over another. I found that navigating around Roku menus, loading and opening apps and using the system to be fast and responsive. There is a known issue when headphones get connected to the remote. A fix was released, but some users still complain that Roku will freeze or reboot when they have headphones connected.
If you do, you’ve got an enhanced “point-anywhere” remote. Roku devices come with two different kinds of remote controls. One kind is an infrared remote and the other is an enhanced “point-anywhere” remote.
Click on Advanced System Settings and then select Factory Reset. On the Home screen, navigate and hover over the erroneous channel. You can log out and re-log into the channel, but it may not be as effective as removing the entire app. A dead battery or communication interference can cause this issue.
Consider any changes you made to your Roku when it started having issues. Retrace your steps and undo the changes to see what happens. A working Roku that won't stream video (or won't do it very well) is most likely due to an overcrowded network. Stopping network activity from your other devices is the most viable solution.
Before we “dig in” and discover possible solutions to Roku rebooting or freezing problems, it is important to note one technicality. Roku channels ARE NOT channels, but are actually apps that may or may not have channels. An app that has channels could include live TV functionality, such as Pluto TV and Sling. However, CBS News and Nick are technically not channels but are apps that offer on-demand or live streaming that you might call channels.
If you can do that, you can get into the Settings/Remote screen and attempt to re-pair the remote. If your Roku keeps freezing, perform a quick power cycle and update your Roku to the latest version. If the issue is with a particular channel, remove and re-add it. Most Roku devices use HDMI cables to connect to your TV, so that’s the next logical thing to check. Just like there are both physical and connective differences in ethernet and USB cables, there ARE differences in HDMI cables. HDMI cables rarely go faulty, but since this step takes just a few seconds, it’s worth a try.
However, now and then the handshake doesn’t happen when the devices connect, or the handshake gets interrupted. The display settings are responsible for how the picture on your TV looks. Everything from the brightness, the contrast, to the backlighting is controlled by the display settings. Here is how you can adjust these settings to see if it resolves the flickering on the Roku home screen.
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