Why is HDMI not showing up on Roku TV? Well, there could be a couple of reasons for this!
Your Roku TV, like any other HDMI-enabled TV, can output the broadcast from another device connected via HDMI cable to one of the HDMI ports.
However, if you’ve connected your HDMI device to your Roku TV but you cannot bring up the feed on-screen, this guide will help you.
Whenever HDMI is not showing up on your Roku TV, then you’ve probably not selected the correct input source. Another possibility would be a loose HDMI connection, a fault from the HDMI source device, or a physical defect with the HDMI cable or Roku TV port!
Let’s continue to unwrap further!
Roku Not Showing Up On TV When Connected Through HDMI?
Typically, Roku TVs have up to 3 HDMI ports, where you can connect different HDMI-enabled devices and display their feed by switching the inputs.
So, if you’ve connected an HDMI device to one of the HDMI ports of your Roku TV, but you can’t bring up the feed, here are the causes:
This is why Roku is not showing your HDMI-connected device playout, and in the guide below, we’ll address all possibilities at once.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into the troubleshooting!
How to Fix When HDMI Not Showing Up on Roku TV?
Tip: Follow the steps consecutively!
1. Secure the HDMI Connection Cable!
The first step is to secure the HDMI cable on both sides.
One side of the HDMI cable should be plugged into HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or HDMI 3 on your Roku TV.
The other side of the cable should be connected to the HDMI output port on your playout device, such as a console or a computer.
Your first task is to reconnect the HDMI cable on both sides and verify the secure connection.
In case of a wiggly or loose HDMI connection, you might see “No Signal” on your Roku TV even when the correct input source is selected.
Tip: Switch the sides of the HDMI cable and then reconnect the connectors, respectively!
2. Switch to Correct HDMI Input Source
Another likely possibility that your Roku TV is not showing the playout of your HDMI-connected device is due to an incorrectly selected HDMI input source.
As we’ve discussed already, your Roku TV has multiple HDMI inputs, and you need to select the correct source from the settings.
If you’re currently trying to display an empty HDMI source on your Roku TV, you’ll primarily see a black screen without indicating a playout.
Here’s how to select the correct HDMI input source on your Roku TV:
- First, go to the home screen of your Roku!
- Then, navigate to “Settings” > “TV Inputs.”
- Next, press the “OK” remote button to select.
- Then, select the HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or AV input.
Tip: If you have a hard time identifying where your HDMI device is connected, cycle through the available inputs to discover where the playout will show up.
3. Power Cycle Your Roku Television
If the HDMI cable is connected properly and the correct Roku TV input source is selected, then the playout is not showing due to a bug.
The simplest way to resolve any glitches with the inputs of your Roku TV is the so-called “power cycle” method, which will not erase anything on the TV.
Here’s how to power cycle any Roku TV in easy steps:
- First, completely power off your TV using the remote.
- Then, unplug the power adapter from the wall outlet.
- Next, wait for approximately 60 seconds for a cycle.
- Then, reconnect your Roku TV directly to the outlet.
- Turn on your Roku TV and check if the HDMI works!
If the correct HDMI input is selected, but the playout from your source device does not appear on the screen, power cycle the HDMI-connected device as well.
This will refresh the source playout and hopefully resolve the HDMI hurdle you’ve been facing…
Tip: We recommend unplugging the Roku TV for as long as possible!
4. Inspect the Roku HDMI Input Ports!
Another reason for the inability to see the HDMI playout from your source on the Roku TV is a fault with the input port.
So, if you’ve been using only one of the HDMI ports on the Roku TV for quite some time, the port might be worn out, and the cable connector is disconnected/loose.
We recommend thoroughly inspecting whether the HDMI port used for your source playout unit is obstructed, defective, or has dust accumulation.
You can clear any dust preventing the HDMI cable connector from reaching in and remove any visible obstructions within the TV port.
However, if the HDMI port is damaged and not working, there is one thing to do…
Switch to Another HDMI Port!
Your Roku TV is equipped with 3 HDMI ports, which you can discover on the corpus’s side and back panel.
So, to verify whether the currently used HDMI port is defective, simply plug your HDMI source device into another HDMI input port on your Roku TV.
Reminder: Don’t forget that you must switch to the newly used input source on your Roku TV!
5. Verify the Playout from the Source
If you only see a black screen but not a “no signal” message when you select the input source of the connected HDMI device, the issue is probably coming from the playout.
When the source device is only sending a black screen, then this is what you would see on your Roku TV screen.
Simply test connecting a different HDMI output device to your Roku TV.
This approach would suggest whether the problem comes from the Roku TV or from the playout device connected via HDMI.
If, with the secondary device, your Roku TV is visualizing the content on the screen, then you need to troubleshoot your previously connected HDMI device!
Note: If your Roku is not showing the HDMI on other source devices as well, keep reading!
6. Replace Your Defective HDMI Cable!
In case you’ve attempted everything, but your Roku is still not showing the HDMI input from the source device, perhaps the HDMI cable is faulty.
So, if you have a spare cable or an HDMI that you can uninstall from another setup just to test your Roku, then now is the best time to do so!
Test your Roku TV with a proven-to-work HDMI cable, or purchase a new HDMI cable from any local tech shop or from an online store.
This will help you decipher the problem further.
Use Shorted HDMI for 4K Streaming!
If you’re attempting to visualize a 4K output from an HDMI-enabled source, you need to know that your old HDMI cable might not get the job done.
For a UHD signal, you must use a 4K-enabled HDMI cable, which is shorter than 10 feet (3 meters), which will be able to show the content on your Roku TV.
You can get a 4K HDMI cable from Amazon anytime, so if that’s the case, that’s your solution…
7. Factory Reset Your Roku Television!
Well, in case nothing else helped, the factory reset should. This is the most potent solution for any problems on your Roku TV.
Still, this method also erases all user settings saved data and reverts all operating system files of your Roku TV to factory state.
So, if the HDMI fault is a system bug, the issue will be permanently gone after this method!
Here’s how to factory reset your Roku TV in easy steps:
- First, press the “Home” button on the remote!
- Then, go to the “Settings” and enter “System”.
- Further, go to the “Advanced System Settings”.
- Next, select the “Factory Reset” menu option.
- Finally, follow the on-screen instructions ahead.
Info: When the factory reset is over, you must set up your Roku from scratch!
Quick Recap:
Hence, when the HDMI not showing up on Roku TV, cycle through the available inputs to find the correct source.
If the HDMI does not appear, inspect the HDMI cable, the playout source, the HDMI ports, HDMI cable, and if everything works, factory reset your Roku TV!
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.