No idea why your Netflix app on Roku TV keeps crashing? Well, keep reading to find this out!
It could be very frustrating when you’re ready to settle in for a movie night only to have Netflix crash on your Roku TV.
Fear not, there are several things you can attempt on your Roku TV to fix the problem that we’re going to discuss in this handy guide.
When Netflix crashes on Roku TV check the internet, re-install the Netflix app, update your Roku TV’s firmware, and, if nothing helps, factory reset the TV.
Let’s dig deeper and go over each troubleshooting step in detail!
How to Fix When Netflix App on Roku TV Keeps Crashing?
Tip: Attempt all solutions chronologically to fix the Netflix crashing problem effectively!
1. Restart Your Roku Television
Sometimes, a temporal software bug causes communication issues between the Netflix server and Roku TV, leading to an unexpected app crash.
Here, restarting the Roku device is an ideal way to clear out all issues and give the device and the internet a fresh restart.
Here are the steps to restart Roku TV in easy steps:
- Hit the Home on your Roku remote.
- Scroll and head over to the Settings.
- Choose the System → Power option.
- Head to System Restart → Restart.
- Lastly, press the OK button to confirm.
Check if the Netflix crashing issue is resolved once your Roku TV boots up completely.
2. Check the Network Connection
The Netflix app requires a stable internet connection to stream content effectively.
If your internet connection on your Roku TV is unstable or slow, it can lead to buffering issues, pauses, and even app crashes.
This is why check to ensure your TV is connected to a stable network.
Here are the steps to check your Roku internet connection:
- On your Roku remote, hit the Home button.
- Then, navigate to the Roku Settings menu.
- Then, choose the Wireless or Wi-Fi option.
- Connect the Roku TV to the Wi-Fi/internet.
You can connect your Roku TV to the internet in two ways:
- Wi-Fi (Wireless) to your modem.
- Ethernet (Wired) to your modem.
Note: Based on your connection, verify that your broadband is intact or whether your Wi-Fi is causing issues and preventing Netflix from working.
3. Check the Netflix Server Status
Sometimes, crashing issues can arise from problems on the Netflix server end, such as outages or maintenance work.
This may be why the app is having a tough time connecting to the servers, no matter if you have a stable internet connection.
Here’s how to check for Netflix server status:
- Open a Chrome browser on your smart device.
- Visit help.Netflix.com/en/is-netflix-down page.
- Then, check what the page says about the status:
- If the webpage says, “Netflix is Down,” you’ll need to wait.
- If the page says “Netflix is Up,” continue reading further.
Notice: If the server is down, you must wait until the service is back, which can take hours!
4. Disable/Enable the VPN Service
If you’re using a VPN service, possibly this is why the Netflix app keeps crashing on Roku TV.
This is because VPNs can interfere with Netflix’s ability to detect your location and also slow down your internet connection, contributing to app crashes.
- To stop the VPN on Roku TV, go to “Connections” → “VPN” → “Disable.”
If you’re trying to access Netflix content unavailable in your region, the only way to watch it is to use a VPN service to bypass these geography restrictions.
However, Netflix might detect VPN usage and temporarily block your account.
Tip: If you want to bypass geological restrictions, use AtlasVPN.
5. Deactivate Netflix from Roku TV
Another thing that you can attempt is deactivating and reactivating the Netflix app on your Roku TV.
Doing this simple thing will refresh the connection between the Netflix app and your Roku device, potentially resolving any communication issues that might be causing the app to crash.
Here are the steps to deactivate the Netflix app:
- Press the Home button on the remote.
- From the home menu, go to Settings.
- Choose Netflix Settings on your TV.
- Choose “Deactivate this player from my Netflix account.”
- Press “Yes” to confirm your selection.
After deactivation, go to your Roku home screen and log in to Netflix to set up the process.
Then, attempt accessing Netflix and watching your favorite content shows and movies again.
6. Check Your Netflix Subscription
Sometimes, the Netflix app crashes because of an expired or canceled subscription.
When your subscription is no longer active, the Netflix app may crash repeatedly, especially on TVs.
Here are the steps to check the Netflix subscription status:
- Log in to your Netflix account through a browser.
- Then, click on your profile in the top right corner.
- Next, from the drop-down menu, select “Account.”
- Check the account subscription status and details.
Note: You should see all your payments made and any unresolved payment/s, so if there’s no billing problem, you must renew your subscription.
7. Update your Roku and Netflix
Using an outdated version of the Netflix app on a Roku TV may cause incompatibility and app crashing or freezing issues.
Therefore, if there’s an update available for the Netflix app or Roku TV, it’s crucial to install them to exclude this possibility.
Here are the steps to check for Roku TV or Netflix app updates:
Update Roku TV Software:
- On your TV, open the Settings menu.
- Scroll and choose the System option.
- Go and choose the System update tile.
- Hit the Check Now to check for updates.
If new software is available, your Roku TV will install them automatically.
Update Netflix Application:
- Press the Home button on the Roku remote.
- Then, scroll right and highlight the Netflix app.
- Press the “asterisk/star” button on the remote.
- Scroll down and choose “Check for updates.”
Note: Your Roku TV must be connected to the internet to update apps or the operating system!
8. Remove & Install the Netflix App
Sometimes, the Netflix app keeps crashing due to a corrupted cache or large storage of files that can’t be helped without removing the Netflix app.
Therefore, we highly suggest you remove and re-add the Netflix app on your Roku TV to start fresh.
Follow these steps to remove and re-add the Netflix app:
Step #1 Remove Netflix on Roku
- Next, highlight the Netflix application on the TV.
- Press the “asterisk/star” button on your remote.
- Go down and press the “Remove Channel” tab.
- When the pop-up tile appears, choose “Remove.”
Step #2 Re-add Netflix on Roku
- On the home, go to “Streaming Channels.”
- Then, choose “Movies & TV” → Netflix app.
- When the app appears, highlight and open it.
- Click on the “Add channel” or “Download.”
Note: After installing the Netflix app, log in with your Netflix account and check if the crashing issue is resolved.
9. Factory Reset Your Roku TV
As a last option, we suggest you perform a factory reset on your Roku TV, which usually helps resolve every problem.
Remember that resetting your Roku TV will erase all configured settings, apps, and saved data and revert the device to the factory default state.
Here are the steps to factory reset the Roku TV:
- Press the Home button on the Roku remote.
- Scroll and head over to the “Settings” menu.
- Go to System → Advanced System Settings.
- Choose Factory Reset or Factory Reset Everything.
After a successful factory reset, your Roku TV will reboot, and you’ll need to follow the screen prompts to set up your Roku device.
After that, launch your Netflix app, log in with your account credentials, and hope everything works.
One More Thing – Watch Netflix on Browser!
There may be a problem specifically with the Netflix app under Roku software.
Hence, you may have to watch Netflix elsewhere for now, and we advise using a browser.
If you didn’t know, you can open an online browser on your Roku TV and stream Netflix from there for the time being.
Note: If your Netflix app continues to crash on Roku TV, contact Netflix Support for help!
Quick Recap:
So, whenever your Netflix app on Roku TV keeps crashing, update the app and Roku TV software, check the Netflix status, and verify the internet connection.
Also, uninstall and re-add Netflix from your device’s storage, and as a last resort, factory reset the Roku TV.
For more Roku TV troubleshooting guides, visit our blog!
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.