Roku CBS App Not Working? (Fix & Watch Your Shows Now!)

Wondering why the Roku CBS app not working? Continue reading the guide to find out why!

Dealing with a not working CBS app on Roku can be incredibly frustrating, as it’s tough to figure out whether the problem is with the app or your device.

That’s why we have prepared this guide with all the proven steps to help you with any problem related to the CBS app or all other apps.

Whenever the Roku CBS app is not working, you must first check the internet connection and restart your Roku. If that doesn’t help, clear the Roku’s cache, reinstall the CBS app, and reset the Roku as a last option.

Let’s move forward and go over each step in detail!

How to Fix When Roku CBS App Not Working?

If your Roku CBS app is not working, something might be wrong due to an issue on your side or with the app.

Luckily, there are several things that we are about to unwrap in the below section.

Tip: Follow all the steps in chronological order!

1. Restart Your Roku Device

You should first restart your Roku device before heading into advanced solutions since this is simple, quick, and effective. 

The system restart can help resolve streaming issues, eliminate glitches, reset the network, and free up memory for smooth app performance on Roku.

Here are two ways to restart your Roku device: 

From the Settings Menu:

1. Push “Home” on the remote.
2. Scroll over to the “Settings.”
3. Head to “System” → “Power.”
4. Select “System Restart.”
5. Select “Restart” or the “OK” button.

By Power Cycling Roku:

1. Unplug the Roku from the outlet.
2. Wait for at least 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Plug the Roku back into the outlet.

Once your Roku device restarts and fully boots up, try relaunching the CBS app and hopefully, the app will now be working correctly.

2. Check Roku Internet Connection

The CBS app needs an uninterrupted internet connection to work correctly. 

Therefore, checking the internet connection on Roku and ensuring good signal strength is essential to eliminating connectivity-related problems.

Here are the steps to check Roku internet connection:

1. On your Roku remote, push the “Home” button.
2. Head to the “Settings” section on your Roku.
3. Scroll over to the “Wi-Fi” or “Network” option.
4. Now, check if your TV is connected to Wi-Fi.
5. If not connected, enter the Wi-Fi password.

Then, check to see if the Roku CBS app is working now.

If the problem persists, you can try rebooting your Wi-Fi router and checking if other channel apps on the Roku are working fine.

Pro Tip: Test whether your Wi-Fi/internet is accessible using a secondary device!

3. Check CBS Service and Account Status

Sometimes, technical issues with your CBS account, billing details, or subscription can prevent the app from functioning correctly, leading to the CBS app not working on Roku. 

This is why we highly recommend you check your account details and verify whether something is wrong, such as any profile limitations or suspension.

To check your CBS account :

1. Visit the CBS Website.
2. Sign in to the account.
3. Click on “My Account“.
4. Check the profile details.

If everything with your account is in order, there might be an issue with the CBS servers.

Outages happen less often because of maintenance work and during this time, the content will become unavailable.

Tip: Test whether the CBS is working on another supported device!

4. Set the Correct Date and Time

Incorrect date and time settings can sometimes cause connectivity issues with the CBS app on Roku and prevent your access to the internet.

This is because the app relies on the correct date and time to verify your account and access content, so when it’s incorrect, you’ll face issues.

Here are the steps to correct Roku’s date & time:

1. Press Home on the Roku remote.
2. Go to the Roku’s Settings menu.
3. Then, scroll down to the System.
4. Select the “Date & Time” option.
5. Next, head to the “Time Zone.”
6. Select “Set Manually” and set.

Once you have set the date and time, restart your Roku to apply the changes and refresh the connection.

Then, try relaunching the CBS app and check whether you can stream smoothly.

5. Sign Out and Sign Back In

When the CBS app on Roku not working, sign out of the app and sign back in to refresh the app connection.

This is especially helpful when the app is not loading at all or has storage problems, and doing this will re-sync all the data from your account to the app.

Here’s how to sign out of your Roku CBS app:

1. Open the CBS app on your Roku.
2. Go to the main menu of the app.
3. Choose Sign Out and then OK.
4. Close the app and open it again.
5. Sign in with your CBS account.

Reminder: Verify that you’re using the correct CBS account login credentials!

6. Update Roku’s Software Version

Outdated software can sometimes lead to app compatibility issues, causing the software to behave weirdly and cause problems. 

Hence, one of the mandatory steps is to update your Roku’s operating system to the latest OS available, which will eliminate compatibility issues.

Here’s how to check for Roku software updates:

1. Go to the Settings tab.
2. Scroll to the “System.”
3. Select System update.
4. Press on “Check Now.”

Note: Your Roku will automatically check and download any available updates. Once the update is complete, your Roku will restart automatically.

7. Clear the Roku Built-in Cache

Over time, the apps installed on Roku built up ample storage of app data and cache, causing application problems such as freezing or crashing when not cleared for a long time.

Therefore, clearing Roku’s cache will sign you out from the account but will refresh your CBS application.

To clear the cache on a Roku device:

1. Head to Roku’s Home Screen.
2. Press the “Home” button 5 times.
3. Press the “Up” button only once.
4. Press the “Rewind” button 2 times.
5. Press the “Fast Forward” button 2 times.

Info: After these steps, wait about 20 to 30 seconds, and your Roku device will restart, after which the cache data will be cleared.

8. Remove and Install the CBS App

Sometimes, the CBS app won’t work on your Roku player because of missing files that were corrupted during the installation or after an update.

This is why one of the most potent solutions against app problems is full reinstallation, which will entirely remove the channel and install it back. 

Here are the steps to reinstall the CBS app:

1. Highlight the CBS app on your Roku screen.
2. Then, press the star (*) button on the remote.
3. Next, select “Remove Channel” and confirm.
4. After that, restart your Roku for 60 seconds.
5. Then, navigate to the “Streaming Channels.”
6. Select “Search Channels” and type “CBS.”
7. Choose the CBS app and click “Add Channel.” 

Note: After reinstallation of the app, you’ll be signed out, and you’ll need to sign in again using CBS account credentials to get the app working.

9. Factory Reset the Roku TV

If you’ve tried all the steps and the Roku CBS is not working, there’s likely an issue with the Roku itself.

In such a case, it’s recommended to perform a factory reset on the device to permanently erase all content and apps on your device and revert to the factory default state.

Warning: All settings such as Picture settings, Wi-Fi, customization, and channels will be permanently erased from your Roku streamer.

Here’s how to factory reset the Roku in easy steps:

1. Press Home on the Roku remote.
2. Navigate to the “Settings” menu.
3. Scroll down and select “System.”
4. Go to “Advanced System Settings.”
5. Enter in the “Factory Reset” menu.
6. Choose “Factory Reset Everything”.

Reminder: If you have set any PIN, you must enter it to factory reset the device, and once your Roku is reset, you'll need to set up everything again.

Did You Know?

The issue may come from the Roku servers and not from your Roku.

However, you don’t need to wait, and you can watch CBS on an alternative device.

You can stream CBS on any compatible device, including Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Chromecast, so if you have one of these, jump into the action. 

Quick Recap:

Hence, when the Roku CBS app is not working, restart your device, ensure stable internet, sign out, and sign back in or reinstall the app. 

As a last resort, factory reset your Roku device to default settings.

For more Roku guides, check out our blog!