If your Roku stuck on screensaver and you’re unable to remove the screen you should first check if your remote is working.
If no commands are sent the screensaver will have NO reason to disappear. Change the batteries and test, if it does not work, here is the solution.
To solve the stuck screensaver on Roku, you should perform a hard reset on both your TV and Roku device. Next, you can try to manually turn off the screen saver without having a visual on the settings using a specific sequence of buttons and if necessary perform a factory reset.
There are much more solutions so make sure to keep reading until the end so you can be prepared for the unexpected.
Why Is Roku Frozen On TV Screen?
If your Roku has frozen on the home screen, a couple of things could have happened. Sometimes only the display will be frozen, while your TV is actually active.
This means that you will be able to control your TV using the remote but won’t be able to see what is happening on the display.
Here are frequently reported reasons why your Roku is freezing on the home screen:
1. Power Issue
If the power of your Roku TV goes through fluctuations, it is possible that your TV will get stuck on the screensaver/home screen.
2. OS Glitch
Your Roku might be outdated and bug every time the screensaver appears.
3. TV Problem
The issue might be with your TV and not with Roku!
4. Cable Problem
A potential cable issue might cause your Roku to freeze on the home or the screensaver screen.
5. Third-Party Device Failure
Any devices such as consoles and soundbars could be interfering with your Roku, resulting in a stuck screen.
Now that we’ve given you a proper insight into the issue, let’s proceed with the best troubleshooting tips and solutions specifically meant for your issue!
How To Fix Roku Stuck On Screensaver Issue?
Before taking a more serious look at the issue, have you tried restarting both of your Roku devices and the TV?
Sometimes a simple restart might be able to get more minor issues resolved and save you some time off of troubleshooting.
If a reboot didn’t do any good, here are some solutions you should try in order to get your Roku fixed from the frozen screens.
Solution #1. Inspect The Power Adapter
Another major instance that could be freezing up your Roku device is the cable connections.
If the power adapter has gone faulty, instead of shutting down your Roku device during an outage, these frozen screens could occur both on your home screen and screensaver.
Here are some tips to inspect your cable connections:
- Ensure the power adapter is not visually damaged.
- Clean any dust off of the cable ports.
- Plug the adapter tightly into the source.
- Prevent any cable twists or pressure.
- Straighten the cable position.
Once you’re done, you might as well take a look at any other cable connections that have a direct connection with your Roku and TV or other third-party devices.
Solution #2. Hard Reset Your Setup
Unlike the normal soft reboot, a hard reset will discharge your configuration devices from the electricity and give them a headstart with a cold boot during the next startup.
If you don’t know how a hard reset is done, follow these steps:
- Unplug your device’s power cable from the outlet.
- Wait for 5 straight minutes.
- Position the power adapters back.
- Turn on your devices and check if a frozen screen will occur.
Tip: Plug your Roku device directly into a wall outlet to evade possible malfunctions and power disruptions with strips or dividers once you’re done.
Solution #3. Disable The Screen Saver Manually
If you’re not able to guide your cursor through the features list, there is a way to try and disable the screensaver manually without looking.
This is done by clicking a premade sequence of buttons that will access the feature and disable it automatically.
Remember that this will only help if your Roku’s SCREEN is stuck on the screen saver but you’re able to control the device with the remote.
Here are the steps:
- Press the home button ONCE.
- Press the downward arrow 8 TIMES and press OK.
- Press the downward arrow 4 TIMES and press OK.
- Press the LEFT arrow ONCE and the downward arrow ONCE and OK afterward.
- Press OK once again.
That sequence of buttons should automatically disable the screensaver without looking at the settings page.
Solution #4. Update Roku OS
If your Roku frozen on home screen or screensaver it could be a software issue. The problem usually appears once the screensaver pops on, and people cannot stop it.
If this is the case, while you have access to the settings you should update the Roku firmware because it could be an OS glitch.
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Go to Settings and choose System.
- Select System Update and click on Check Now.
If any updates are found, make sure to install them immediately! Then turn ON your screen saver through the settings, wait for it to appear, and check if the problem is gone.
Solution #5. Unplug HDMI Devices
Users reported that connected HDMI devices could cause potential issues with your Roku. In most cases, such third-party devices will be connected with an HDMI cable.
For this solution, we will require you to unplug all HDMI devices connected both to your Roku and TV and test.
Run the Roku for a couple of minutes and if no issues occur, start plugging the devices one by one and test after plugging each device.
Once the frozen screen occurs, you will know exactly which devices are causing the issue and remove it for good!
Solution #6. Reset The Roku Device
If your Roku stick stuck on screensaver even after all previous solutions, another thing you can try is to reset the Roku device using the built-in hardware factory reset button.
This should effectively reboot your Roku device and shut down the screen saver since all configurations will be put back to factory-style.
To reset your Roku device, follow these steps:
- Locate the factory reset button on the back of your Roku device.
- Hold the button down for 15 seconds.
- Once your Roku’s LEDs shut down, release the button.
- Wait for your device to reboot and test.
Ensure that Roku won’t go through any power fluctuations during the process.
Otherwise, there could be damage caused to the firmware and corrupted data will prevent you from booting the device up.
Read Next: How Do I Add Second Roku to My Account?
Bottom Line:
Removing a stuck screensaver on Roku can be done manually via a specific sequence of buttons or simply via a firm restart of ALL devices included in the workflow.
On the other hand, your remote might not be working so make sure to check that and if nothing works, then a factory reset should definitely help!
Now when you know everything about the issue where Roku stuck on screensaver, you should be capable of solving the issue using our solutions.
If there are any other issues you’re experiencing with your Roku setup, don’t hesitate to check for a solution in 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.