why does my roku keep turning off

“Why does my Roku keep turning off” is a frequently asked question and there could be quite a few different possibilities behind this problem.

Roku is mysteriously shutting down mainly due to malfunctions with the power.

Also, the outages might also be related to some system settings such as the “Sleep Timer” or due to pending firmware updates.

Why Does My Roku TV Keep Turning Off?

roku tv keep turning off
  1. Outdated OS: Roku TVs and streaming sticks restart when an update is available.
  2. Power issues: Any fluctuations with the power income could reboot your Roku.
  3. Overheating: As a safety measure, your Roku will restart when overheating.
  4. Remote fault: The Roku remote could be sending false signals to the player.
  5. Wiring problem: Some of the cables in your Roku setup wear out with time!
Tip: Try to recall any pattern in regard to time or Roku tasks, that might suggest the culprit.

How to Fix When Roku Keeps Turning Off? (Top Fixes)

Remain invested as we progress through the guide to unwrap the best solutions for your Roku!

1. Update the System Firmware (OS)

update the system firmware

The number one reason for your Roku streaming player to shut down without a warning is because of outdated system firmware. 

  • By default, your Roku will automatically update whenever available!

Here’s how to start a software update on your Roku:

  1. Press “Home” on your Roku remote.
  2. Navigate to the Settings.
  3. Select “System”.
  4. Press on “System Update”.

The automatic updates typically happen on a weekly basis or whenever there is something urgent to be fixed.

They are typically released out of a sudden, and during the update, your Roku might restart several times, which looks like the device is simply turning off. 

Note: If your Roku starts to update, the device will voluntarily shut down and reboot.

2. Check the Roku Power Supply

check the roku power supply

Several components and factors within the power supply of your Roku are responsive to the proper power health of the device.

Inspect the following factors in terms of power supply:

  • The reliability of the involved electrical outlet
  • The connection of Roku’s USB cable
  • The functionality & WiFi of Smart Plugs/Strips

Special attention should be given to any third-party appliances that exist in your Roku setup.

For example, many users tend to use power strips for powering their Roku and if the device is failing to dispatch electricity correctly, it could halt your Roku.

Important: Test plugging your Roku player into a standalone (proven) electrical outlet.

3. Adjust the “Sleep Timer” Setting

adjust the sleep timer setting

If Roku keeps turning off repeatedly, the “Sleep Timer” or “Snooze” setting could be the reason why the device is turning off.

When tweaked, this feature is capable of shutting down your Roku device at a predetermined time of the day or night.

Here’s how to find and disable the sleep timer on your Roku:

  1. Enter the Options Menu, using your Roku remote.
  2. Head to Settings and select System.
  3. Scroll further down and press “Power”
  4. Locate the “Auto Power Off” option and select it.
  5. At the top of the page, set the feature to “Off”.

Commonly, the sleep timer will repeat itself over the course of an entire day. If set to “1 hour”, your Roku will automatically power off each time the clock hits a round number.

Tip: With the “Sleep Timer” you can make your Roku shut down every night after you’re asleep!

4. Inspect your Roku Remote!

inspect your roku remote

As the batteries inside of your Roku remote wear out, the device might start behaving weirdly, which typically impacts the Roku player as well.

The best course of action is to replace the batteries of your Roku remote!

Quick Fact: Based on the model, the Roku remote uses AA or AAA-size lithium batteries!

Here’s how to replace the batteries in your Roku:

  1. Position your Roku remote on a flat surface.
  2. Remove the compartment cover on the back.
  3. Use something sharp to dispatch the batteries.
  4. Insert a fresh pair of AA or AAA lithium batteries! 

In case that wasn’t helpful, perhaps the next step would be!

5. Use a Different HDMI Source

use a different hdmi source

If you’re still wondering why does my Roku keep turning off, the next step would be to plug the Roku streaming stick into another HDMI source of your TV.

Hence, your Roku may not physically shut down, instead, we suspect that only the input is going black.

  • Simply plug your Roku into another HDMI input on your TV!

In addition, we strongly recommend avoiding establishing the connection through any type of extender.

Also, feel free to test the current HDMI input on your TV with a secondary device.

6. Lower Resolution From UHD (4K) to HD

lower resolution from uhd to hd

If you’re streaming only 4K content on your Roku, now is the time to check whether the device will turn off on a smaller resolution.

In this scenario, there are two factors involved – the length of the HDMI cable and the hardware temperature of the Roku stick.

These are the general rules for streaming Roku 4K content:

  1. The HDMI cable for 4K streaming shouldn’t be longer than 32 feet!
  2. The Roku temperature shouldn’t exceed the thermal margin.

If your Roku is connected directly to the TV/monitor, perhaps the device is overheating!

7. Address Recurring Overheating

address recurring overheating

Especially during the warm seasons, your Roku could be overheating when prompted to work for prolonged periods of time.

All demanding tasks, such as downloading or streaming in high quality for longer than usual, could raise the internal temperature of your Roku.

  • When your Roku exceeds the temperature limit, the device turns off!

Here are multiple ways to decrease the temperature of your Roku:

  1. Avoid direct sunlight from shining on the Roku stick.
  2. Unplug Roku and clean the side and bottom vents.
  3. Unplug your Roku from the outlet for 1 – 2 minutes.
  4. Close all working applications in the background.
  5. Open a window to cool down the Roku room.
  6. Use a short HDMI extender to unplug Roku from the TV.
Note: It’s not dangerous that the Roku stick is turning off because of overheating, it would be dangerous if it doesn’t.

8. Secure Roku’s Internet Connection

secure roku's internet connection

While unpaired from the WiFi, your Roku could be missing important updates or software processes.

This is likely to shut down the device until the streaming player gets reconnected.

For a stable connection between Roku and your network, you must keep the devices close enough and make sure that your router is working at all times.

Let’s start with securing your Roku to the WiFi again:

  1. Turn on your Roku stick.
  2. Press the Home button on the remote.
  3. Navigate to the “Settings”.
  4. Press “Network”.
  5. Choose “Wireless (Wi-Fi).
  6. Wait for Roku to detect your network.
  7. Select your WiFi from the list.
  8. Insert the password.

Your Roku will identify if the connection was completed, by changing the status next to your network. When paired to a particular WiFi, it’ll have a “Connected” icon next to it.

9. Factory Reset the Roku Player

factory reset the roku player

Assuming that you’re aware of how the factory reset works, we’re only going to mention that this process will erase all contents on the device.

Hence, it’s recommended to take a close look and take images of any settings that you would like to recover.

Alert: Resetting the Roku player is irreversible action!

Here are the instructions for resetting a Roku player:

  1. Press the “Home” button on your Roku remote.
  2. Navigate to the System tab within the settings.
  3. Head to “Advanced System Settings”.
  4. Scroll down and choose “Factory Reset”.
  5. Highlight and select “Factory Reset Everything”.
  6. Follow the remaining steps to complete the reset.

After your Roku takes its time to complete the factory reset, you’ll be back at the initial setup screen of the device.

Thus, you’ll have to go through setting up Roku’s initials as well as selecting personal functionality preferences.

Need More Help?

In case you’ve tried everything in this guide and your Roku is still randomly turning off, the best next step is to claim your warranty. Feel free to contact Roku Customer Support for more help!

Tip: In order to save time, always shave what you’ve already tried!

Quick Recap:

We’ve now learned why does my Roku keep turning off, thus we know that these kinds of issues are caused mainly by the power supply of Roku.

However, there were other issues that we’ve reviewed that include ongoing software updates or enabled “Sleep” timer! 

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