Forum Discussion

Woww's avatar
Woww
Visitor
7 years ago

Roku express blinking on and off constantly.

So I've seen topics on this happening before but i havent seen anything about it recently so I'm posting this to see if anyone has found a solution to this. Basically I cant even browse the menu without it blinking off and on, ive unplugged it multiple times, ive reset it, ive switched ports, I went to the secret menu and updated it and also factory reset it. The only time it stops blinking is when the roku is starting up and it stopped blinking for maybe five minutes after i factory reset it but then it just started blinking on and off again. It was like someone was just standing there unplugging it then plugging it back in to my tv. Ive looked for so many different solution to this but still cant seem to come across any that work. I was going to contact customer supoort but in their words, literally copied and paste from their site "Agent-assisted support is not available for your issue and/or model.". Which okay I guess its cool they think they know what my problem is? That aside though, we bought this earlier this year and it worked just fine for a good few months then I think sometime soon after an update it just started blinking on and off and for a few months now ive been waiting patiently for another update or a bug fix of just somthing but when I went on today it has just become worse, so bad to the point I had to have help from multiple people just to try and catch a glimpse of a sentence. I think its ridiculous that this has been an ongoing problem and nothing has been done about it AND whats even worse is the fact i can't even get help for it without having to literally make a whole post about it. Wow. Rant aside though if anyone has found some sort of a soultion to this problem PLEASE let me know.
App playback
  • Woww's avatar
    Woww
    Visitor
    7 years ago
    There is no blinking light, its my screen. The roku itself blinks on and off. I cant even browse the roku menu because it blinks on and off so consistently that i can barely make out anything on screen and its not my tv because ive been watching cable waiting for a fix to this issue.
    • sirgroiney's avatar
      sirgroiney
      Channel Surfer
      6 years ago

      Hello, I had the same problem. Excessive ROKU blinking and slow response to my remote commands. Then getting alerts from the different channel APPs that I wasn't connected to the internet for starters. The internet WAS up and running for all the other technology in the house! I forgot my work "IT guy" training (which was "is EVERYTHING plugged in properly?") and instead forgot that went through all the unplugging of MODEM, WIFI ROUTER, waiting, getting back on and still with IFFY results. Then I replaced batteries on the ROKU remote. No change. Still blinky blinky no worky. Now, I'm not saying this wasn't part of the problem...the MODEM, ROUTER, but once I unplugged all the ROKU connections from the back of the TV to the power source and made sure ALL connections were secure for the ROKU and then plugged ROKU back in to the HDMI slot, the blinking stopped and It worked perfectly. 

      Two guesses, my ROKU parts connections were loose, the ROKU was UPDATING info to my "smart TV" and I didn't have the patience to wait or a combo or part of the above. Hope this helps someone. 

      SIDE BAR: I do have the ROKU HDMI extender on my TV because a couple of years ago I was having buffering problems even though the TV is plugged into the MODEM directly. The extender solved the problem. 

      • miamik97's avatar
        miamik97
        Newbie
        5 years ago

        I'm having the same problem BUT it is my Roku Ultra that is doing it. I bought it last September and this LG TV in December. Both have have worked just peachy! Any ideas?

      • RokuMary-F's avatar
        RokuMary-F
        Community Moderator
        3 years ago

        Hi Nettes-5,

        Welcome to the Roku Community!

        I'd be happy to take a closer look to see how we can help. Can you please provide us with more specific information about the issue you are experiencing? What Roku model device are you using? Can you please specify the exact steps you are taking to reproduce this issue so we can investigate further? In addition, have you tried running the steps on this link to get your remote back up and running?

        With more detailed information, we will be able to assist you further.


        Best regards,
        Mary

  • atc98092's avatar
    atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    7 years ago
    "Woww" wrote:
    There is no blinking light, its my screen. The roku itself blinks on and off. I cant even browse the roku menu because it blinks on and off so consistently that i can barely make out anything on screen and its not my tv because ive been watching cable waiting for a fix to this issue.

    I had this once when I first replaced my Roku 4 with an Ultra and my HDMI cables weren't sufficient for 4K/60. I realize the Express isn't a 4K player, but it's possible you might have a bad HDMI cable. Or at least perhaps the cable has come loose from either the player or the TV. If you haven't already, try powering everything off, then remove and reconnect the HDMI cable at both ends. 
    .
    If that doesn't change anything, do you have a different TV you can plug the Roku into, to see if perhaps there's an issue with the HDMI input of your TV?
    • Dhaskins's avatar
      Dhaskins
      Newbie
      6 years ago

      I’m going to every social media website and better business today we will get what we deserve!!

  • RokuShawnS's avatar
    RokuShawnS
    Channel Surfer
    7 years ago
    If I remember correctly, the blinking light means that your Roku is having difficulty talking with your router. You might try a reboot of the router. If it still happens, move the Roku a little bit away from it's current location. After that, try changing the channel on your router.
    • Smitja12's avatar
      Smitja12
      Newbie
      5 years ago

      I’m having the same issue but I am on a college campus so what do I do then?

       

    • bxb1981's avatar
      bxb1981
      Newbie
      2 years ago

      I am having the same problem , and I think I found my culprit. My ROKU has two ports the HDMI that goes to back of TV and other end to powersourse. it is with the OTHER port it is with this port has become loose and can no longer give a steady current answer: Get new USB power supply cable with correct type of connecting head.

      BXB

  • AlphabetSoup's avatar
    AlphabetSoup
    Newbie
    6 years ago

    I got the new ROKU Express 3900 to replace an older ROKU 2. After it updated software and I logged in, the darned white light would not stop blinking! Even if the TV is off, when I walk past it, it almost seems there is an internal sensor. ROKU also started over again and again and again....while we were trying to watch a show or movie. So I unplugged the new unit and put the old one back on. Same issue! BRIGHT blinking white light, even when all of the lights are out, TV set to "TV" and turned completely off, but the obnoxious light started doing the same thing, now on my older unit that I had disconnected, then reconnected. But someone else recommended that I change the HDMI port AND use the "high speed" cable that came with it. I did that today and so far, so good. Hope it's resolved. - JT

  • Dhaskins's avatar
    Dhaskins
    Newbie
    6 years ago

    Send help my tv is doing the same thing...I see Roku getting sued or banned this is utterly Ridiculous my WiFi is fine it’s this dam tv

  • nova22's avatar
    nova22
    Newbie
    4 years ago

    Just had this problem today 8/1/21  this is what I did - Pressed the on/off button on the Roku remote quickly until the logo for my TVs brand showed and it stopped.  don't know why it just did.  Hope this help others if it happens again I will let you know but for now I am watching my show.  Good Luck - Just Me

  • Lvanaulen's avatar
    Lvanaulen
    Reel Rookie
    4 years ago

    I am having the same issue, I cannot use either of my two new Roku express I purchased. They never stop blinking. I have tried everything different outlets, different HDMI cables nothing works and I’m fed up and frustrated. Roku has no number to call for help. I’m disgusted I will end having to switch to Apple TV or a Firestick. My old Roku was outdated and Amazon and Hulu were unable to support them. So I bought two new express and they don’t even work! I want to return them and buy something else.

    These new devices are junk that don’t work.

    • RokuMary-F's avatar
      RokuMary-F
      Community Moderator
      4 years ago

      Hi Lvanaulen,

      Thanks for reaching out to the Roku community!

      I apologize for your experience here. I can understand how that may be frustrating.

      How are you powering the device of your new Roku Express? Is it plugged into the TV USB port, or is it plugged into the wall outlet with the provided cables? 

      Can you please provide the serial number/device ID on your Roku device? I'll be able to assist you further from there.

      We sincerely appreciate your patience and we are working on ways to better improve this process.

      Best regards,
      Mary

      • Lvanaulen's avatar
        Lvanaulen
        Reel Rookie
        4 years ago

        Mary, 

        Neither Brand new Rokus are working! I’m just really fed up and I have tried everything I am using the cords and HDMI cable that came with the Roku. I have tried every way to power them, I bought new HDMI cables nothing works. I even took them to my friends house and it’s the same issue it just blinks and the Roku word just goes off and on the TV I am never able to do anything. I cannot use them and it is really upsetting. I would like to be able to call and talk to someone but apparently that’s not possible. I sent the serial numbers to you via email replay but never heard back. These Roku express units do not work and they are worthless. 

        Thank you 

        Laurie Van Aulen 

         

         

         

         

         

         

  • AngelPrime's avatar
    AngelPrime
    Newbie
    3 years ago

    I have had this same problem for quite some time now and I have figured out the solution. At least one that worked for me. I do have a smart TV capable of 1080p so I switched the Roku accordingly under "display type". Well that was the wrong move I had the same issue in "auto detect " as well. So 720p it is and problem went away.

    At least for now anyway.