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Blarney77's avatar
Blarney77
Reel Rookie
3 years ago
Solved

Roku4+ Prem. Flashes to black in MOST Channel MENUs, 3-5 seconds, then on, off, on.

My Roku4+ Prem. 4K unit USUALLY works great.  When streaming shows it works fine.  
BUT, When I load up Netflix, Paramount, Peacock and some others, IN THE MENU the screen will black out for 3 or 4 seconds as I'm trying to scroll through the programs.  It always comes back, and if I was scrolling it had continued even though the screen was black.  It might do this for up to about a minute then settles down.
If I change to another Streaming Service it starts up again.  

I'm using it with a SHARP 4K 65" Smart TV that has no issues at all.  It seems to help to reboot the Roku unit, and I have tried different screen display options on the TV.  I have swapped out the HDMI Cable a few times, and I have use BOTH of the 4K 60hz sockets in the TV.  (Not even going to try the 30Hz or other HDMI.)    It WAS working for several years with no trouble then this began happening. 

Is it just wearing out?  I am pretty High Tech, I have looked through any setting that might affect display, resolution, and even did factory reset for the TV settings.  This SEEMS to have happened after an update to the Roku unit.  Both the Roku and TV are right at 5 years old.  But I have a Roku 3, a Roku2XS that both work fine still.  (Gave 'em to my kids that moved out, they have no troubles and those are a lot older)

Maybe I'm missing something?  As I states before, I go through the menu, pick a show, and PLAYING that show or movie works great. 

IT ONLY HAPPENS IN THE STREAMING CHANNEL MENU.  NOT in the Roku Menu at all.  ONLY when I select a streaming service and get to their menu.  AND it is not all services either.  I will have to document those better.

app playback
  • Blarney77's avatar
    Blarney77
    3 years ago

    FOUND IT!!  If ANYONE needs a good video on this, go here :

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eATBsoydpjU

    But in MY CASE and also for many reviewers on this video, having the Auto Refresh Rate turned ON is a BAD thing.  Turn this off.  You have to go into Advanced display settings and set it to OFF.

    Fixed it all.  MY take on this is that many of the channels show "Previews" of a show and they might not be at the same refresh rate and triggering the AOTO setting to try to change to a different rate which causes a black screen for a couple of seconds.  Very Annoying.  This is one of many he lists in the video, so fi that is not YOUR fix, then watch this and this guy goes through a DOZEN fixes.  (Including how to reset your Roku from the remote!)

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  • RokuDanny-R's avatar
    RokuDanny-R
    Retired Moderator
    3 years ago

    Blarney77

    Thanks for the post.

    Have you tried using another HDMI port on your TV to see if you are experiencing the same issue?

    For troubleshooting purposes, have you tried connecting that specific Roku device to another TV to see if you are seeing the same issue occur?

    Please keep us posted what you find out and we will be able to assist you further.


    Thanks,
    Danny

    • Blarney77's avatar
      Blarney77
      Reel Rookie
      3 years ago

      Only happens in certain channels, the worst in Paramount +!  The screen flashes in and out several times, then often will become steady on.  But changing programs in the menu is tough and once I get the particular show menu loaded it stops.  THEN I can look at Episode lists, trailers, etc.  

      HDMI should not be intermittent.  OR only in Menus.  This is either an issue with my ROKU OR it is something with the particular service.  Sometimes Netflix or Hulu does this, but Paramount is the worst.  Also at times Prime does it too.  Paramount is EVERY time we load it up.  ANY user profile.

      • Blarney77's avatar
        Blarney77
        Reel Rookie
        3 years ago

        FOUND IT!!  If ANYONE needs a good video on this, go here :

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eATBsoydpjU

        But in MY CASE and also for many reviewers on this video, having the Auto Refresh Rate turned ON is a BAD thing.  Turn this off.  You have to go into Advanced display settings and set it to OFF.

        Fixed it all.  MY take on this is that many of the channels show "Previews" of a show and they might not be at the same refresh rate and triggering the AOTO setting to try to change to a different rate which causes a black screen for a couple of seconds.  Very Annoying.  This is one of many he lists in the video, so fi that is not YOUR fix, then watch this and this guy goes through a DOZEN fixes.  (Including how to reset your Roku from the remote!)