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FreeFrog's avatar
FreeFrog
Reel Rookie
6 years ago
Solved

Roku 3 - MicroSD Info Please

Looking for too long on this site, finding NO simple clear info on installing a Micro-SD card in the classic Roku 3 player.  Note that the generic instruction to 'insert the card' makes no apparent sense for this model 4200X -- which has only 3 inputs on the back panel of the unit (Power, HDMI, Ethernet), and a USB port on the side. 

Roku's "2GB microSD Card" is supposed to be compatible with the Roku 3, but I can't see Where... (I kept flipping it over & over, but it's just a little box with 6 sides ;-).  Frustrating:  Search functions on this site are dumb and useless... if any query leads everywhere, nothing can be found.
Please enlighten me and point to available refs or a manual online. 

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    6 years ago

    Unplug everything and take a close look at those connectors. You should see a small slot below the HDMI connector and a label "Micro SD" below the "HDMI" label. This is according to https://www.roku.com/products/roku-3#!

    It's also the same location on the current Roku Ultra. 

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  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    6 years ago

    Unplug everything and take a close look at those connectors. You should see a small slot below the HDMI connector and a label "Micro SD" below the "HDMI" label. This is according to https://www.roku.com/products/roku-3#!

    It's also the same location on the current Roku Ultra. 

    • FreeFrog's avatar
      FreeFrog
      Reel Rookie
      6 years ago

      Thanks, now it makes sense... of course the tiny microSD slot was hidden under the live HDMI connection.  Good advice too on getting a bigger better cheaper card, and thanks for the link... hopefully there are clear instructions on the installation & formatting procedure.
      Gracias_FreeFrog

      • Anonymous's avatar
        Anonymous
        6 years ago
        FreeFrog wrote:

        hopefully there are clear instructions on the installation & formatting procedure.
        Gracias_FreeFrog

        Not really. You have all the info available now. I will tell you the one mistake you can make (or the one I made): assuming how the card should be oriented when plugging it in. I just pulled one to double check, and the copper contacts face up, toward the HDMI connector above it. First one I put in upside down, couldn't remove it, and had to disassemble the Roku to extract it. If it's in right, a push with a fingernail will make it pop out; upside down, not so much...

        The Roku I use most is using ~4.2 GB. One less used is at ~2.9. And the one that puts me to sleep doesn't have a card. They all have the same channels, the cards are 16 GB, so I guess usage doesn't depend directly on how many channels are installed.

        If I recall, the formatting was just answering a prompt after powering up the first time after the card is installed.

    • drdevi's avatar
      drdevi
      Reel Rookie
      5 years ago

      Yes, I see the slot, but how do you insert the micro SD card? I can't get it to insert straight because of the little protuberances on the right side. How do you get it in there?

      • RogerC60's avatar
        RogerC60
        Reel Rookie
        5 years ago

        As was mentioned before, you must remove the HDMI cable to expose the SD card slot. The card goes in upside down, with the label facing the bottom of the Roku and the metal contacts on the card facing the top.

        I could not get a 16 GB Sandisk card to work. I tried two of them, both known good, and the Roku simply ignored them. Then I tried a Kingston 8 GB card and the Roku recognized it. I'm pretty sure it was the size and not the brand that made the difference.

        But then when the "format your SD card" dialog appeared the Roku was frozen; none of the remote control buttons did anything. I powered the Roku off, popped the SD card out but only partway. I left it in the slot but not pushed all the way in. I reconnected the HDMI cable and powered the Roku on. Then after it finished powering up I used a small screwdriver to push the SD card fully in and latch it. At that point the "format your SD card" dialog appeared and the remote control worked, so I followed the rest of the procedure to format the card. Now it's all working fine.

    • dwilsontx's avatar
      dwilsontx
      Newbie
      5 years ago

      I found it and inserted the microSD card just below the HDMI plug. Thank you so much. I have been looking for 30 minutes and couldn't find it. 

      • ahma60's avatar
        ahma60
        Newbie
        4 years ago

        found slot inserted card plugged up and formatted thanks

  • JiRuiFu's avatar
    JiRuiFu
    Channel Surfer
    5 years ago

    OK.  Here's what worked for me.

    Inserted a Kingston 8GB micro sd card, contacts facing up, turned on the Roku and...nothing.

    Returned to this forum and read some more.

    Went back to the Roku with a very small screwdriver, pushed against the edge of the micro card so it popped part-way out, turned on the Roku and then, with the screwdriver, pushed the card in until it clicked and seated properly. Immediately I got the alert on the TV screen asking if I wanted to reformat the card.  It took about 5' for the reformatting to reach the 100% mark.

  • ahma's avatar
    ahma
    Reel Rookie
    4 years ago

    on the roku 3 look at the back where all plugins are. It is the tiny slit just below the HDMI port, That is where the micro card goes