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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 s...
  • 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. 

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.

    • Lance_Kidd's avatar
      Lance_Kidd
      Newbie
      6 years ago

      I assume that the Roku 3 was updated, because I can tell that the menu prompts and some other minor details.

      I did not know it had updated because I hadn’t had the TV on for about 5 days.  But, I opened the YouTube channel and it came up first thing and said it would be best to install a microSD card at this point so that channels do not have to keep reloading themselves.

      And let me tell you, it re-downloaded YouTube and everything was terribly slow,  so I deleted a couple of channels, and it started acting behaving as before. I do not have that many channels anyway… Maybe 15. I bought it about three years ago I guess and it was the fastest thing going. But they keep updating everything, including the apps for all cell phones, and it winds up bloating the code.

      But I did put the microSD card in that I use with a GoPro, and I haven’t used that in forever and I think it is a class 10. Most SD cards or microSD cards that you buy these days should be a class 10, and if it doesn’t specify then it definitely is supposed class 10.

      As far as I know, they are so cheap these days that they don’t really specify the class unless it is less than 10.

  • jav1's avatar
    jav1
    Reel Rookie
    5 years ago

    Just for other user's consideration...

    Our #Roku 3 (4230U) did not recognize a 32 GB SanDisk MicroSD HC Ultra Uhs-1 Memory Card. I plan to uninstall some of the (many) unused channels to see if that helps.

    • musicislove's avatar
      musicislove
      Streaming Star
      5 years ago
      jav1 wrote:

      Just for other user's consideration...

      Our #Roku 3 (4230U) did not recognize a 32 GB SanDisk MicroSD HC Ultra Uhs-1 Memory Card. I plan to uninstall some of the (many) unused channels to see if that helps.

      I remember that Roku reccomended a certian brand, but I cannot recall which one ATM.

      I will try and see and post back later.

      Maybe this is why ...or maybe this is the one and you already know this just trying to contribute here in positive ways.

      ==

      Well I must have been remembering something else, :smileyfrustrated: pretty much, anyway,  but here is the link to read ..just in case ya have not seen it.

      https://support.roku.com/article/208756158 

      Honestly when I put one in I did not really notice any difference in loading apps....my experience only.

    • RogerC60's avatar
      RogerC60
      Reel Rookie
      5 years ago

      It's pretty common for devices, especially older ones, to not work with memory cards larger than an certain size. I've seen this a lot with digital cameras. I'm not surprised that my Roku 3 won't work with an SD card larger than 8Gbyte.

    • 1990vfr's avatar
      1990vfr
      Newbie
      5 years ago

      I had the problem with my roku 3, of having a 32 G.B. micro S.D. .. I read further and found that I needed to use a 2 G.B. micro S.D. .. I ordered a 4 G.B. micro after good advice on this message board, saying that the "4" would work.. it didnt work !! .. I then installed the "4" in my camera to have some info on the micro.. my roku 3 still wouldn't recognize the micro.. I tried rebooting the roku.. still nothing.. as last resort, I did the first step of removing the HDMI plug to access the micro port, I then partially installed the micro, then installed the HDMI plug, then using a small screwdriver, I was able to push the micro the rest of the way in.. it worked !! .. it seems, to have the roku recognize the micro, the roku has to be fully connected..