Channels & viewing

[pixel]

I wasn't paying close enough attention (I've never had the choice to "Don't ask again for this channel") when the bandwidth saver message came on asking if I wanted to continue, and I accidentally chose it. How can I restore this to the default of turning off streaming after four hours? I often fall asleep or don't get back to the room I was watching something in and don't want to use up bandwidth needlessly.  I'm not sure if the problem is with Newsmax or Roku.

I just subscribed to the Newsmax channel and was going to delete it and reinstall, but apparently I can't delete it since it's a paid subscription.

Since I have several TVs and Roku devices, I didn't want to reset them all to factory settings (if that would help) if there was an easier solution.

Thanks.

[RokuReynan-L]

Hi, @pixel.

Greetings from the Roku Community!

We'd be happy to assist you in turning on the bandwidth saver.

Here are the steps:

1. Press Home Button on your Roku remote
2. Scroll and select Settings
3. Select Network
4. Select Bandwidth saver
5. Choose On/Off

• Note: Some streaming channels employ their own mechanism to cease data usage after a specific period of inactivity. These features will not be affected when you disable Bandwidth Saver.

For more information, you may visit this support article on how to use Bandwidth Saver to avoid going over your internet data cap

Hope this helps!

Regards,
Reynan

[pixel]

Thanks, I turned it off then on again, so I'll see if that works after the Newsmax app has been running for four hours.

[Creepingchicken]

This did not work for me. The channel still doesn't turn off after 4 hours. 

[RokuJechealR]

Hi @Creepingchicken,

Thanks for posting, and welcome to the Roku Community!

After doing the steps posted above by @RokuReynan-L to turn the bandwidth saver on/off, we understand that your issue persists.

Please note that some streaming channels employ their own mechanism to cease data usage after a specific period of inactivity. Disabling Bandwidth Saver will not affect these features.

We appreciate your understanding.

All the best,
Chel

[pixel]

I don't recall choosing this as a solution. It doesn't work.

Even when I temporarily ended my subscription to Newsmax then resubscribed then deleted and reinstalled the Newsmax app on Roku, it still streamed forever with no prompt to stop after four hours.

[AvsGunnar]

@pixel 

The Bandwidth Saver support page is here https://support.roku.com/article/360037927713.

I have some TVs setup with it enabled, and others as disabled.

When I make the changes between enabled and disabled under Settings/Network/Bandwidth Saver, I just usually add a System Restart into it as well. (Settings/System/System Restart or Settings/System/Power/System Restart).

I don't always get the prompting back for individual channels, but the Roku device does stop streaming after about 4 hours when it is enabled.  For sure, a Factory Reset will restore the prompt. (Settings/System/Advanced System Settings/Factory Reset).

Try disabling the Bandwidth Saver, followed by a System Restart.  Then enable the Bandwidth Saver and perform another System Restart.  (System Restarts just help to clear out cached data).

If you are able to delete the Newsmax app (some apps can't be removed while subscription is in place), then I would Remove Newsmax app.  Perform the above procedures with disabling, restarting, enabling, restarting, and then Reinstall Newsmax and see if that works.

Short of that, may need to go the Factory Reset route.

[pixel]

Thank you, AvsGunnar, I appreciate your response and just disabled Bandwidth Saver, did a system restart, then enabled Bandwidth Saver. I'll see if that works. If not, I'll try the factory reset. In the meantime, I've sent an inquiry to Newsmax too (although I think I've done that previously with no response) to see if it's something on its end.

Wherever that choice of "don't ask again" comes from, there should be a simple setting to reverse it in case circumstances change or, as in my case and others, it was accidentally chosen.

Thanks again. I'll update this if anything resolves it.