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Can't Access Channel Tiles
I was watching Plex around 12:30 CST a couple of nights ago (either 1/28/25 or 1/29/25) and my Roku 2 restarted spontaneously. Ever since then, I cannot access any tiles on the home page. All my tiles are there, but if I press the right arrow to go to one, the screen immediately changes to a different one with the big tile (Featured Show, perhaps?) on the right and highlighted. Though some other tiles are to the left of the big one, nothing I do will allow me to access any of them. The interface simply goes back to highlighting the big tile.
Attempting a software update tells me the unit is already up to date. Doing a system restart changes nothing. Tried a different power supply and it, too, changed nothing.
Anyone else having this issue? What's up with this, Roku?
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
From Settings/System/About what is the model number and what is the Software version showing?
Have you tried restarting your router or trying to connect the Roku device to a mobile hotspot, if available, to see if anything changes. (rule out a network issue or how Roku is seeing your network).
Can you post a screenshot? (use the camera icon above to upload a photo so we can get an idea what you are seeing and this big tile).
Just another Roku user... I am not a Roku employee.
Insignia RokuTV, Ultra 4660, 4802, 4850, Premiere+ 3921, Express 4k+ 3941, Streambar 9102
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
Thanks so much for your suggestions. I rebooted the router and nothing changed. My home screen looks normal, with the Plex tile in the upper left of the tiles section. When I hit the right arrow key to move over to this tile, the entire screen changes to the second photo below. Note that Fox News is highlighted. But I still cannot select any channel tile, as when I try to use the arrow keys it immediately goes to what you see in the third photo, with the big tile on the right highlighted. Even pressing OK does not bring up (in this case) Fox News, but simply highlights the big box on the right instead.
Note that from the home screen, I can select the "Search" option and manually search for, and get into, Plex. But that's the only way to access it
Thanks again,
Don
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
Can you see if using the official Roku mobile app as a remote helps?
https://www.roku.com/mobile-app
https://support.roku.com/article/217288467
While using the mobile app as a remote, I would take the batteries out of the physical remote just to avoid any potential conflicts. (make sure you install the official Roku mobile app as there are some others that look familiar in the app stores).
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It definitely looks like the right side banner ad is being selected when you arrow over to your channels/apps. (it should only be highlighted when you arrow over to it, but your screenshots are indicating both a channel/app is highlighted and the ad at the same time. - definitely not the expected behavior and the likely culprit.)
Just another Roku user... I am not a Roku employee.
Insignia RokuTV, Ultra 4660, 4802, 4850, Premiere+ 3921, Express 4k+ 3941, Streambar 9102
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
After removing the batteries from the physical remote, the Roku app acts the same way when I try to use the (virtual) arrow keys. I can, however, access Plex from the "recently used" area in the app without issue. Weird! I have a bad feeling that Roku pushed some kind of update that broke older players. I have no first hand knowledge of this, but the time when it occurred - around midnight - is suspicious to me. And I've never seen that big tile with the ads before.
Don
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
The big ad is always located there on the right unless using an adblocker on the network/router. (or using DNS blocking/Pi/Raspberry). If that ad space is blank (used to be a curtain with a bench but now is generally a semi-transparent overlay) then the ad was just being blocked or failing to load.
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I didn't notice anything on your Home Screen in the screenshots but do you have any "Recommended Rows" enabled like 'Top Picks', 'All Things Home' and other categories showing above your Apps?
If so, try going to Settings/Home Screen and under Recommendation Rows, select "Hide". Then restart your Roku device.
If the above is not applicable and you do not see these Rows, then try connecting to a mobile hotspot if available to you rather than your home network. See if both your physical remote now works and this ad is showing.
Kind of wondering because one of your apps have a spinning circle in your screenshot which indicates it may be an old app or the thumbnail tile is not loading for some reason.
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Also, what is the actual model number of your Roku and Software version showing under Settings/System/About?
Just another Roku user... I am not a Roku employee.
Insignia RokuTV, Ultra 4660, 4802, 4850, Premiere+ 3921, Express 4k+ 3941, Streambar 9102
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
No ad blocker on the router, and no Pi in use. I had forgotten that I had a spare Roku 2, so I connected it instead (also via wireless). It works perfectly, so that most likely rules out the router and the wireless connection. It looks like something has bricked my original device. The photo below shows the system info you requested from the problematic unit. Not sure where to go from here, short of just leaving the spare in place permanently and calling it a day.
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
Yes, the Roku model 2720 is considered a "legacy device". (no longer supported). The last update available for it was OS11 and we are now on 14.1.
Some of these legacy devices will keep on working for some apps but eventually will get to a point that they will fail to work since new updates will no longer take them into account. Quite possible your device may have just gotten to this point.
Usually though, you will notice it more when trying to launch apps, rather than having a remote/navigation issue but the Home Screen does appear to be communicating more with Roku servers now so could be part of the issue.
https://developer.roku.com/docs/specs/hardware.md
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The Roku2 model 4210 is still supported though so maybe check your model number of the working one (Settings/System/About) and see if your spare is maybe the 4210 which may explain why it is still working.
By the way, on your spare, are you now seeing the ad to the right that you weren't originally seeing with the 2720 model?
Just another Roku user... I am not a Roku employee.
Insignia RokuTV, Ultra 4660, 4802, 4850, Premiere+ 3921, Express 4k+ 3941, Streambar 9102
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
The spare is definitely a 4210. It updated itself after I powered it up, presumably to 14.1 (though I didn't specifically check).
And to answer your question, I was always seeing the ad on the screen immediately after I pressed the right arrow - the issue was that, as we previously discussed, both the tile AND the ad ended up highlighted, which should never happen.
So yes, it would appear that they pushed an update which broke the older device's UI. I guess I've been "Roku-ed." 😥 I'll just make the spare my daily driver and relegate the older one to the local electronics recycling.
Thanks for all the support!
Don
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Re: Can't Access Channel Tiles
Hi, @Don_CC123, welcome to the Roku Community!
Thank you for notifying us about the issue with the Roku Channel tiles. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
To help us resolve the situation effectively, please check your email for a private message from us that contains further details.
We value your patience and look forward to working together toward a resolution.
Thanks,
The Roku Community Team
Roku Community Moderator