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ukr
Newbie

Roku Express german TV not working

Hello.

I'm in Germany and trying to get this sh**ty device to accept that it should show the german apps it's supposedly installed during setup. I've tried numerous times (factory reset, login, send registration to several different mail addresses) but no luck. It took some time to recognize that your broken registration couples the mail address with a local region based on the source IP - basically not working if your standard access to the internet goes via VPN. Next: tried to access your sites without VPN (bad idea, I know, but I wanted to find out...) - well, your registration is so clever, you'll only get to switch your "home base" via a different address or deleting your account and starting anew! Funny thing since there's no way to tell, which region is stored with that email address! And don't tell me I should know that - I'm on a load-balanced connection that switches every few minutes. So it's try and error or rather pure luck?

After 10+ tries I finally got my device registered with some german apps automatically selected. FINE. Got a bunch of apps preselected that I didn't want. HMMM. Got all those apps installed. YEAH!  Selected my home screen. NO LOCAL APPS! WTF? This is the same internet connection that was fine just two minutes ago, stating that the apps were installed just fine. Now it's apparently re-locating my device to US of A**, giving me the finger!

So basically, this is it. My ratings should be minus 5 stars (if possible), now it'll be one star and all three devices will be returned or rather trashed (to have at least a little bit of fun). Probably smash them with a big, good hammer, set them on fire and jump on the ashes.

Wonder how these devices could ever get such a big name & good ratings.

Cheers

Uwe

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renojim
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Roku Express german TV not working

It doesn't have anything to do with your email address and everything to do with your IP address.  Roku devices don't play nice with VPNs.  Don't expect that to ever change.

Roku Community Streaming Expert

Help others find this answer and click "Accept as Solution."
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I am not a Roku employee.
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makaiguy
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Roku Express german TV not working

Roku honors the geographical restrictions put on the various streaming services by their suppliers.  Since these restrictions can be circumvented by use of VPNs which mask one's location, Roku does not support their use when detected.

Also, when you establish a Roku account it gets imprinted with your location at the time, as indicated by your IP.  If you are using a VPN that masks your actual IP at the time of registration, your account could get imprinted to the wrong geographical location.

Roku Community Streaming Expert
I am not a Roku employee, only a user like you.  Please, no support questions via private message -- post them publicly to the Community where others may benefit as well.
If this post solves your problem please help others find this answer by clicking "Accept as Solution.".

Ultra 4800 | Streaming Stick 4K+ 3821 | TCL Roku TV 43S245/C107X
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