Roku Mobile App

[Alyssabot]

I’ve been trying to connect my

mobile app to my roku with no luck. I’ve turned everything on and off, checked for updated, disconnected and restarted it all. When I try to enter the IP address it says it’s not found. I feel like I’ve read all the articles and nothing has helped. It was working just fine until last night. Nothing has changed since then. 

Model: Roku premiere 

Apple iPhone 

[atc98092]

As you probably know, both devices (phone and Roku) must be connected to the same network, with no intervening routers that might interfere with the connection. This means that both devices have an IP address in the same range, i.e. 192.168.0.x in most home networks. 

Note that some routers will not let wireless devices to see other devices on the network. This is a security setting that can be changed in the router settings. 

[c1bear]

Im having same issue with app for over a yr, Ive been trying to get it to work like others it just searches and searches, Ive even try to manually put in the IP still wont connect, been searching the net for find away to no luck, I dont understand why i put in the right IP address it still wont connect. 

[atc98092]

---

@c1bear wrote:

Im having same issue with app for over a yr, I've been trying to get it to work like others it just searches and searches, I've even try to manually put in the IP still wont connect, been searching the net for find away to no luck, I don't understand why i put in the right IP address it still wont connect. 

---

See my comment above. If your wireless connection is through a router/access point that blocks local network access (only allowing Internet access), you'll never see your Roku from the app. Many routers have this setting enabled by default, and you must change it yourself. That means you need to know how to log into your router/access point and how to make changes. 

And if your phone isn't connected to the same network as the Roku (such as your phone is only on cellular data and not connected to a WiFi point) you'll never connect to the Roku. Both devices must be connected to the same network, with the wireless settings in the router permitting local access. 

[E4TA]

This is ridiculous. Your service has really taken a downturn over the past month with the Roku and router issues. Maybe you all need to find a better way on your end instead of expecting your customers to figure everything out. 

[Zygzee]

I am having the same problem. It started yesterday, 10-17-20, when I tried to used it in the evening.
This morning I finally had time to try to figure this out. For more then a year now I've been using the Roku app, because my remote got lost. So yesterday when it stopped I had no way of trying anything but using the app. So the first thing this morning I tried was seeing if the Roku was communicating with my network. Here is were things get interesting. My Samsung connections sees the DIRECT-roku-827, however neither my Fing or WiFiman apps can. Of coarse, neither can the Roku app on my Samsung Note 4 and Samsung A71 or the Roku app on my iPhone SE, which started this problem in the first place.
So at this point I can not tell where the problem is. Since the Samsung network connection system app sees the Roku, but my WiFi management apps can not, What Does That Mean? I Assume this is why the Roku apps do not see the Roku 3. Seeing this problem, I am not sure if I had the physical remote that this problem would be any different. The physical remote needs a WiFi connection also.

[atc98092]

---

@Zygzee wrote:

I am having the same problem. It started yesterday, 10-17-20, when I tried to used it in the evening.
This morning I finally had time to try to figure this out. For more then a year now I've been using the Roku app, because my remote got lost. So yesterday when it stopped I had no way of trying anything but using the app. So the first thing this morning I tried was seeing if the Roku was communicating with my network. Here is were things get interesting. My Samsung connections sees the DIRECT-roku-827, however neither my Fing or WiFiman apps can. Of course, neither can the Roku app on my Samsung Note 4 and Samsung A71 or the Roku app on my iPhone SE, which started this problem in the first place.
So at this point I can not tell where the problem is. Since the Samsung network connection system app sees the Roku, but my WiFi management apps can not, What Does That Mean? I Assume this is why the Roku apps do not see the Roku 3. Seeing this problem, I am not sure if I had the physical remote that this problem would be any different. The physical remote needs a WiFi connection also.

---

The DIRECT-Roku connection has nothing to do with the app. It's an internal access point that is used by the WiFi Direct remote, and also used for the dorm/hotel authentication function. You cannot connect anything to it unless you're in hotel/dorm authentication mode. 

For the Roku app on a phone or tablet to see the Roku, there are several requirements. All devices must be on the same private network. If you are on a network using an IP address range not within the official private IP address range, it won't be seen. Next, the network must be open (but not security open), meaning there's no NAT routers between the devices. Also, many WiFi access points (either in a router or a WAP) have a security setting that hides all connected devices from seeing anything within the network. If your WiFi is set up as a guest network, I can almost guarantee that is blocking access. And on guest networks it usually can't be disabled. Sometimes routers used as the primary network switch will hide connections from each other. 

I suggested to one user to try a standalone network switch that all devices connect to, and then connect the switch to the router. This instantly restored his ability to use the Roku app, as the router was hiding connections. I don't believe he was using the router as his wireless access point, so it was completely taken out of the picture. If the router is also the WAP, you need to check all the internal network security settings.