Solving playback issues

[Carnie]

Since update 10.0 my screen stays blank after start up. To correct it I have to switch my TV to another HDMI unit and back to the ROKU HDMI and the home screen comes on.

Can anyone help? is my Roku Express 4K+ bad or can I correct this. 

[atc98092]

My first suggestion would be to try a different HDMI cable. It might simply be a coincidence it happened with the OS update. My Express 4K+ doesn't exhibit this, so I don't think it's an OS issue.

And of course, it's certainly possible there's a hardware issue. Your player is less than a year old, so a warranty replacement might be something to consider. 

[makaiguy]

1) I suspect you meant your system went FROM version 10.0 to 10.5 which is the version currently rolling out.

2) My guess is you're powering via a USB port on the tv that shuts down when you turn the tv off.  As a result, when you turn the tv on, both tv and Roku have to start up.  If the 10.5 update takes a few seconds longer to start up than 10.0, which is not unreasonable since it includes additional features, on startup the TV now may be checking the HDMI port before the Roku is ready to respond, resulting in the tv not realizing there's a connection there.  When you switch to another input and back, that forces the tv to check the HDMI connection again, and by now the Roku is ready to respond. 

So, if you are powering from the USB port on your tv, try instead to plug it into your house power through a USB power adapter with a rated output no less than 1 amp.  An adapter is included with units sold in the US, not sure about other countries.

[Carnie]

The power to my Roku Express 4K+ is plugged into a house outlet. The HDMI cable is plugged in to the TV and the other end into the Roku Express 4K+ HDMI plug. 

The problem I feel is a bug in the 10.0  update. It worked fine before that update, About to junk my Roku and buy a smart TV. 

[atc98092]

@Carnie you should be on 10.5, not 10.0. If you are on 10.0 still, it wasn't just released. It's been on your device for some time, probably since it was purchased. 

A streaming player is far less expensive than buying a new TV. See my previous post about a possible hardware issue and getting a warranty replacement. As I said, mine works fine.

[makaiguy]

@Carnie-

One more thought, assuming you really are on Roku version, 10.5 (and you can't tell what version you're on when you can't see anything on the screen).

Roku operating system version 10.5 added a new "Power" item in the "Settings > System menu" for some of the latest Roku models. In my estimation, these power management options weren't very well thought out. If this is the cause of your problem, it has been reported that pressing the Roku remote's Home key should bring the Roku back to life, otherwise people have been pulling the power plug and pushing it back in to restart the Roku.  I've not seen anyone report that switching the TV input away from the Roku and back also working but you might be the first person to spot it.

If you have a "Settings > System > Power" menu item, under "Auto power savings" see if deactivating "After 20 minutes of no interaction" keeps the Roku from shutting down.