Wi-Fi & connectivity

[KanatiGirl]

I'm unsure of what exact Roku I have, so I apologize if that's necessary information. If it helps, it's almost 4 years old, as we got it in fall 2019, and it was one of the newer ones around that time, and it's fairly small and thin, and came with a sticker to keep it secured on top of the TV.

My only wifi access is a Hotspot from a smartphone, and for the longest time, the Roku ran just fine on it, with no issues. However, when I got a new phone, and tried to connect it to the new hotspot, my Roku restarted out of nowhere, and now it won't even show the name of ANY wireless network, be it my Hotspot or my neighbor's wireless internet (I live in an apartment complex, so a lot of different networks are close enough for any device to detect them).

I've never had this problem before, and no matter how many times I scanned for networks or restarted my device, it wouldn't pick up any networks. I tried factory resetting my Roku, but nothing. It's been unplugged and off for well over a week before, and still nothing. I try entering things in manually using the private network option, and nothing. I try moving the phone with the Hotspot closer, or farther away, and nothing. 

I'm just at my wit's end, and I don't know what I can do to fix this. 

[RokuCarly]

Hi @KanatiGirl 

Welcome and thank you for posting here at the Roku Community!

We appreciate you for reaching us regarding this matter.

May we know what Roku model device you currently own? You can check it by navigating your Settings > System > About.

We look forward to hear from you so that we will be able to provide you with an accurate resolution. 

All the best,
Carly

[Ndahse]

I was having the same problem. Device would not scan or even list networks. I pushed the reset button after unplugging it. Now it is stuck in pre activation on the 'let's get started' page. 

I can pick a language but, no networks show up to be connected to in any way.

I have internet service it doesn't get listed either.

[atc98092]

WiFi has two separate radio bands: 2.4 and 5 GHz. Some Roku devices only support 2.4 GHz, mostly the lower cost Express and Premiere models. Yes, it would really help to know the model number of your Roku.

On the 2.4 GHz band, there are 14 channels, but Roku devices can only see channels 1-11. If your access point is using channel 12, 13 or 14, the Roku will never see it. When it doesn't even appear in the list of available access points, it's usually a channel issue. 

On 5 GHz, there are again some channel limits. The channels start at 36 and go to 177. But again the channels between 49 and 148n are not visible by Roku devices. These channels are labeled as DFS channels, and there are legal limits to where they can be used, so Roku simply doesn't use them. 

Your access point (the phone hotspot) may or may not allow setting the channel to be used. When I look at my iPhone 12, I don't see any settings for stuff like that. There is a switch labeled "Maximize Compatibility", but the phone doesn't explain what that setting does. I looked it up and it switches the iPhone hotspot from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz. So if that's the phone you have you might try that setting. Since you switched phones, that could be the answer. Older iPhones only offered a hotspot on 2.4 GHz.