Wi-Fi & connectivity

[MassiveEquinox]

I had no problem using my Roku 3 on my old wifi. However, since ive moved ive had internet issues non stop. The last 3 weeks go as recorded.

1-2 times a week the roku will stop streaming and tell me the wifi is no longer connected. I go to the settings and it says its not connected. I try and reconnect, only to see that that the wifi network I was using prior no longer pops up when scanning. I reboot and MAYBE it shows up. Only to fail to connect. I then proceed to manually add the network to the Roku and it works. For a day or maybe a week-ish if im lucky.

Recently, I decided enough was enough and last week I had created a guest network on my wifi to remedy this. It worked for a week with no issues until today. Except this time it said that my internet speed was too slow. When I checked with my router and network settings this was not the truth. So I added it back to the network it was on prior as it kept telling me it was too slow on the guest network. I am hoping to get this fixed before I have to reboot and manually add the Roku 3 to the network again as its a pain.

I do have a wifi-6 router. But, like I said it seems to connect flawlessly when I manually input the network. So I suspect that may not be the issue. The Roku is up to date on its software. There is no error codes associated with my issues either.

[RokuJohnB]

Hi @MassiveEquinox,

Welcome to the Roku Community!

We would like to gather more information regarding this issue you had with the Roku 3 since it keeps disconnecting from your wireless network connection. Can you please provide the following information below?

• How far is your Roku device from your network router?
• Are you getting any error messages or codes?
• Do you have cellular data so we can try connecting your device to your hotspot?

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks,
John

[MassiveEquinox]

Hello John,

My Roku is less than a room away from my router. None of my other devices seem to have an issue connecting anywhere in the house. I am not currently receiving error codes when experiencing issues. It just drops all connection. I would love to use my cellular data to test this out. The only problem is that it takes more than a few days for the problem to come back and that's quite a bit of data being used to test this out. If there is anything else I can try I am more than open to experimenting.

More than appreciative,

M.E.

[RokuJohnB]

Thank you for keeping us posted, @MassiveEquinox!

We will be delighted to assist you further with this issue that you had with the Roku 3 since it will disconnect from your Wi-Fi. Roku devices can disconnect from Wi-Fi for a variety of reasons, including:

• Weak Wi-Fi signal: If your Roku device is too far away from your Wi-Fi router, the signal may not be strong enough to maintain a stable connection.
• Network congestion: If there are too many devices connected to your Wi-Fi network, it can cause congestion and slow down your internet speed, which may result in your Roku device disconnecting from Wi-Fi.
• Router or modem issues: If your Wi-Fi router or modem is malfunctioning or outdated, it may cause connectivity issues with your Roku device.
• Network settings: If your network settings are not properly configured, your Roku device may not be able to connect.
• Software issues: Sometimes, there may be bugs or software issues with the Roku device itself that can cause it to disconnect from Wi-Fi.

To troubleshoot the issue, you can try the following steps:

• Move your Roku device closer to your Wi-Fi router to improve the Wi-Fi signal strength.
• Check for any network congestion by disconnecting other devices from your Wi-Fi network.
• Restart your router and modem to ensure they are functioning properly.
• Check your network settings to make sure they are properly configured.
• Ensure your Roku device has the latest software updates installed.
• If the issue persists, try resetting your Roku device to its factory settings, which can sometimes resolve software-related issues.

Please keep us posted on what you find out.

Regards,
John

[MassiveEquinox]

I would like to say that my problem was not solved. Not to mention that none of these actually fixed my issue. Thank you for attempting to assist. Ill probably end up purchasing a new one or firestick instead.

[atc98092]

@MassiveEquinox I have to say that a Roku 3 is a very old device. There's two versions: the 4200 released in 2013 and the 4210 in 2015. So your player is either 11 or 9 years old, which was a great player when it was released. Unfortunately it may simply be having a part failure, perhaps a gradual failure that only appears sometimes. Any new Roku player is going to be vastly superior to your Roku 3. 

There is one possible issue that might be occurring. If your WiFi router is configured to auto-select a channel (and almost all are by default) it could be changing the channel used to one not-supported by Roku devices.

• On 2.4 GHz, you must use channel 1-11 (with 1, 6 or 11 being the best choices). If the router changes to 12, 13 or 14, your Roku will not be able to see your WiFi at all.
• On 5 GHz, your Roku will not work on channels 49-148. Again, your Roku won't even see your WiFi if one of those channels are selected. They are referred to as DFS channels, and in some locations that are not legal for home network usage, which is why many devices won't work on those channels. 

[RokuCarly · Accepted solution]

Hi, @MassiveEquinox.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work on resolving the issue you've encountered with your Roku device. Rest assured that we will help you find the best resolution so you can continue streaming with Roku. 

In addition to what our Streaming Expert provided above, please be informed that the Roku 3 streaming device is 8-10 years old. It sounds like something may have changed when you moved; perhaps the wireless environment or the router is trickier for the Roku 3 to maintain a connection. If the above troubleshooting steps don't work, then it might be time to replace the device.

No worries! I will contact you via Private Message for further assistance regarding this matter. 

Thank you for your continuous support. Happy Streaming! 💜

Best regards,
Carly

[MassiveEquinox]

Truthfully, I hadn't grasped how old my Roku 3 was. It certainly does not feel like that long ago. I appreciate your comment and will look into that as soon as I get home. In the mean time I will also be seeking out a new Roku. If you have any recommendations I will gladly take them.

Thank you,

M.E.

[MassiveEquinox]

Thank you Carly, I will certainly be looking at newer Roku's now. I appreciate your assistance.

-M.E.

[RokuCarly]

Thank you for your prompt response, @MassiveEquinox.

Discover the latest promotions and deals by visiting the Roku Product website. Feel free to reach out anytime you need help or you may also visit the Roku Support for additional troubleshooting steps. 

Regards,
Carly