Wi-Fi & connectivity

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skeet5
Newbie

Roku Express won't connect to my wifi even though my router's fine

I bought a roku express sometime back and ever since near the beginning it's consistently had issues connecting with my wifi but my wifi's fine. No other device in my house has trouble connecting to the wifi aside from that one. Another thing is that the roku connects with other wifi networks with no issue like phone hotspots or the wifi of the public building in my complex, it only fails to connect with my place's wifi. What exactly should I do? I restarted my router just as it told me and it didn't work. I also tried reseting the network connection on the roku but that didn't work either. Should I just buy a new one?

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2 REPLIES 2
makaiguy
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Roku Express won't connect to my wifi even though my router's fine

@skeet5-

There are some router setting issues that can prevent establishing Roku wifi connections. And to make matters worse, some of them can be caused by recently-reported router updates. These have primarily been reported with routers supplied by internet providers (Comcast/Xfinity, Cox, and AT&T so far), but it's possible they could also occur with other internet providers or user-owned routers that have received similar updates.

  • ROKU LOCATES NETWORK AND REPORTS NETWORK QUALITY BUT CANNOT CONNECT
    Some router updates have changed the router's connection settings on the 2.4 GHz wifi band from b/g/n to just g/n, causing Rokus connecting to the 2.4 GHz wifi band to lose their ability to connect to the network.

    Note that, of recent Roku models, non-4K Roku Express/Express+ (model numbers below 3940) and Premiere/Premiere+ (model numbers below 4620) can ONLY receive the 2.4 GHz band and are therefore affected by this. 

    The solution is to set the router's configuration back to using b/g/n.  See "Reconfiguring Router", below.
     
  • ROKU CANNOT FIND LOCAL WIFI NETWORK AT ALL
    If you have one of these situations, see "Reconfiguring Router", below.
     
    A) Some recent router updates have turned off dual band routers' use of the 2.4 GHz band. Some Roku models, notably Roku Express/Express+ (model numbers below 3940) and Premiere/Premiere+ (model numbers below 4620), are lower end units with single band Wi-Fi radios that only support the 2.4 GHz band. They, and many other devices of all sorts that are 2.4 GHz only, can't even see the 5 GHz band, let alone connect to it. If you have 2.4 GHz only Roku model and a dual band router with both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, be sure the router's 2.4 GHz band is turned on.
     
    B) In the 2.4 GHz WiFi band, all Rokus support channels 1-11, as are used in North America. If your router supports 2.4 GHz channels outside this range make sure your router is set to use a channel in this range and that you aren't using an auto setting that could select channels outside this range.
     
    C) Rokus with dual-band wifi radios can connect to the 5 GHz wifi band in two ranges of channel numbers, 36-48, and 149-165. Specifically they do NOT support the "DFS" channels 50-64 and 100-144. Many home use modems do not include the DFS channels but some do, so be sure your modem is set to NOT use DFS channels. If your router supports DFS channels and you can't turn them off, make sure you aren't using an auto setting that could select DFS channels.

Reconfiguring Router
Thanks to forum user @AvsGunnar  for providing the links below to instructions for reconfiguring router settings for the listed internet suppliers. If you can't do this yourself, you may need to contact your internet provider to make these changes for you:

If your problem was not caused by any of the above, often a restart of the router (even if other devices are still connecting) followed by a restart of the Roku will allow the connection to be reestablished. Depending on your Roku model and Roku version number you'll find the "System restart" option under either "Settings > System > Power" or "Settings > System", or if more convenient you can just remove the Roku's power for a few seconds and let it restart.

 

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
docmon
Newbie

Re: Roku Express won't connect to my wifi even though my router's fine

Thank you so much for this post. I spent 3 hours on the phone and chatting with support from Verizon, Sammsung (my TV brand), and Roku. Only after I read this post and (again) contacted Verizon to ask about what bands were available on my network was I able to solve this problem. THANK YOU!!! ❤️

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