Wi-Fi & connectivity

Having Roku connectivity problems? Get the help and troubleshooting tips you need for Roku wireless connection issues, ethernet connections, and more.
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Willcon67
Newbie

Trying to set up WiFi connection.

Just purchased a new Roku express device, however it won’t connect to my home wifi and does not even recognise it as an available network. Every other device in my house is connected to the WiFi so there’s no issue there and when I plug my old Roku device in it connects no problem. I have tried resetting both the router and the Roku device but no luck. 

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2 REPLIES 2
makaiguy
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Trying to set up WiFi connection.

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.

This sounds like it may be your problem:

  • 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+ non-4K models (model numbers below 3940) and Premiere/Premiere+ (model numbers above 4630), 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 a 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 12-14 that are used in other regions make sure your router is set to use a channel in the 1-11 range and that you aren't using an auto setting that could select channels outside this range.
     
    C) [This may not be your issue if you have other Roku models that connect.]  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.

 

 

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renojim
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Trying to set up WiFi connection.

The least expensive Express device only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi channels 1 to 11.  Some ISPs have been known to disable 2.4GHz.  If your old Roku device is a dual-band model it's probably connecting to a 5GHz channel.  You can check the channel it's connected to by navigating to Settings->Network->About.  If your phone has a hotspot feature you can check whether the Express is working by configuring it for a 2.4GHz channel and seeing if the Express will connect to it.

@makaiguybeat me to it!

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