Why Is My Roku Being Slow? With the Roku TV, you can watch your popular programs without interruption as long as you have a stable internet connection.
These TVs are generally very reliable devices but can get slow occasionally.
Fortunately, you can do a few things to boost your Roku TV’s speeds.
For this guide, we explain why your Roku is slow and suggest multiple troubleshooting tips to fix the problem.
Table of Contents
Why Is My Roku Slow?
Here are the common causes of a slow Roku TV:
- Internet connectivity issues: Roku TVs load slowly or buffer with slow internet connections
- Outdated Roku software: If you do not keep Roku updated, it gets prone to bugs and old features that will slow down the performance of your TV
- Issues with the remote: If it is unresponsive, your TCL Roku TV will be slow responding to the remote
- Built-up app cache: The corrupt app cache built up on the device is another common reason for a slow Roku TV
- Too many apps or channels running in the background can slow your Roku TV.
- Defective hardware: Hardware problems may affect the overall performance of your Roku TV
Fixing Your Slow Roku TV
Below are some troubleshooting tips to help you fix a slow Roku TV.
Check the Internet Connection
If your Roku device is slow, consider checking your internet connection. Usually, your apps will load slower than usual due to a slow internet connection or unstable WiFi.
To check the internet connection on Roku, follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on the Roku remote
- Open “Settings”
- Scroll to “Network”
- Then go to “About” to check your WiFi signal strength and connection speed
- To test the connection, tap on the “Check Connection” option and wait
You can also run a network speed test online to confirm if you are getting your desired speeds. The speed should be close to the speeds advertised by your ISP.
If your Roku WiFi speed is unstable or slow, here are things you can do to improve it:
- Switch to a wired connection like Ethernet cables as they are more stable and do not experience interferences or traffic issues.
- Move your router or the modem closer to the Roku TV to boost your internet speeds. You can also connect WiFi boosters to the router’s outlet to boost the network.
- Disconnect other devices from the WiFi as they may reduce your network bandwidth or speeds.
- Restart or power cycle your WiFi router, as it could be experiencing glitches or bugs. Doing so could fix the issue and restore your normal internet speeds.
Update Roku Software
Update concept
Completing the software update may remove and clear the errors and bugs from your system. The Roku software update usually automatically updates.
However, it can be interrupted due to a power or an internet outage, and you might have to update it manually.
To update your Roku device software:
- Press the Home button on the Roku remote
- Choose “Settings”
- Tap on “System”, then “System Update.”
- Select “Check Now”
If a software update is available, the Roku device will download and install it. After installing, reboot your device.
Fix Issues with the Remote
TV remote
Unresponsive controllers may make the commands and instructions to the TV slow. To avoid such issues:
- Change the batteries often to prevent the remote from lagging or responding slowly.
- Pair the remote again to refresh the connection with your TV.
- Reset the remote to eliminate excessive or pent-up charges in the remote that could make it unresponsive.
- If all the other fixes don’t work, the issue could be the whole remote, and it might be time to consider getting another remote.
Restart the Roku TV
Restarting a Roku device clears the temporary bugs and refreshes the cache memory. You can either power cycle the device by unplugging it and waiting a few minutes before plugging it back on or restart it using the remote.
To restart the Roku using your controller, follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on the controller
- Scroll downward, then click “Settings.”
- Select “System”
- Tap on “System Restart”
- Click on “Restart”
If your TV is unable to execute commands, you can also use a pattern of remote button presses to restart:
- Click on the Home button five times
- Tap on the “Up” button, then rewind the button twice
- Then click on the “Fast Forward” button two times
- The display will switch OFF and then ON after a few seconds
Change the WiFi Channel on Your Router
Dual-band WiFi router
When streaming, network congestion is a major issue because the channel may have high latency and interference issues. Correct this by switching to a wider bandwidth or channel if your router supports dual-band networks.
Follow these steps to change the channel:
- Connect your router to a PC using a USB or an Ethernet cable
- Access the router portal by entering the IP address on a browser
- Log in to your account
- Look for the advanced settings and locate the wireless channel menu
- Assign the 2.4 GHz band to either the 1st, 6th, or 11th channel because they have the lowest interferences
- For a 5 GHz band, select the lowest channel available
- Save the new changes, log out of the portal, and restart your router
Clear Roku TV Cache
Corrupt cache files may build up on the device, making your Roku freeze. It happens when downloading many games, apps, and Roku private channels. To restore your device, all you need to do is clear the cache.
To clear the Roku TV cache:
- Select Home tab
- Press the Home button 5 times
- Now, push the “Up” button once
- Click the “Rewind” button twice
- Now press the “Fast Forward” button twice
- Wait for at least 30 seconds for the cache to clear
- Restart the device
Remove Unused Apps/Channels
TV apps showing on the screen
Too many unused channels and apps take up much storage space and lower the performance of your Roku device.
If you have many unused channels and apps, you need to remove them to clear up some space.
To remove the apps and channels, follow these steps:
- Access the Homepage of your Roku TV
- Hover over an app or a channel and press the “*” button on the controller
- Click on “Remove Channel”
- Click “OK” to remove
- Remove other unused apps and channels by following the steps
- Then, remove the power cord and wait for at least a minute before plugging it back
- Restart the Roku device
Re-install the Channels Causing Lag
Sometimes the TCL Roku TV Channel may have errors and bugs on the back end that might be causing the lag. In this case, you must remove the channels and add them back to clear the stagnant bugs.
Here’s how to do this:
- Hover over a channel you want to remove with the remote on the Home screen
- Click the “*” button on the controller to access the options Menu
- Tap on “Remove Channel”
- Select “Remove” to delete the channel
- Restart the Roku device
- Once the device is back on, press the Home button on the remote
- Click on “Streaming Channels” to access Channel Store
- Click on “Search Channel” and look for the channel you want
- Hover over the channel and select “OK” to view the details
- In case the channel is free, tap on “Add Channel”. Otherwise, click on “Buy.”
Factory Reset Your Roku TV
If all the other fixes did not fix your slow Roku device, a factory reset could be a viable solution. It clears all the cache, installed apps, and preferences to the default settings.
To factory reset Roku:
- Press the Home button on the Roku remote
- Navigate through and click “Settings.”
- Under Settings, click on “System” then “Advanced System Settings.”
- Click on “Factory Reset”
- Insert the code in the bottom right corner and press “OK.”
When the process is complete, the device will restart in the same state as a new device. You can therefore start installing your apps and configuration.
Conclusion
So, if your Roku is slower than normal, you only need to troubleshoot it with the solutions mentioned in this post.
But in case you’ve tried all of the steps above but nothing works, it might be time to upgrade to a new Roku.
Or, consider contacting Roku support for more professional help.