All who rely heavily on technology will experience troubles at some point. Take the Roku Streaming Player and Roku Stick, for example; these streaming services have become a mainstay in many homes.
These devices are great when they are working and bring hours and hours of entertainment to our lives when they are working.
Unfortunately, there is a darker side to these Roku devices that can bring anxiety when you are presented with the dreaded warning signs “Low Power” or “Insufficient Power.” Fortunately, there are things you can do to resolve these issues when and if they happen to you.
Fixes for Roku Low Power Issues
In this guide, we explain how to fix the most common causes of low power or insufficient power on Roku Streaming Players and Roku Sticks.
Below is a list of the common ways to fix Roku power issues:
Before we dive into the fixes, let’s take a look at what kind of power issues your Roku has.
What Types of Power Issues Can You Have With a Roku?
A Roku Streaming player is a high-tech electronic device that runs constantly and is affected adversely by excessive heat.
Since a Roku Stick is a USB device that plugs directly into your TV, it draws all of its power to run the device from the port.
The Roku Streaming Player is a box that plugs into your TV via an HDMI cable and comes with a power adapter that supplies power from a wall outlet.
When there is a fault or issue comes up, the manufacturer of the Roku devices includes multiple ways to inform you that there is a problem with the operation of your device.
You may experience one or more of the three warnings we listed below on the TV screen or directly on your Roku.
Roku Low Power or Insufficient Power
Three ways your Roku will warn you:
- An “Insufficient Power” warning box will pop up
- A picture of a Plug will pop up on your screen
- Red Flashing warning light on the Roku device
Unfortunately, all of these problems can have multiple causes, and finding the reason why your device stopped working can be tricky.
Let’s discuss them and then troubleshoot them to find and fix the problem.
Insufficient Power warning box on the screen: If this box pops up on your TV screen after plugging in your Roku Stick. It means that, for some reason, the power that the Roku needs to function is too low.
Picture of a Plug on your screen: If you see a picture of a plug pop up on your screen when trying to turn on your Roku box, there is not enough power for it to operate.
Red Flashing Light on the device: There may be a red flashing light on your Roku that also indicates that there is a power issue.
Note: A solid red light is an overheating warning, not a power-related problem. You should immediately unplug the Roku device and let it cool down for a while.
See also: How to fix Roku remote blinking green light
Okay, first things first, take a deep breath and exhale so as not to freak out if you are presented with any or all of these warning signs.
There are things that you can try before you will need to pick up the phone and contact the Customer or Technical Support for Roku.
1. Check All Roku Connections
The first thing you should do is check all the cables that are connected to the Roku. Unplug them and ensure they are clean and have no loose connections.
Blow out the ends of the cords to ensure they are clean, and the same with the connectors on the Roku. Then hook everything back up.
2. Unplug Roku and Plug It Back
The Roku box and Roku Stick remain powered on all the time when plugged in. Unplug the Roku and let it sit for at least 20 minutes to let it cool down. After the cool-down period, you can plug it back in and see if it works normally.
3. Check Another USB Port
The Roku Stick plugs directly into your TV; if you are having an issue, the USB port on your TV may wear out.
Over time, USB ports can become worn, especially if you are frequently plugging and unplugging devices into them. If your TV has a second USB port, try plugging the Roku Stick into it.
4. Power Off the TV
Since the Roku Stick gets its power from the TV’s USB port if there could be a problem with the TV’s USB port.
If that is the case, try powering off the TV, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on. Then plug the Roku Stick back into the USB port to see if it works again.
Having trouble powering the TV back on? See our guide for what to do when your TV won’t turn on.
5. Use Another Power Adapter
The Roku Stick comes with a USB power adapter to supply the additional power needed. However, the adapter may have an issue if you are experiencing a problem with insufficient power.
You can try using another power adapter with a micro USB plug to hook up the Roku. If possible, you should attempt to find another Roku-branded power adapter when possible.
6. Plug Power Into a Wall Outlet (For Roku Stick)
If you are using a power strip or battery backup to plug in your Roku Stick, you should try unplugging the power cord and plugging it directly into the wall outlet.
If you already have it directly plugged into the wall, try plugging it into another outlet.
7. Replace the Power Adapter (For Roku Box)
The Roku Box does not have a USB port, so power comes from the included power adapter. In the event of a power problem, the adapter could be the culprit. We recommend you invest in a quality power adapter to avoid damage to your Roku.
8. Clear the Cache on the Roku
Much like a computer’s web browser that stores pages and data in memory to speed up loading times.
The more memory that is being used requires more power. If you clear the cache, this helps restore the normal operation.
Here’s how to clear the cache on your Roku.
Push the following buttons in this specific order:
- Home Button (5 times)
- Up
- Rewind
- Rewind
- Fast Forward
- Fast Forward
After you clear the cache, if your TV starts flickering, don’t worry here’s how to fix a flickering TV screen. Hopefully, this fixes your “Roku lower power” problem.
9. Replace Other Cords on the TV
Your last resort would be to remove any other cords connecting to your TV. There is a possibility that your Roku may experience low power problems due to other devices connected to the TV. If you find something, you should immediately replace it to avoid any further issues.
10. Contact Roku Support
If you have tried everything that we have included in this troubleshooting guide and still haven’t fixed it, the last resort is to contact technical support. They should be able to help you.
Be sure to have the serial number of the Roku when you call. You can go online and find the number to call or send them an email. Be sure to include all of the steps you have already tried in your email.
They will likely have a few things you can check that are harder to find online. If they are still unable to resolve the issue, they will be able to make recommendations about what you can do next.
Final Thoughts on Roku Low Power
Technology has become an unavoidable part of our daily lives, and Roku is just one example. More people rely on streaming services to get their television programming. Roku is one of the more popular brands of streaming devices on the market.
While technology has brought a lot of usefulness, it can also bring utter frustration for those times when it is not working.
Unfortunately, not everything is as simple as shutting it off and turning it back on. This guide was designed to help you possibly save a phone call to technical support.
We hope it is easy to understand and follow all the suggestions. If all else fails and you cannot get it working, contact tech support and get their help.
