A Roku overheating warning on your TV can be concerning, especially when streaming your favorite show. Luckily it’s an easy problem to fix as long as you know what to look for. This guide walks you through the steps to fix your overheating Roku device.
Why Is My Roku Overheating?
According to our research for this article, there are many different reasons why a Roku Streaming device could overheat.
We figured that we would only list a small number of the reasons. Below is a short list of the common causes of an overheating Roku.
- Roku is exposed to direct sunlight for too long.
- The device is placed on top or too close to other electronic devices, such as a set-top box, gaming console, or internet router.
- Failing HDMI Extender.
- Placed inside a cabinet without proper ventilation.
Signs Your Roku Is Overheating
If you have a Roku Streaming Device, chances are you have probably experienced problems with it at some point.
This is especially true if you are one of those people who like to binge-watch your favorite shows on the weekend.
Could you identify if your Roku is overheating and if it should be turned off? We decided to include a list of the typical signs that indicate that your Roku is overheating.
Below is the list of the top eight signs that there is an overheating issue with your Roku device.
- Your device is excessively hot to the touch.
- You notice that the sound is going out.
- The sound and video are not matching.
- The streaming continues to buffer in the middle.
- Randomly shuts off.
- Slow to navigate onscreen display.
- Overheating alert is visible on the screen.
- The LED indicator turns a solid red.
If you are experiencing any or all of the indications we listed earlier in this guide, there are some easy tips that you can follow in order to fix the problems on your own.
See also: How to fix HDCP error detected on Roku
How to Fix Roku Overheating
If you receive a Roku overheating warning on your TV, you need to unplug your Roku immediately and let it cool down for at least 10 minutes. Upon cooling, plug the power cable back in and wait for the Roku player to turn on.
For this guide, we included five easy-to-follow suggestions to resolve your Roku overheating issues.
In addition, these fixes can help you if your Roku keeps restarting because of overheating.
1. Turn Off Your Roku
The first thing you should try if you get the overheating alert display on your TV screen while streaming a television program is to turn it off and let it cool down.
Unfortunately, there is no on/off switch or button on the Roku Streaming Device or Roku Stick.
Here’s how to turn off your Roku streaming box.
- Unplug the power cord from the wall
- Let sit and cool down for 30-60 minutes
- After it is cool to touch, plug it back in and continue watching
To turn off your Roku Stick, follow these steps.
- Unplug the stick from the HDMI port on your TV
- Let it sit for 30-60 minutes.
- After it is cool to touch, plug it back into the HDMI port and resume watching your program.
2. Place Your Roku in a Ventilated Area
If you have your Roku sitting on top of a set-top box (cable box) on a WiFi Router or if you have it inside a stand near the TV.
Roku Streaming Box
- Move the box to a place that allows for air to circulate around the Roku.
- Be sure that it is not around any other pieces of electronic equipment.
Roku Stick
Try to move the TV into a place that allows for more air to circulate around the area where the stick is located.
3. Put Your Roku Further Away From Your TV
With the TV emitting excessive heat, plugging the Roku Stick directly into one of the HDMI ports will expose the stick to all of the heat.
If you cannot move the TV and you get the overheating alert on your TV screen or get any of the indications we listed previously.
- Request a free HDMI Extender from Roku
- Plug the male end of the extender into an open port on your TV
- Plug the Roku Stick into the female connector end of the extender.
Check to see if the Roku overheating alert comes back.
4. Clean Your Roku Streaming Device
Since the Roku Streaming Device does not have any internal cooling system, it tends to overheat.
This can be made exponentially worse if you allow dust, dirt, and crime to build up on the outside of the case.
As the dust and stuff accumulate on the outside, it acts like an insulator and prevents that heat from dissipating.
To prevent this from happening, you should frequently clean all external surfaces of the Roku.
- Unplug the Roku Streaming Device from the wall
- Take a soft cloth and bowl of mild soapy water
- Dip the cloth in the water and dampen it
- Carefully wipe down all of the surfaces removing the dust, dirt, and grime
- Using a dry towel, wipe the outside dry
- Plug the Roku back into the wall outlet
5. Frequently Unplug Your Roku
The Roku does not have an internal cooling system to dissipate the build-up of heat from all of the electronics inside. So, you must have another way to cool down the Roku.
One of the best ways to do this is periodically to unplug the Roku and let it cool down (approximately 30-60 minutes).
Roku Streaming Box
- Unplug the power cord from the back of the Roku
- Unplug the HDMI cable from the back of the Roku
- Put the Roku in a cool place and let it sit for 30-60 minutes
- Plug in the power cord and HDMI cable into the Roku
- Resume watching your program
Roku Stick
- Remove the Roku Stick from the HDMI port in the back of the TV
- Place Stick in a cool place and let it sit for 30-60 minutes
- Plug the stick back into the HDMI port and resume watching your program
Wrap-Up: Roku Overheating
Streaming services are so popular right now, with people binge-watching entire seasons of their favorite programs over a weekend.
One of the best ways to take advantage of streaming in your home is to use a streaming device like a Roku Streaming Box.
Unfortunately, you need to know upfront that there is something that you need to be aware of before you decide to purchase one.
Roku’s have a nasty reputation for overheating since they are always on as long as they are plugged in. As long as you are aware of the issue and are able to live with having to deal with this little inconvenience.
We hope that this guide has provided you with some valuable tips on how to deal with this known issue with all Roku.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roku Streaming Devices
The most common reasons for a Roku overheating are a closed environment, placing it too close to the TV, or a damaged power outlet.
Unless you’ve been dealing with overheating issues, unplugging your Roku when not in use is no need.
No, Roku does not use Google’s Android mobile OS or Apple’s mobile iOS operating system. Instead, it uses its own proprietary operating system. However, it does use a similar method for delivering operating system updates to the device.
Depending on the model of Roku you have, if you purchased the wireless model, it will connect to your router via the internal WiFi connection. If you chose the wired version, you would need an Ethernet patch cord to connect directly to your router.
No, you don’t need a smart TV to use Roku. The only two requirements for using a Roku are the TV must have one available HDMI port and an Internet connection.
