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How to Fix Issues with Apps on a Roku Ultra

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Support.com Tech Pro Team
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In This Guide
You'll Learn:
  • How to repair issues with the apps on your Roku Ultra media player.

? What problem are you having with the app on your Roku?

  1. No sound from any channel
  2. Channels won't open
  3. Channels crash while using them
  4. Channels 'flicker'; go blank for moments in the menu but otherwise work
  5. Channels won't load any content

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In This Guide
You'll Learn:
  • How to repair issues with the apps on your Roku Ultra media player.

Try switching to your cable box, Blu-ray, or other device you have connected to your TV.

There are 2 ways to restart your Roku.

Power Cycle the Roku

  1. Unplug the power cable from the back of your Roku.
    Roku with power cable unplugged.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
    Wait 10 Seconds
  3. Plug the power cable back into your Roku.
    Roku with power cable plugged in.

Restart Through the Menu

  1. Push the Home button on your remote.
    Roku remote with Home button highlighted.
  2. Select Settings.
    Roku Home screen with Settings highlighted.
  3. Select System.
    Settings with System highlighted.
  4. Select System restart.
    System with System restart highlighted.
  5. Select Restart.
    System restart with Restart highlighted.
  6. Your Roku will let you know it's restarting.
    Restarting message.
  7. Then you'll see the Roku logo bouncing, as the Roku starts up.
    Roku logo.

On your TV remote, use the Volume Up/Down buttons.
Volume controls on TV remote.

Helpful tip. If you are using a separate home theater, surround sound, or sound bar with your television, be sure to check the volume levels and settings on that device as well.

There are 2 ways to restart your Roku.

Power Cycle the Roku

  1. Unplug the power cable from the back of your Roku.
    Roku with power cable unplugged.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
    Wait 10 Seconds
  3. Plug the power cable back into your Roku.
    Roku with power cable plugged in.

Restart Through the Menu

  1. Push the Home button on your remote.
    Roku remote with Home button highlighted.
  2. Select Settings.
    Roku Home screen with Settings highlighted.
  3. Select System.
    Settings with System highlighted.
  4. Select System restart.
    System with System restart highlighted.
  5. Select Restart.
    System restart with Restart highlighted.
  6. Your Roku will let you know it's restarting.
    Restarting message.
  7. Then you'll see the Roku logo bouncing, as the Roku starts up.
    Roku logo.
  1. Push the Home button on your Roku remote.
    Roku TV remote highlighting the home button.
  2. Highlight the channel you are having problems with.
    Roku TV home screen, highlighting an app being selected.
  3. Push the Option * key on your remote.
    Roku TV remote highlighting the option button.
  4. Select Close.
    Roku TV app menu screen, highlighting the close option.
  5. Try launching the channel again normally.

Roku streaming players and Roku TVs update automatically to ensure it is using the latest version of the software.

If you installed a non-certified channel, installed a channel from channelstore.roku.com, or your device has been disconnected for some time, you may need to perform a manual update. Here's how:

  1. Push the Home button on your Roku remote.
    Roku TV remote highlighting the home button.
  2. Push Left < on your remote to bring up the menu, then select Settings.
    Roku TV home screen highlighting the settings option.
  3. Select System.
    Roku TV Settings menu, highlighting the System option.
  4. Select System update.
    Roku TV System menu, highlighting the System update option.
  5. Select Check now.
    Roku TV System update menu, highlighting the Check now option.

If an update is available for your channels or software, it will be downloaded and installed automatically and your Roku device will reboot itself.

There are 2 ways to restart your Roku.

Power Cycle the Roku

  1. Unplug the power cable from the back of your Roku.
    Roku with power cable unplugged.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
    Wait 10 Seconds
  3. Plug the power cable back into your Roku.
    Roku with power cable plugged in.

Restart Through the Menu

  1. Push the Home button on your remote.
    Roku remote with Home button highlighted.
  2. Select Settings.
    Roku Home screen with Settings highlighted.
  3. Select System.
    Settings with System highlighted.
  4. Select System restart.
    System with System restart highlighted.
  5. Select Restart.
    System restart with Restart highlighted.
  6. Your Roku will let you know it's restarting.
    Restarting message.
  7. Then you'll see the Roku logo bouncing, as the Roku starts up.
    Roku logo.

This step will guide you through uninstalling a channel from your Roku. At the end of this process, you'll be offered an option to install, or re-install the channel.

  1. Push the Home button on your Roku remote.
    Roku TV remote control highlighting the home button.
  2. Highlight the channel you wish to remove.
    Roku TV home screen displaying a channel being highlighted.
  3. Push the Option * key on your remote.
    Roku TV remote control, highlighting the option button.
  4. Select Remove channel.
    Roku TV app menu, highlighting the Remove channel option.
  5. You will be asked to confirm removing the channel. Select Remove.
    Roku TV Confirm channel removal prompt, highlighting the Remove option.
  1. Push the Home button on your Roku remote.
    Remote with home button highlighted.

  2. Push Left < on your remote, select Streaming Channels.
    Roku homepage with Streaming Channels highlighted.

  3. Select Search Channels, or browse through the categories to find the channel you want.
    Streaming Channels with search highlighted.

  4. Type in the name of the channel you wish to add, then push Right > on your remote.
    search with text entry highlighted.

  5. Select the channel you wish to install.
    Example search result with channel selected.

  6. Select Add channel.
    Channel info with add channel highlighted.

  7. A brief message will appear, letting you know the channel is added to the end of your home screen, and you can move it using the Option * menu. Select OK.
    Information dialog with OK highlighted.
Attention required. If the channel you added is a channel with premium, paid-for content, you will be prompted for your username and password for that service. This is separate from your Roku account in most cases.
Show Me How

Clicking this button will open a new guide that will provide you with steps to resolve your issue.

  1. Push the Home button on your Roku remote.
    Roku TV remote highlighting the home button.
  2. Highlight the channel you are having problems with.
    Roku TV home screen, highlighting an app being selected.
  3. Push the Option * key on your remote.
    Roku TV remote highlighting the option button.
  4. Select Close.
    Roku TV app menu screen, highlighting the close option.
  5. Try launching the channel again normally.

Roku streaming players and Roku TVs update automatically to ensure it is using the latest version of the software.

If you installed a non-certified channel, installed a channel from channelstore.roku.com, or your device has been disconnected for some time, you may need to perform a manual update. Here's how:

  1. Push the Home button on your Roku remote.
    Roku TV remote highlighting the home button.
  2. Push Left < on your remote to bring up the menu, then select Settings.
    Roku TV home screen highlighting the settings option.
  3. Select System.
    Roku TV Settings menu, highlighting the System option.
  4. Select System update.
    Roku TV System menu, highlighting the System update option.
  5. Select Check now.
    Roku TV System update menu, highlighting the Check now option.

If an update is available for your channels or software, it will be downloaded and installed automatically and your Roku device will reboot itself.

There are 2 ways to restart your Roku.

Power Cycle the Roku

  1. Unplug the power cable from the back of your Roku.
    Roku with power cable unplugged.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
    Wait 10 Seconds
  3. Plug the power cable back into your Roku.
    Roku with power cable plugged in.

Restart Through the Menu

  1. Push the Home button on your remote.
    Roku remote with Home button highlighted.
  2. Select Settings.
    Roku Home screen with Settings highlighted.
  3. Select System.
    Settings with System highlighted.
  4. Select System restart.
    System with System restart highlighted.
  5. Select Restart.
    System restart with Restart highlighted.
  6. Your Roku will let you know it's restarting.
    Restarting message.
  7. Then you'll see the Roku logo bouncing, as the Roku starts up.
    Roku logo.

This tends to be caused by the Digital Rights Management (DRM) used over HDMI to high-definition televisions, and display resolution changes.

When switching content, either channel to channel, or movie to show, the Roku will switch resolutions for a brief moment to match the resolution of the content, then it has to re-authenticate with with the television before it can display content.

There are a few things you can try to fix this.

  • Try using a different HDMI cable. Make sure it is HDMI1.4 or higher.
  • Sometimes, some televisions take a moment to switch the resolution, or perform that authentication. There is no real 'fix' for this, beyond possibly checking with your television manufacturer to see if an updated firmware is available.
  • Contact Roku to have your Roku set to a lower color-bit depth for the flickering issue.

Your content will continue to work properly, and should not flicker outside of the menus themselves.

  1. Push the Home button on your Roku remote.
    Roku TV remote highlighting the home button.
  2. Highlight the channel you are having problems with.
    Roku TV home screen, highlighting an app being selected.
  3. Push the Option * key on your remote.
    Roku TV remote highlighting the option button.
  4. Select Close.
    Roku TV app menu screen, highlighting the close option.
  5. Try launching the channel again normally.

There are 2 ways to restart your Roku.

Power Cycle the Roku

  1. Unplug the power cable from the back of your Roku.
    Roku with power cable unplugged.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
    Wait 10 Seconds
  3. Plug the power cable back into your Roku.
    Roku with power cable plugged in.

Restart Through the Menu

  1. Push the Home button on your remote.
    Roku remote with Home button highlighted.
  2. Select Settings.
    Roku Home screen with Settings highlighted.
  3. Select System.
    Settings with System highlighted.
  4. Select System restart.
    System with System restart highlighted.
  5. Select Restart.
    System restart with Restart highlighted.
  6. Your Roku will let you know it's restarting.
    Restarting message.
  7. Then you'll see the Roku logo bouncing, as the Roku starts up.
    Roku logo.

To connect your Roku Ultra to the internet:

  1. Choose your wireless network from the list of available networks and enter your password.
  • If you do not see your network, select Scan again to see all networks.
  • If you want to see your password as you type, choose Show password, This can help prevent entering the wrong password.
  • Remember, passwords are case-sensitive – use the shift button on the on-screen keyboard to enter a capital letter.

Roku TV Choose your network screen displaying a list of available Wi-Fi networks.

Once you have entered your password and selected Connect, your Roku Ultra will automatically connect to the Internet.
Your Roku Ultra will then download and install the latest version of the Roku OS software and reboot.