Roku TV Slow: How to Make It Faster [2023]

I have had my Roku TV for a few years now, and still, the device works fine for the most part. But then again, it does go through bouts of general degeneration by abruptly becoming slow.

And being a tech enthusiast, I put on a tin foil hat and ventured to find ways to get my Roku TV running as fast as a new one would.

I compiled all the best tips and fixes to get your Roku TV up and running as it should into this guide.

If your Roku TV is slow, check for issues with the network and update the firmware version. Rebooting the Roku TV could also help. Then, check for issues with remote connectivity. Outdated versions and unused apps eat up the memory, slowing down the Roku TV. Factory Reset Roku TV to clear up some space.

Let's now take a quick look at the many instances of Roku TV becoming slow:

Scenario	Causes and Fixes
Roku TV slow to stream content	Network issue; refresh the network by restarting the Router. Switch the network bands
Roku TV Interface slow	Software issue; power cycle the TV. Ensure to keep the TV updated
Roku TV became slow after installing app	Low memory; remove unwanted apps or factory reset the TV
Roku TV slow to respond to remote commands	Faulty Remote; check and change the batteries. If broken, replace the remote
Other scenarios	Change the bit rate of the Roku TV. Contact customer support

Below, I've compiled all the best tips and fixes to make your Roku TV run fast again:

How do Roku TVs Slow down?

Before we explore the many tried-and-tested tips and fixes to implement when your Roku TV turns slow, let's take a quick look at how and why a Roku TV slows down.

The obvious, and oftentimes the more probable, reason is age. With age, as with any other modern gadget, the Roku TV, too, becomes slow. There's no escaping this fact.

But at times, the slowing down may not have anything to do with age.

Here are some of the most observed reasons for a Roku TV to slow down:

1. Software issues resulting from nascent bugs
2. Slow network connections
3. Unresponsiveness owing to faulty remote
4. Glitchy interface resulting from a lack of updates
5. Apps that are just outdated
6. Exhausting the device memory with unwanted stuff

And that's pretty much most of the culprits that can trigger the Roku TV to become slow.

Now that you know the reasons behind this issue, let's explore the fixes and tips that will enlist you in keeping these inconsistencies at bay:

Check the Internet Connectivity

Never ignore the possibility of a slow internet connection, especially when you experience buffering issues while streaming. There are several ways to fix Wi-Fi issues on Roku TV.

An unstable internet will make Roku TV sluggish and also render apps/channels slow to open, deluding you into assuming the lag is a hardware issue.

You can ensure of the same right from the Roku interface, the signal strength that is:

• On the Home screen, click and open the Settings icon.

• Click on Network, and then About. Here, you can see the signal strength and the download speed, along with other network info.

• Test your connection for more accurate analysis by selecting the Check Connection option.

If the feedback for strength and download speed is good or excellent, you're good to go. On the other hand, if it's fair or bad, it me the network connection may not be as sound as it should be.

In case of a bad internet connection, try verifying the issue with another device, say your mobile, by testing the network with an internet speed tester software.

If the speeds are all over the place, refresh the router/modem.

Unplug the router/modem and plug it in after a few seconds (approx. 30 seconds). Test the connection again and check for problems.

If you still have problems, read on!

Switch to a Wider Bandwidth for Better Latency

Network congestion is a major red flag when it comes to streaming since this can lead to increased latency.

This means that if the traffic in your network is high, you may experience lagging and buffering issues, mainly due to inadequate bandwidth allocation.

If you have found the latency to overshoot, switch the network on your Roku TV to a wider bandwidth if your router supports dual-band networks.

To change the network on your Roku TV, follow these steps:

• On the Settings tab, click and open Network.

• Click on Set up connection and select Wireless.

• Select the 5 GHz band network and enter the password.

Change the WiFi Channel on Your Router

WiFi bands rely on allotted channels to establish a connection and communicate with the devices. And there are a good few channels available for either WiFi Band.

Albeit, not all channels are built the same. Most of them are susceptible to interference resulting from adjacent channels.

And this may precisely be the reason for latency to overshoot on your network.

To rectify this issue, change the channel for your network from the router portal.

Here's how to do so:

• Connect the router to your PC via an ethernet or USB cable. Enter the IP address of your router into the browser.

• Once the portal screen appears, enter the user ID and password to log in to your account.

• Open the Wireless Channel menu from the Advanced Settings options.

• Make sure the 2.4 GHz band is allocated to either the 1^st, 6^th, or 11^th channel. Select the lowest available channel for the 5 GHz band.

• Save the changes and log out of the portal. Restart the router/modem, and connect the Roku TV to the network.

Switch to a Wired Connection

A wired connection is minimally affected by interference and traffic issues compared to a wireless connection.

It is recommended to establish a wired connection if the wireless alternative seems to fail you.

To connect a Roku TV via a wired connection:

• After connecting the Ethernet cable, head over to the Settings menu on Roku TV.

• Click on Network and select Set new connection.

• Click on Wired, and the device will automatically set up the connection.

Update Your Roku TV

Running your Roku TV on expired firmware can make the device susceptible to slow interfaces and lagging apps.

Bugs and errors that can influence the optimal working of your device interface are introduced into the systems mainly due to a lack of updates.

Hence, keeping the Roku TV running on the most current firmware version is vital to staving off any such inconsistencies.

To update your Roku TV to the latest version:

• On the Settings tab, click and open System.

• Click on System Update, and then select Check Now to manually check for updates.

If there are any updates available after the scan, install them. Restart the device and then check for issues.

Restart your Roku TV

Now, even though this step is easier done than said, there is more than one way in which you can refresh your Roku TV.

A restart/refresh can make all the temporal bugs disappear, along with refreshing the cache memory.

More times than you'd guess, an overflowing cache can make the system elements, especially the apps/channels, slow.

The easiest method is to perform a power cycle test on your Roku device. Simply unplug the TV and plug it back in after a few seconds.

Another way is to restart the device using the interface commands on the Roku TV.

• On the Settings tab, click and open System.

• Click on Power, and then the System restart.

• Click on Restart to confirm the process.

Restarting Using Button Pushes on the Remote Control

Another method to restart the system is to follow a series of button pushes on your remote.

Follow this pattern on the remote to restart the TV if you can't access the system interface:

• Press the Home button five times.

• Then press the Up button, followed by pressing the rewind button two times.

• Finally, press the fast-forward button two times.

After a few seconds, the display will turn OFF and turn back ON to complete the restart.

Issues with the Remote

At times, the fault may not entirely rest on the Roku TV. On some occasions, the remote control may be the culprit behind this seemingly meaningless slow interface.

Check if the remote has sufficient power by checking the batteries. If the commands sent by the remote seem to get delayed, consider changing the batteries.

You could also unpair the remote with the TV and reconnect to refresh the connection. To do so, follow these steps:

• Turn OFF the TV and remove the batteries from the Remote control.

• After turning the TV back ON, reinsert the batteries and hold down the pairing button next to the battery compartment. When the LED starts to blink, wait for the onscreen prompts.

• Follow the onscreen prompts to establish a connection.

If there is a problem with the remote hardware, you may have to replace the remote with a new one.

Verify such an issue by checking the connection with another remote. If there are no problems, your previous remote may be damaged.

You can either go for a Roku proprietary remote or a universal one, like the Logitech Harmony 650.

Change the Bit Rate Using the Secret Menu

Apps/channels like Netflix and HBO MAX are complete data hogs since they require higher bandwidth for proper operability.

This can be an issue, especially if you have a multitude of devices connected to the same network as the Roku TV.

A probable yet a bit technically demanding solution is to change the bit rate of the device.

This can be helpful for some apps and channels, but most of the streaming giants, like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, etc., have network-based auto adjustments within the channel.

To override the bit rate menu on your Roku TV, follow these steps.

• On your Roku Remote, press these buttons in tandem- Home button (x5 times), Fast Forward button (x2 times), and Reverse button (x3 times).

• Once these button pushes have been made, the Roku Secret Menu will pop up.

• Select the Bit Rate Override Menu.

• Here, you can change the bit rate according to your convenience.

Try the 3 Mbps option if the speeds are unstable. Although, the Automatic option may also be helpful.

Remove and Re-add the Channels Causing the Issue

If the problem is with a channel, remove the app and then re-add it from the channel store.

Sometimes channels can perform sluggishly, mostly due to bugs that may have come bundled with them.

Removing the channel will clear those stagnant bugs and errors. To do so, follow these steps:

• On the Home Screen, hover over the said channel.

• Press the * button on the remote to bring up the channel options menu.

• Select the Remove Channel option from the bottom of the menu.

• Click on Remove to delete the channel.

After removing the channel, restart the device. Head over to the channel store and search for the channel in the Streaming Channels section.

Factory Reset the Roku TV

A reset might just be what the device needs to clear off all the clumped-up cache memories and altered preferences. Resetting may also make the device faster.

To reset the device, follow these steps on the Roku TV:

• On the Settings tab, click and open System.

• Select the Advanced System Settings option.

• Click on Factory Reset.

• Enter the special code from the bottom right corner of the screen, then click OK.

Wait for the process to complete. Set up the TV and check if it has become snappy.

Final Thoughts

Availability of memory is capital when talking about a snappy interface. Hence, it is imperative to remove any unwanted or unused apps to free up space and cache memory.

Ensure to check for updates on your TV routinely.

If your Roku TV is still slow to respond, contact the customer services of Roku or the TV manufacturer for assistance.

Older TVs tend to slow down with time, so all you can do is replace them.

You could also opt for a standalone Roku device if you miss the Roku experience.

Happy Streaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is Netflix lagging on my Roku TV?

If Netflix seems to buffer on your Roku TV, first, check the stability of the network. Weak signal strengths and slow network speeds can render streaming online a taxing affair. Also, ensure to keep the app updated at all times.

Is Roku 4K 120Hz?

Premium Roku offerings such as the Roku Ultra offer streaming up to 4K. When it comes to frame rates, Roku TVs from reputed brands offer 120 Hz offerings but not all of them support this feature.

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