Roku is a streaming device that lets you install all of the most popular streaming channels like YouTube. But sometimes the YouTube app can stop working on Roku tv and you will be left with troubleshooting worries.
YouTube users have encountered this issue many times and it can be a little frustrating at first.
When the YouTube app is not working on Roku it can manifest in a few different ways.
The YouTube app can’t be launched, you are not able to play any videos, or you’re not able to log in to your YouTube account.
Possible causes for not being able to open the YouTube TV apps can be no internet connection on your device, YouTube account problems, or YouTube servers being down.
YouTube not working on Roku
If YouTube is not working on your Roku streaming device you need to make sure your device has an internet connection. Check your internet connectivity using other devices connected to the same network as your Roku and make sure you have a stable internet connection.
Once you’ve checked your internet connection and made sure everything works ok there you can check the other solutions if you still have issues.
Sometimes you can even have a similar issue with another app like Disney+. , but the solutions are easy and somewhat similar.
Check Roku internet connection
For the best viewing experience, Roku recommends a minimum download speed of 3.0 Mbps for standard definition and 9.0 Mbps for HD content.
A slow internet connection can cause buffering, lagging, or de-sync between audio and video.
You can test your internet speed at speedtest.net.
Just open the link on your phone or tablet while you are connected to the same network as your Roku device, stay near the Roku TV to simulate the same connection conditions, and run the test.
Be aware that internet speed is not everything, you also need a stable internet connection. If the speed is good but the connection drops every few minutes then your YouTube app will not work properly.
My advice would be to run the tests a few different times during the day to see if the speed is consistent or if a high variation happens throughout the day.
If your test result bandwidth is constantly under the values required by Roku you should contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to troubleshoot.
To make sure the internet connection is good on your Roku device you should always check the status in the device settings. To do this go to HOME > SETTINGS > NETWORK > ABOUT.
Check the signal strength row, it should be Excellent or Good. Anything else besides that means you have an unstable internet connection.
You can also run a network check by choosing the Check connection option from that page.
A low internet connection can be the cause of your issues with the YouTube app.
On the same screen, you can also see your internet speed. Make sure the speed is above the minimum required speed, which is 9.0 Mbps for HD content.
Check if YouTube servers are down
If YouTube app is still not working on your Roku device maybe the issue is not on your side and it’s just a temporary server issue.
Even if this doesn’t happen very often it’s still something that happens from time to time to all streaming services.
To see if this is a server issue you can try to access the YouTube app on your other devices like a smartphone or computer.
If the app is not working there either then it’s most definitely a problem with the servers.
When this happens all you can do is wait for the servers to come back up.
You can also check sites like Downdetector to see if the servers are down.
Reset modem/router
If your internet isn’t working then you might want to reset the modem. You can either reset the modem or router depending upon what the problem is.
If you’re using a router and the Roku device is connected to it then you will want to reset it first before checking out the modem.
You can reset your router by unplugging it from power, waiting for at least 30 seconds, and plugging it back in.
Once the router is done restarting you can check to see if internet is restored and working correctly.
You can check in on both your Roku device and on another device connected to the same network.
Reset modem
If your router is connected to a modem and you’re still having issues after restarting the router you will want to do the same thing with the modem.
Same as with the router unplug it from power, wait for at least 30 seconds and then plug it back in.
Wait for it to finish the restart and reconnection to the internet, but also wait for the connection between modem and router to be restored.
Routers and modems usually also have reset buttons on them, you can just check the back of the device or under it until you locate the button and press and keep it pressed for a few seconds.
After that wait for the restart process to finish and the wi-fi internet connection to be restored.
Your Roku devices should reconnect to the wireless network and then you can check if YouTube is not working.
Software update your Roku
Running on an old version of the Roku software can cause these YouTube app issues. You always want to make sure the device is updated to the latest software version.
To do a software update follow these steps:
- Go to Home screen
- Go to the Settings menu
- Select the System option from menu
- Select System Update
- Check if an update is available and install it
After the update is complete check to see if the YouTube app is still not working on your Roku TV.
Reinstall the YouTube app
If none of the other fixes work you can try to reinstall the YouTube channel. You can do that by following these steps:
- Go to Home screen
- Locate the YouTube app
- Hit the asterisk (*) button on the remote
- Select the Remove channel option
- Click OK button
Once the app is uninstalled turn your Roku device off and back on, then go to Roku channel store section and install the YouTube app again.
This way you will also make sure you use the latest version of the app.
Restart your Roku TV
YouTube not working on Roku TV is something that happens to a lot of users, and usually, the easiest way of handling the issue is doing a Roku streaming device restart.
There are 2 ways of doing a restart on your Roku. A restart of the device can clear the Roku cache memory and clear these temporary app issues.
One of the ways you can do a restart is by pressing a combination of buttons on your remote in quick order. Here are the steps for doing the restart:
- Press the Home button on your remote 5 times.
- Press the Up button 1 time
- Press the Rewind button 2 times
- Press the Fast Forward button 2 times
After pressing all the buttons on your Roku remote just wait for a few seconds. The TV will boot up again.
After the restart, you can check and see if the YouTube channel issue is fixed or not. If the issue is not fixed you can try a restart from the Roku device system settings page.
To do a restart from the Roku system settings follow these steps:
- Go to Roku Home screen
- Select Settings option
- Select the System tab from the Settings screen
- Select the Power option from the system menu
- Select System Restart option
- Select Restart
Once the restart is complete check the YouTube app and see if the issue is fixed.
Roku and YouTube TV contract issue
YouTube TV app offers you access to live TV from major broadcasters and cable networks, but it’s a subscription-based service so you need to pay a fee if you want to use it.
In 2021 YouTube and Roku had a disagreement regarding the terms of service so the YouTube TV app was not available on Roku devices for a few months.
The issue between them has been settled and the YouTube TV app is now back on Roku devices and can be downloaded again, so you shouldn’t be affected by this anymore.
But if you had issues with the YouTube TV app in that time period now you know why.
YouTube TV app will work without any issues right now as the dispute was finished so you should be able available for download for Roku users.
Unplug Roku from the wall power outlet
The easiest way of doing a soft reset to your Roku device is to do a power cycle and completely unplug power from your device.
All you have to do is unplug the Roku device from the power outlet, wait for at least 1 minute and then plug it back in.
When doing this kind of reset the important part is to wait at least 60 seconds without plugging the Roku back in so any residual power inside the device is drained before you plug it back in.
After you plug the Roku back in check if you can access YouTube TV without issues.
Reset Roku to factory settings
If doing a soft reset didn’t work you can try a full Roku reset to factory settings.
This will wipe all the data, all your custom settings, and downloads from your device and you will have to log back into any accounts you’re using on your TV.
- Go to Roku Home screen
- Select Settings from the menu options
- Choose System
- Scroll down and select Advanced system settings
- Select Factory Reset everything
- Enter the code shown on the screen to do the factory reset
After the factory reset is done check to see if the reset got YouTube working again.
The bottom line
YouTube not working on Roku TV is something that happens on a lot of Roku devices and a lot of Roku users had to deal with this problem.
Fortunately, there are a few quick and easy things you can try that will help you access YouTube tv on your Roku streaming device.
Here are a few things you can try:
- Restart Roku device
- Factory reset your Roku device
- Reinstall YouTube app
- Restart Wi-Fi router / modem
- Update Roku OS
- Check if YouTube servers are down