(9 Fixes) Netflix Not Working On Roku [Updated 2023]

It was supposed to be your rest day.

So you turned on your Roku player to watch Netflix.

But the app isn’t even working.

So instead of getting to relax, you’re now stressed out.

But don’t worry.

You can fix this issue easily.

How?.

Continue reading to find out:

9 effective ways to fix Netflix on your Roku player.
The danger of not keeping your Roku and Netflix up to date.
How to reset your Roku’s internet to stream Netflix without buffers.
And a lot more…

Why is Netflix not working on my Roku?

Netflix isn’t working on your Roku because of network connection issues. You may reset your modem and router to fix that. If your Roku player has an ethernet port, you may also connect it directly to your modem. Also, the Netflix app may be glitching. To fix that, you may delete then reinstall it.

Netflix not working on Roku: 9 fixes

#1: Check if Netflix is down

There are plenty of reasons why Netflix is the number 1 streaming service globally.

For one, it’s an industry pioneer.

It also has an impressive library of movies and original series.

And it has a reliably steady uptime.

However, no streaming service is immune to outages. And while rare, it also happens with Netflix.

So the first thing to check if it isn’t working on Roku is if it’s down.

Netflix has a dedicated page for that on its official website.

In addition, you may also check from 3rd party websites such as:

Another way to check is by trying to stream from another device.

You may try the Netflix app on your phone or laptop. Or you may try to stream via a web browser.

If you still can’t stream using other devices, then there really is a problem on Netflix’s end.

The best you can do is wait until service is restored. You won’t have to wait long, though.

Those rare Netflix outages generally only last several minutes. So simply check back after a short while.

#2: Check for network connection issues

One of the great things about Netflix is you have several streaming options.

If you’d like to stream in Standard Definition (SD), you’d only need about 1 Mbps.

If you prefer High Definition (HD), you’d need 3 to 5 Mbps. And 15 Mbps to stream in 4K.

Now, if your video is buffering, you’re likely having network connection issues.

You can actually check your network status through the Netflix app. The steps are really easy.

How to check your connection status on Netflix

Go to the Netflix Home screen.
Look for the Get Help option and select it.
Select Check Your Network.

There are 2 things you’ll see when you check your network:

Your internet speed.
Whether you’re connected to the internet.

Now if your speed is slower than Netflix’s requirement, you may do a power cycle on your modem and router.

A power cycle is a process of resetting an electronic device. It’s simple. But very effective in resolving technical issues.

How to do a power cycle on your modem and router

Unplug your modem and router from the outlet.
Wait for about 30 seconds.
Plug both devices back in.

After that, wait for all light indicators to stop blinking. Look for the “Internet” light and make sure it’s green and steady.

Then you can go ahead and try to stream again.

#3: Reset your Roku’s network connection

Doing a power cycle on your modem and router is one way to fix your internet.

Another way is to reset your Roku’s network connection. Because it’s also possible that your internet’s fine. But your Roku player is somehow struggling to connect.

How to reset Roku’s network connection

Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
Navigate to Settings and click it.
Select Advanced System Settings.
Look for Network Connection Reset and click it.
Click Reset Connection.

What happens after this is that your Roku device will restart. You’ll then have to reconnect to WiFi.

How to reconnect your Roku to WiFi

On your Roku remote, press Home.
Select Settings.
Navigate to Network and select it.
Select Set Up Connection.
Select Wireless.
Look for your network name on the list and click it.
Type in your network’s password.
Click Connect.

In addition, check if your Roku has an ethernet port. You may connect it directly to your modem via an ethernet cable if it has.

For your reference, here are the Roku players with an ethernet port:

And these are the Roku players that can connect via an ethernet adapter:

#4: Restart your Roku device

Now here’s another possibility. The Netflix app is actually fine. But it’s your Roku player that’s glitching.

As with any streaming device, Roku experiences temporary malfunction from time to time.

And the easy fix for that is to restart the device.

With Roku players, you have 3 options to do that:

By unplugging.
Via a remote shortcut.
Through the Settings menu.

I’ll walk you through each method.

How to restart by unplugging

Unplug both your TV and your Roku player from the outlet.
Wait for about 30 seconds to a minute.
Plug both devices back in.

How to restart via a remote shortcut

Press the Home button 5 times.
Press the Up Arrow once.
Press the Rewind button twice.
Press the Fast Forward button, also twice.

How to restart via the Settings menu

Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
Scroll down to Settings and click it.
Navigate to System and select it.
Select System Restart.
Select the Restart option.

Want to see how to do it? Then don’t hesitate and watch this video:

#5: Change your Netflix account password

Here’s another workaround that’s effective in fixing a glitching Netflix app.

Sign out of Netflix from the Roku player. Change your password. And then sign back in.

How to sign out of Netflix on Roku

Go to the Netflix Home screen.
Click the Settings icon.
Select Sign Out.
You’d be asked to confirm. Select Yes.

Now you can’t change your Netflix password through Roku. You’re going to have to do this on a phone or a laptop via a web browser.

How to change your Netflix password

From your browser, visit Netflix’s Log In Help page.
Select Email.
Enter the email address associated with your Netflix account.
Click the Email Me button.
Check your email. Click the link that Netflix sent.
Create a new password.

After doing this, relaunch the Netflix app on Roku. And sign in with your new password.

Check if you’re now able to stream.

#6: Resolve any billing issues

In some cases, Netflix stops working because it’s already past the due date. And your payment method was declined.

There have also been reports of accounts being canceled unexpectedly. Likely due to a system error.

So if you suspect that’s the case, check your subscription. You can view your billing history. Or update your payment method.

You can do this by going to Netflix’s website via a browser.

How to check your billing history

Go to Netflix’s official website and sign in.
Select Settings.
Select Billing Details.

From here, you’ll see your current subscription. You’ll also see if all your payments went through.

If your payment was declined, you may change how you pay your subscription.

How to manage your payment

Visit Netflix’s official site and sign in.
Select Settings.
Select Manage Payment Info.

You have the option to retry your payment. If it still doesn’t go through, you may choose another method.

Here are some of your options:

PayPal.
Virtual Cards.
Prepaid Cards.
Netflix Gift Cards.
Credit and Debit Cards.

#7: Install updates for Netflix and Roku

Roku actually doesn’t have the option to update apps individually.

When Roku is updated, all apps and channels are included. It’s great because it saves users a lot of time.

Roku also automatically checks for updates. According to their website, around once every 24 to 36 hours.

However, you may have been offline for a while. And your Roku and the Netflix app are likely out of date.

And when both are outdated, that’s when you experience glitches and malfunctions.

So it’s best to check and install updates manually.

These are the steps to do it:

Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
Select Settings.
Navigate to System and click it.
Select System Update.
Click the Check Now option.

If Roku finds available updates, it’ll automatically download and install them. Your device will reboot as soon as it’s finished.

#8: Delete then reinstall Netflix

Now you can’t really reset Netflix on Roku.

So if updating doesn’t work, then perhaps a fresh install would do the trick.

Deleting and reinstalling is another effective way to resolve a malfunctioning app.

And the process is really simple.

How to delete Netflix on Roku

Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
Navigate to Netflix and highlight it.
Press the Start button on your remote.
Once the Options menu appears, select Remove.
Select Remove again to confirm.

After deleting, restart your Roku device. You may refer to Fix #4.

Once your Roku’s back on, you may now reinstall Netflix.

How to reinstall Netflix

On your Roku remote, press the Home button.
Scroll down and select Streaming Channels.
Select Search Channels and type in Netflix.
Click Add Channel.

#9: Contact Netflix and Roku for customer support

So you’ve tried all of the fixes. And Netflix still isn’t working on your Roku player.

The next best step is to contact Netflix for support.

They have a live chat where you can communicate directly with an agent.

And if you believe the issue is on Roku’s end, you may also contact their support.

You might also want to know: (9 Fixes) Netflix Not Working On Smart TV