I’m confused.
In traffic, green lights mean “Go.”
But the green lights on my Roku device aren’t letting me watch my favorite show.
Let me just grab the remote and—whoa.
Even my remote is blinking green.
Are you having the same issue?
Don’t fret. Instead…
Keep reading to discover:
- 7 quick fixes to the blinking green light of your Roku.
- How to update your Roku to get rid of the green light.
- 3 effortless ways to fix Roku remote issues when its light blinks green.
- And so much more…
Why is my Roku blinking green light?
Your Roku is blinking green light because of issues with its remote. It could be running out of battery, or it can’t pair with your Roku device. Furthermore, problems with HDMI-CEC and interference can also cause the green blinking lights.
Roku blinking green light: 7 fixes
#1: Power cycle
Growing up, there’s 1 thing I always did to fix my broken gadgets…
And that’s to restart them.
Guess what?
It almost always works.
Only when I grew up that I find out why.
Turns out, restarting allows the stuck processes on your device to reset.
Here’s the thing:
A normal restart wouldn’t do.
Turning your TV off and on will still leave some charges behind. And you need to get rid of all of them.
So, how can you correctly restart a device?
You power cycle it.
This is how:
For Roku TVs
- Turn your TV off.
- Remove it from the socket.
- Wait for 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
- Turn it on.
For Roku streaming devices
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Head to System.
- Tap Power.
- Select System Restart.
#2: Pair your remote
Where’s the green blinking light coming from?
Is it from the Roku device itself…
Or perhaps from the remote?
Nonetheless, green blinking usually means that Roku’s having trouble finding a remote.
You need to pair the remote to your Roku again when that happens.
How?
Note: This method is for Enhanced Roku Remotes only. If a simple Infrared (IR) Roku Remote is flashing green, you just have to replace its batteries.
- Ensure that your remote has batteries.
- Power cycle your Roku device.
- Remove the battery covers.
- Press the small button above the batteries for 3 to 5 seconds.
You’re good to go once the light on your remote flashes green again.
#3: Use your smartphone as a remote
Is your remote still flashing green?
Then maybe it’s time you abandon it…
For now, at least. Until you get a replacement remote.
In the meantime, do you know what you can do?
Use your smartphone as a remote control.
“What? I can do that?”
You can. And let me tell you…
It’s an easy and quick process too.
All you need to do is follow these directions:
Note: For this to work, you should connect the Roku device and your phone to the same network.
- Download the Roku app. (Available on Android and iOS.)
- Launch the app and go to the Devices tab.
- Look for the model of your Roku device.
Your smartphone should automatically connect to the Roku device this way.
And, if it doesn’t, you can always connect them manually.
However, you’ll need the IP Address of your Roku. If you still have access to your menu, simply follow:
Settings > Network > About.
Got the address? Then, proceed to:
- Press Get Help on the Roku app.
- Select Connect Manually.
- Enter the IP Address.
Voila. Your phone is now a remote.
These are the buttons that you should have access to when you’ve successfully connected Roku:
- Guide.
- Private.
- Options.
- Channels.
- Keyboard.
- Microphone.
- Play and Pause.
#4: Turn off HDMI-CEC
What? That pesky green lights are still flashing?
Darn it.
Maybe the problem isn’t with your remote…
But with other remotes?
Let me explain…
Have you heard of HDMI-CEC?
You haven’t? That’s okay.
In fact, it’s an expected answer. Why?
Because each manufacturer has a different name for it. Like:
- Vizio: CEC.
- AOC: E-Link.
- LG: SimpLink.
- Philips: Easylink.
- Samsung: Anynet+.
- Sony: BRAVIA Sync.
- Panasonic: HDAVI Control, EZ-Sync, or VIERA Link.
Anyway, CEC is a really handy feature that allows 1 remote to control all devices connected to a TV.
Sounds great. On paper.
In practice, it’s glitchy. Manufacturers haven’t worked out all the kinks of it yet.
For example, what happens if there’s a remote overlap? Or what happens when your TV gets wind of a remote signal from your neighbors?
A lot of things can happen…
Mostly bad. And 1 of them is a green blinking light on your Roku Remote.
To fix, you’ll need to turn off CEC. Both for your TV and the Roku streaming device.
Samsung
- Press Home on your remote.
- Under Settings, go to General.
- Select External Device Manager.
- Toggle off Anynet+.
Sony
- Press Settings on your remote.
- Go to External Inputs.
- Head to BRAVIA Sync Settings.
- Toggle off Auto Devices.
- Select Off to confirm.
LG
- Press Settings on your remote.
- Go to General.
- Head to SimpLink.
- Toggle off SimpLink.
Roku
- Press Home on your remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Under System, head to Control Other Devices (CEC).
- Select and disable System Audio Control.
- Disable 1-Touch Play.
You may also be interested in: Does Roku Work On Any TV?
#5: Update Roku
Outdated firmware is also known to cause green blinking on Roku devices.
In this case, what should you do?
Update your Roku, of course.
And, to do so, you have 2 choices.
Through Settings
Updating through the Settings menu is the easy way.
All you have to do is:
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Under System, select System Update.
- Tap Check for Updates to trigger an update if there’s a new one.
And done.
Now, what if your Roku has no access to the internet?
With a flash drive
You can also update your Roku with a flash drive. But it’s a little more hassle than the Settings method.
My advice?
Strap in.
This will be easy, but it’ll be long.
And it’ll be worth it. I promise.
Step 1: Get the right USB
- Buy a flash drive that has at least 2 Gb of storage.
- Connect the flash drive to your PC.
- Right-click on the USB folder.
- Select Format.
- Change the format type to FAT32.
Step 2: Download the update
- Visit this website.
- Enter the Model and Serial Number of your Roku device.
- Press Download Software.
- You should now see a prompt asking for a 12-digit code.
- Copy the file to your USB.
Step 3: Go to your Roku TV
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Under System, select System Update.
- Tap I Can’t Connect.
You should now see a 12-digit code on your screen.
Under that, there’s another prompt asking for a different 6-digit code.
Step 4: Get the code
- Enter the 12-digit code into the empty prompt.
- The website should now show a 6-digit code.
- Write the 6-digit code to the prompt on your TV.
And, phew. You’re all set.
Enjoy your updated Roku.
#6: Factory reset Roku
Now, as a last resort…
You can also factory reset your Roku device.
What does that mean exactly?
A factory reset will:
- Unlink your TV from the Roku device.
- Reset your Roku to a state of initial setup.
- Remove your settings changes and personal preferences.
- Deletes all apps, including streaming services like Hulu or Netflix.
Most importantly, it’ll get rid of errors and glitches on your device that nothing else can erase.
Convinced? Now, start to:
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Go to Settings.
- Under System, head to Advanced System Settings.
- Select Factory Reset.
Then follow the on-screen instructions.
After that, your Roku is good as new.
Do you want a video to go along with the written instructions? I got you:
#7: Contact Roku
Ever felt like giving up?
Look up. There’s always someone to help you.
All you need to do is ask.
In this case, you can contact Roku to request assistance.