Now that’s weird.
Your Roku was fine yesterday, but now this odd purple light keeps blinking on your device.
Hmm…
What could be the problem?
And can you fix this?
Now, allow me to answer your questions.
And solve this mystery as a detective would.
Continue reading to find out:
- 7 lifesaving solutions to stop this issue.
- The most common reasons why this problem happens.
- How you can factory reset your device to stop this blinking purple light.
- And this is just the beginning…
Why is my Roku blinking purple light?
Your Roku is blinking purple light because the device is glitching. This issue can also be caused by a bug on the Roku’s micro SD card. And in other cases, insufficient power can also make the Roku device blink purple light.
Roku blinking purple light: 7 fixes
#1: Conduct a system restart
All technological devices are prone to glitches and bugs.
And that stands true even for your Roku.
See, over time, minor issues in your Roku system can pile up to bigger ones.
And when your device reaches its limit…
It’ll start showing signs and indications that it needs to rest.
Like the blinking purple light you’re seeing now.
However, the good thing about this is that…
It’s effortless to make your Roku “rest.”
See, all you need to do is…
Restart your Roku device:
- On your remote, tap Home.
- Select Settings.
- From the list, click System.
- Tap Power > System Restart.
Easy-peasy, right?
Now, simply wait for your Roku to turn ON again.
And observe if you’re still seeing the purple light.
If the problem still occurs, then…
#2: Plug your Roku into the outlet
Note: This fix only applies if your Roku device uses the TV as its power source. Excluding Roku streaming sticks.
So if you have a Roku model like the:
And it’s not plugged into your wall outlet, then proceed with this fix.
See, the fact that we can power up devices through USB connections is so convenient, isn’t it?
For example, you can charge your phone by using a laptop.
And you can even power your Roku up by simply plugging it into the TV.
But hold on, I have some complaints about the latter scenario.
See, if your Roku isn’t using a wall outlet as its power source…
Simply speaking, it won’t get enough energy to work efficiently.
So while your TV can indeed make your Roku device turn ON…
It’ll encounter different problems along the way. Like the blinking light issue that you currently have.
So what you need to do now is to…
Plug your Roku device into an outlet:
- Turn the TV OFF.
- Disconnect your Roku from its USB cable.
- Unplug the other end from the TV.
- Get the original power cord of your Roku.
- Connect your device to the cable.
- Plug the charger into the wall outlet.
Now, try streaming on your Roku for a couple of minutes.
And if you can still see the purple blinking light…
#3: Turn OFF your screensaver
Without a doubt, screensavers are such lifesavers, right?
See, they help ensure that your TV doesn’t accidentally stay ON throughout the night…
Even if you were to fall asleep while watching a movie.
However, just like your Roku can have glitches and bugs…
Screensavers can also have these in their system.
And when that happens…
You’ll see a purple blinking light on your device.
Now, fortunately, solving this problem is a piece of cake.
Because to fix this, all you need to do is…
Disable your Roku’s screensaver:
- Click Home on your remote control.
- Go to Settings.
- From the list, select Theme > Screensavers.
- Click Change wait time.
- Tap Disable screensaver.
- Restart your Roku.
You might also want to know: Do I Need A Roku For Each TV? 5 Simple Workarounds
#4: Ensure that your Roku is up to date
Updates are crucial for apps, software, and streaming devices.
In fact, they’re what fuel your Roku to continue running and work properly.
See, without regular updates, your Roku won’t be able to:
- Run and work efficiently.
- Remain compatible with your apps.
- Protect itself from major glitches and bugs.
And apart from these…
If your Roku isn’t updated, it can also display light indications on its unit.
Sometimes it’s white, blue, and in other cases, it’s purple.
So the fact that you’re still seeing the blinking light now means that you have to…
Update the system of your Roku:
- Click Home on your remote control.
- Find and select Settings.
- From the list, select System.
- Choose System update.
- Click Check Now.
- Wait for the process to finish.
Now, if you’re thinking…
“I thought Roku devices are supposed to update automatically.”
You’re right.
But remember that your streaming device’s automatic update feature isn’t always perfect.
See, your Roku will stop updating automatically if you’ve:
- Disconnected your Roku device for long periods.
- Installed a non-certified channel from other sources.
- Installed any channel from Roku’s official channel website.
With that, it’s best to regularly check if your Roku’s up to date.
So you can avoid having problems like this blinking light in the future.
#5: Remove your device’s microchip
If your device doesn’t have an SD card, skip this solution.
But if your Roku has a microchip in its unit…
Then you should follow along with this fix.
Now, it’s not a secret that micro SD cards help you get the most value from your streaming device.
See, many Roku models like the Roku Ultra 4K streaming player only get 2 GB of storage.
But with a microchip, you can easily expand your device’s memory to 32 GB of extra space.
This means you can add more apps and games to your Roku.
Not to mention, you can also save more movies and shows for offline viewing.
However, like all components of technology…
Even an SD card can’t escape the terrors of bugs and glitches.
So if you’re still seeing that blinking purple light, you need to…
Remove your Roku’s SD card:
- Unplug your Roku device from the outlet.
- Leave it unplugged for 1 hour.
- Disconnect the HDMI cable from your Roku unit.
- Find the microchip slot on your device.
- Gently push the micro SD card to eject it from the Roku.
- Pull it out.
Note: Removing an SD card from your Roku doesn’t delete any apps or games from it.
And now that your Roku doesn’t have its micro SD card…
Connect the HDMI cable to your Roku again. And plug it back into the wall outlet.
Once your Roku boots up, observe the unit.
And if you can still see the blinking purple light, then…
#6: Conduct a factory reset
Stubborn problems need forceful solutions.
So if you still can’t get rid of that purple light on your Roku…
Then you need to conduct a factory reset.
“What’s that?”
It’s the most thorough reset you can do to any device or gadget.
See, this process removes all your data from your Roku, including:
- Your custom settings.
- Your preferences and accounts.
- Any channels or apps you’ve installed on your device.
On top of these…
It can also remove the uncooperative glitches and bugs.
That didn’t budge even when you did the previous fixes.
And with that in mind…
There are 2 ways to factory reset your Roku:
- Through the Settings menu.
- Through the physical buttons on the device.
“Which 1 is easier?”
They’re both simple to do, but I recommend following the first method.
Because all you need to do is click a couple of remote buttons for that 1.
With that said…
Here’s how you can factory reset your Roku
Through the Settings:
- Tap the Home button on your remote control.
- Head to Settings.
- Click System.
- Tap the Advanced system settings.
- Click Factory reset, or Factory reset everything.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Through the physical buttons:
- Turn ON your Roku.
- Find the RESET button on the device.
- Press and hold this button.
- Let go after 10 seconds.
- Wait for Roku’s indicator light to blink.
Note: For Roku devices with a pinhole reset button, use a paperclip or needle to press it.
After resetting your Roku to its factory defaults…
You need to set it up again.
And if you need a guide on how you can do that once more, simply watch this video:
You might also be interested in: Does Roku Work On Any TV? 5 Surprising Answers
#7: Contact Roku
Now, if none of the mentioned solutions could stop the blinking purple light on your device…
That means your Roku has serious software or hardware issues.
And to troubleshoot these types of problems, you need the assistance of professionals.
This means you should…
Contact Roku themselves:
- Go to Roku’s official “Contact Us” website.
- Select Questions about setup or using my Roku from the drop-down menu.
- Select the Roku product that you have.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
And if you’re thinking…
“Can I call Roku directly?”
Yes, you can. But before you do, bear in mind that…
Roku’s customer support is only available from 6 AM to 8 PM Pacific time.
So dial them at 1-816-272-8106 during that time of the day.