Why Your Roku Keeps Turning Off Randomly (And How to Fix It)

The Roku line of streaming devices has many features that aren’t necessarily obvious. Some can be incredibly useful, like the built-in Bluetooth support for night owls, while others may not be everyone’s cup of tea, like the recently added AI slop Roku channel. There’s one feature in particular that could reduce your time in Roku City without you even knowing it, but the solution is simple.

If your Roku randomly turns off without your permission, the culprit is likely the device’s automatic power saving feature. When this setting is enabled, your Roku will enter low power mode after 20 minutes when you are not streaming or monitoring content. In turn, it will attempt to turn off the TV it is connected to.

When this happens, you can wake your Roku by turning on the TV, pressing a button on the Roku remote, controlling it from the mobile app, or streaming content through Airplay or apps like YouTube. However, you can also make it so that your Roku never needs to be woken up in the first place.

Not all Roku devices support the automatic power saving feature, but the following do:

• Roku Express 4K, Model 3940

• Roku Express 4K+, model 3941

• Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Model 3820

• Roku Streaming Stick 4K+, Model 3821

• Roku 4, model 4400

• Roku Ultra, models 4800, 4802 and 4850

• Roku Ultra LT, model 4801

If you have one of these models, you can disable the feature by doing the following:

1. Press Home on the Roku remote.

2. Select Settings.

3. Select PowerSO Automatic energy savings.

4. Uncheck the box next to After 20 minutes of no interaction.

If you ever end up resetting your Roku, you will need to adjust this feature again.

If you continue to experience this problem or your device does not support the power saving feature, then you should check for connection issues. Make sure your Roku and TV are both plugged into a reliable power source. Your TV’s USB port may not provide enough power to run your Roku, so try plugging the streaming box directly into the wall. Double-check that the HDMI connection between the two is good. Unplug and plug everything back in to confirm there are no loose connections.

The Roku remote is another potential cause. Test this by removing its batteries and seeing if the power problem persists. If it stops, try replacing the batteries in your remote and cleaning the buttons. Also make sure your Roku remote is programmed correctly.

It’s also possible that your TV uses its own power saving feature, independent of the Roku. Depending on the manufacturer, the location of this setting varies, so it’s best to look up your model online or consult the manual.

The problem could also be caused by another device connected to your TV that uses HDMI-CEC, which allows connected devices to send control signals to each other. To check if this is the problem, try unplugging all HDMI devices from your TV and see if the TV continues to turn off. From there, you can plug in devices one by one until the problem reappears. When this is the case, find the CEC settings on the problematic device and disable the feature.