How to Connect a Roku to a Different Wi-Fi Network

To connect a Roku to a different Wi-Fi network, press Home on the remote, go to Settings > Network > Set up connection, and choose Wireless. Pick the new network from the list, enter its password, and select Connect. If the network is not listed, select Scan again. The same menu path applies to Roku players, Streaming Sticks, Streambars and Roku TVs.

The rest of this guide covers what to have ready, each step in detail, how to confirm the switch worked, and what to do on a hotel network, with a phone hotspot, with an Ethernet cable, or when the Roku refuses to connect.

What you need before you switch

• The new network name. This is also called the SSID, which is simply the name a router broadcasts. Roku suggests checking the Wi-Fi settings on a phone or computer that is already on that network, or the label on the bottom of the router for the default name.
• The new network password. It is the same password your phone or laptop uses. The default one is often printed on the router label. If you have forgotten it, your internet provider or router maker can help.
• A working way to control the Roku. The Roku remote is the simplest. The Roku mobile app has limits when you change networks, which are explained in the FAQ below.
• The Roku within range of the new router. A network that is too far away may not appear in the list at all.

One thing to expect: a Roku uses one network connection at a time, so it leaves the current network when it joins the new one. Anything that is streaming will stop until the new connection is up.

How to switch a Roku to a new Wi-Fi network

These steps follow Roku’s current support article, How to connect your Roku streaming device to the internet.

1. Press the Home button on your Roku remote. This returns you to the Home screen from any app.
2. Scroll to Settings and press OK.
3. Select Network.
4. Select Set up connection.
5. Choose Wireless. The Roku scans and shows a list of nearby Wi-Fi networks.
6. Select the network you want to join. If it is missing, select Scan again to reload the full list.
7. Type the password with the on-screen keyboard. Passwords are case-sensitive, so use the keyboard’s shift key for capital letters. Roku also offers a Show password option so you can see what you are typing.
8. Select Connect. The Roku joins the network and then shows your network information.

Menu wording can differ a little between Roku OS versions. One of Roku’s own articles still calls the option Set up new wireless connection, so if you do not see Set up connection followed by Wireless, look for that label in the Network menu instead. It leads to the same list of networks.

How to confirm the Roku is on the new network

Do not rely on the password screen closing. Check the connection directly:

1. Press Home and go to Settings > Network > About. Roku says this screen shows the status of your signal. Make sure the network name is the new one and the status reads connected.
2. Go back one screen and select Check connection. The Roku tests whether it can see the network and reach the internet, shows a green check mark for each part that passes, and then displays the result.

Roku rates the wireless signal as Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor. Here is how Roku describes each rating in its connection check article.

Signal rating	What Roku says it means	What to do
Excellent	Strong, stable signal	Nothing
Good	Reliable for most streaming; 4K may buffer now and then	Usually nothing
Fair	Weak signal	Move the Roku closer to the router or clear obstacles
Poor	Very weak signal	Restart both devices, move them closer, or use a wired connection

If the test says the network is fine but there is no internet, the problem is beyond the Roku. Roku suggests checking whether your internet provider has an outage.

Going back to the old network

There is no separate undo. Repeat the same steps, choose the previous network in the Wireless list, and enter its password if the Roku asks for it.

Connect to hotel or dorm Wi-Fi

Hotel and college networks often show a sign-in web page before they let a device online. A Roku has no web browser, so Roku provides a feature called Hotel & Dorm Connect that lets you finish that sign-in on a phone or computer.

Roku’s list of what to bring includes an activated Roku with its power adapter and remote, plus a phone or computer that has Wi-Fi and a web browser. Roku also advises making sure the software is up to date before you travel.

1. Press Home and go to Settings > Network.
2. Start a new wireless connection, as in the main steps above.
3. Choose the hotel or dorm network. Select Scan again if you do not see it.
4. Select I am at a hotel or college dorm.
5. Follow the instructions on the TV to complete the sign-in on your phone or computer. Roku says you have several minutes to do this. If it times out, select Try again.
6. Return to the Network menu and confirm that the network name is correct and the status shows Connected.

Not every Roku model supports this feature, and Roku notes that streaming quality depends on the speed of the hotel or dorm connection. Roku’s Hotel & Dorm Connect article has the full details. Only join a network you are permitted to use, and follow the property’s own sign-in terms.

Use a phone hotspot

If there is no Wi-Fi where you are, Roku says you can use your phone’s hotspot. A hotspot turns the phone’s mobile data connection into a small Wi-Fi network.

1. Turn on the hotspot in your phone’s settings and note its name and password.
2. On the Roku, go to Settings > Network > Set up connection and choose Wireless.
3. Select the hotspot’s name in the list. Use Scan again if it does not appear.
4. Enter the hotspot password and select Connect.

Watch your data. Roku warns that hotspots use mobile data and that streaming and software updates can use a lot of it. Check your plan’s limits with your wireless provider before you watch for long.

Switch to a wired connection instead

A cable avoids Wi-Fi signal problems completely. If your Roku or Roku TV has an Ethernet port, plug one end of an Ethernet cable into it and the other end into your router. Then go to Settings > Network > Set up connection and choose Wired.

Some Rokus without an Ethernet port can use a USB Ethernet adapter. Roku’s current list includes certain Streaming Stick, Express and Streambar models, and the requirements are specific: Roku says the adapter must be a 10/100 Mbps type and that gigabit adapters will not work. Check the model list and adapter details in Roku’s USB wired network article before you buy one. Not sure what yours supports? See is a Roku wireless?.

If the Roku won’t connect to the new network

Start with the simple causes. These checks come from Roku’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide.

• The network is not in the list. Select Scan again. If it still does not show up, the Roku may be too far from the router. Move them closer together and scan once more.
• The password is rejected. Re-enter it with Show password turned on and check the capital letters. Also confirm you picked the right network name, since neighbors’ networks can look similar.
• You are not sure the network works. Connect a phone, tablet or laptop to the same network. If that device cannot get online either, the fault is with the router or the internet service, not the Roku.
• Restart the Roku. Go to Settings > System > Power > System restart, or unplug the Roku for about 10 seconds. See how to restart a Roku for more ways.
• Restart the router and modem. Roku says to unplug both for about 10 seconds and plug them back in. Give them a few minutes to come back online before you try again.
• Improve the signal. Roku suggests moving the Roku and router closer together, getting them out of cabinets and enclosed spaces, and raising them onto a shelf.
• Try the 5 GHz network. Many routers broadcast two networks, one on the 2.4 GHz band and one on the 5 GHz band. Roku recommends 5 GHz when both the router and the Roku support it, because it is typically faster and less crowded. Some older or lower-cost Rokus only see 2.4 GHz networks, so a 5 GHz-only network will not appear in their list. In that case, you can set up a 2.4 GHz network on your router.

What the error codes mean

If the Roku shows a code when it fails, Roku’s troubleshooting guide groups the common ones like this:

Error codes	Likely cause	Roku’s suggested fix
14.40, 14.41	Wrong password	Check the network name and password
14.20, 14.62, 14.64, 016, 017	Weak wireless signal	Move closer to the router and restart both devices
012, 013	Ethernet problem	Reseat the cable or try another one
009	Connected to the router but no internet	Restart the Roku, router and modem

Reset the network connection

If nothing above helps, Roku offers a network connection reset. Before you use it, know what it does: it clears the Roku’s current network connection, so you will need to select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password again afterward. It is not a factory reset.

1. Go to Settings > System > Advanced system settings.
2. Select Network connection reset.
3. Select Reset connection.
4. When the Roku is ready, go to Settings > Network > Set up connection and connect to your Wi-Fi again.

A full factory reset is the last resort. It erases your settings and you have to set up the Roku from the start, so save it for when Roku’s other steps have failed. If you reach that point, see how to factory reset a Roku and what to have ready first.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change the Wi-Fi on a Roku without the remote?

Sometimes. The Roku mobile app can act as a remote, but Roku states that your phone and the Roku must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. That means the app works for this only while the Roku is still connected to its current network, with your phone on that network too. If the old network is already gone, for example after a move, the app cannot find the Roku, and a physical Roku remote is the dependable route. Once the Roku joins the new network, connect your phone to that network to keep using the app. See how to use your iPhone as a Roku remote for setup.

Will switching networks sign me out of my apps?

Changing the network is a connection setting, and Roku’s instructions for it do not mention any effect on your Roku account or installed apps. Individual streaming services manage their own sign-ins, though, so one may occasionally ask you to sign in again. If you are giving the Roku to someone else rather than just moving it, sign out of services such as Prime Video and Netflix first.

Why does my Roku suggest a different network?

When you run Check connection, Roku says an on-screen message may recommend another network if the Roku detects a stronger wireless signal. This usually happens when your router broadcasts more than one network. You can accept the suggestion or stay where you are.

Do I need to set up the Roku again after changing Wi-Fi?

No. Changing the network from Settings only replaces the connection. The full guided setup appears on a new Roku or after a factory reset. If that is your situation, see how to set up a Roku.

How fast does the new network need to be?

Roku lists 3 Mbps for standard definition, 5 Mbps for HD, and 25 Mbps or more for 4K Ultra HD. The Check connection test reports your download speed so you can compare. If the speed looks fine but video still stutters, Roku points out that other devices on the network may be using the bandwidth.

Can a Roku work without any internet connection?

Only in a limited way. Roku says that after setup you can use the device offline for HDMI, cable or over-the-air broadcasts, which applies mainly to Roku TVs. Streaming apps need an internet connection.

Next step

Once the Roku shows the new network under Settings > Network > About, run Check connection one time and note the signal rating. If it reads Fair or Poor, Roku’s guide to improving your Wi-Fi connection walks through placement and router changes that can help.