To reboot a Roku Premiere Plus (or any Roku streaming player, Streaming Stick, or Roku TV), press Home on the remote, then go to Settings > System > Power > System restart. If you don’t see Power, select System restart right under System. If the Roku is frozen, unplug its power cord for at least 10 seconds and plug it back in.
Roku calls this a system restart. It turns the device off and back on so the software starts fresh. According to Roku, it is the least invasive kind of reset and it won’t affect your settings.
What You Need Before You Start
- A way to control the Roku. The menu method needs a working Roku remote or the free Roku mobile app. The unplug method needs neither.
- Access to the power cord. For the unplug method, you need to reach the cord at the back of the Roku or at the wall outlet.
- A minute of patience. The Roku has to start up again before you can use it.
Roku no longer sells the Premiere Plus, but these steps come from Roku’s current support article and apply to it and to every current Roku TV, streaming player, Streaming Stick, Streambar, and Roku TV Smart Projector.
How to Restart a Roku From the Settings Menu
Use this method when the Roku still responds to the remote. Nothing is erased.
- Press Home on your Roku remote. This takes you to the Roku home screen.
- Scroll to Settings and select it.
- Select System.
- Select Power. If your Roku has no Power submenu, skip this step.
- Select System restart. If the Roku asks you to confirm, choose the restart option on the screen.
The screen goes dark, the Roku starts up again, and you return to the home screen after a moment. The device should be back to normal at that point.
How to Restart a Frozen Roku by Unplugging It
Use this method when the screen is frozen, the Roku is stuck on its logo, or the remote does nothing.
- Find the power cord that runs to your Roku. On a Roku TV, this is the TV’s own power cord.
- Remove the power cord from the Roku or from the wall outlet.
- Wait at least 10 seconds.
- Plug the power cord back in and wait for the home screen.
If your Roku gets its power from a USB port on the TV, unplug that USB cable instead. A player powered this way loses power whenever the TV turns off, so it already restarts each time you turn the TV on. Wall power also matters if you want to make your TV switch to the Roku Premiere Plus automatically, because the player must be on to send that request.
Roku TV owners: pressing the power button on the remote or on the TV is not a system restart. You have to use the menu steps above or pull the power cord.
How to Restart a Roku Without the Remote
You have two options when the remote is lost or dead.
- Unplug it. The power cord method above needs no remote at all.
- Use the Roku mobile app. The free Roku app for iPhone and Android includes a remote. Your phone and the Roku must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Open the app, tap your Roku when it appears in the list, then follow the same menu path: Home > Settings > System > Power > System restart. For more detail, read how to use your iPhone as a Roku remote.
To set up the app, follow How to install the Roku remote app. For security reasons, stick with the official app rather than a third-party remote.
You may also see a remote button sequence mentioned online (Home five times, Up once, Rewind twice, Fast Forward twice). Roku’s support article does not list it, so treat it as unofficial. The two methods above are the ones Roku’s support article covers.
How to Confirm the Restart Worked
A restart has worked when the Roku shows its startup screen, loads the home screen, and responds to the remote again. Open the app that was giving you trouble and check that it plays. If that app was YouTube and it still misbehaves, the sign-in and casting fixes for watching YouTube on a Roku may help.
There is nothing to undo. A system restart does not change your settings, so your Wi-Fi connection, apps, and sign-ins should be just as you left them.
Check These First If Your Roku Keeps Freezing
Start by working out whether the problem is constant or comes and goes. If it comes and goes, the cause may be the remote, the network, or the cable, and a restart alone may not fix it.
- Remote batteries. Put new matching batteries in the remote, or recharge a rechargeable Roku remote.
- Wi-Fi. If video is jerky or pixelated, stream on a phone or laptop on the same network. If that device struggles too, the network is the likely problem.
- HDMI cable. If the picture freezes now and then or looks wrong, test with a different HDMI cable. On a Roku player, you can also change the Roku display type to a lower resolution. If the picture on a Roku TV is only too dim or too bright, change the brightness on the Roku TV instead.
- Buttons on a Roku TV. Check whether the TV responds to the physical buttons on its edge. They may be on the top, bottom, or side.
What to Do If a Restart Doesn’t Help
Reset the network connection
A network reset helps when several streaming apps have problems at once, or when a Roku voice remote still won’t respond after new batteries.
Warning: a network reset makes the Roku restart and forget its wireless setup. Have your Wi-Fi name and password ready, because you will need to set up the wireless network again in Settings. Afterward, connect the Roku to your Wi-Fi network again.
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Select Settings. If you don’t see Advanced system settings there, open System first.
- Select Advanced system settings.
- Select Network connection reset.
- Select Reset connection.
If the connection still fails, the steps for connecting a Roku over Wi-Fi or Ethernet list the Wi-Fi error codes and what they mean.
Check the power and the status light
A Roku that restarts by itself or acts strangely may not be getting enough power. A flashing red light or an on-screen low-power message means the TV’s USB port isn’t supplying enough power. The most reliable fix is to plug the Roku’s USB cable into its power adapter and a wall outlet. Use the cable that came with the Roku.
A solid red light or a “Your device is overheating” message means the player is too hot. Unplug it carefully, because it may be hot. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes in a spot with good airflow before you plug it back in.
Factory reset as a last resort
Warning: a factory reset is not a restart. It erases your personal preferences, unlinks the device from your Roku account, removes all apps, and returns the Roku to its initial setup state. After that you have to set up the Roku from the beginning. You will need your Roku account email and password, your Wi-Fi password, and the sign-in details for your streaming apps to set it up again.
When you truly need one, follow the steps to factory reset your Roku. Try a system restart and a network reset first.
How to Turn Off a Roku Premiere Plus
A Roku streaming player such as the Premiere Plus has no power button and no Turn Off menu. It is designed to stay on and go idle when you are not using it. To shut it off completely, unplug its power cable once any update has finished, then plug it back in when you want to watch. Roku’s player power guide explains this.
For other common questions about this model, read the Roku Premiere Plus FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does restarting a Roku delete anything?
No. A system restart is the least invasive reset method and won’t affect your settings. Only a factory reset erases your preferences, apps, and account link.
What if there is no Power option under System?
Some Roku devices don’t have a Power submenu. On those, System restart appears directly in the System menu. Roku’s instructions say to skip the Power step if you don’t see it.
How long should I leave a Roku unplugged?
Remove the power cord for at least 10 seconds before you plug it back in. If the device is overheating, wait at least 10 minutes instead so it can cool down.
Is turning a Roku TV off and on the same as restarting it?
No. Pressing the power button on the remote or on the TV is not the same as a system restart. Use Settings > System > Power > System restart, or unplug the TV for at least 10 seconds.
Why does my Roku restart every time I turn on the TV?
It is probably powered by a USB port on the TV. The player loses power when the TV turns off, and on many TVs when the TV goes into standby, so it has to start up again each time. Plugging the Roku into a wall outlet avoids this.
Can I restart a Roku that is stuck on the Roku logo?
Yes. The menu isn’t available in that state, so unplug the power cord for at least 10 seconds and plug it back in. If it stays stuck after that, Roku’s next steps are a network reset when you can reach Settings, and a factory reset as a last resort.
Next Step
Start with the menu restart, and use the power cord only when the Roku won’t respond. For the official wording of every step here, see Roku’s How to system restart your Roku streaming device support article. If you want to tidy up your home screen once the Roku is running again, here is how to delete a channel on a Roku.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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