It is recommended to connect your Roku to a network connection with about 1.5 Mbps for SD videos and 3.0 Mbps for HD videos as the minimum downloading speed. Failing to use the desired speed causes the video to buffer on your Roku. In this scenario, you should check your Roku internet speed. This, in turn, resolves this issue and you will get an uninterrupted streaming experience.
The article uncovers the steps to check the internet speed of your Roku from the device settings itself, along with a few DIY fixes to improve the connection speed.
To Check the Internet Connection of your Home Network on Roku
- Once you switch on your device, connect Roku to your home WiFi network.
- Press the Home button on the remote and scroll to select Settings on your TV.
- In that section, choose the Network option and then click Check connection.
- After that, your device performs the connection check and reviews the signal strength as Excellent, Good, or Poor.
- It is far better if the signal strength is either Good or Excellent. If it’s poor, then the troubleshooting steps elaborated below will tackle the internet speed as quickly as possible.
This is the natural way that you can use to check the internet speed of your Roku. However, as an alternative, you can use Netflix and YouTube apps on Roku to check the internet speed of your home internet. To do that,
- Netflix: Click on the Get Help option from the Left pane > choose Check Your Network > Check Your Network Status.
- YouTube: Play a video on the app > Select Settings gear button > Choose Stats for Nerds > Check the network strength of your internet.
Tip! You can also check your Roku’s internet speed via speed test websites with the help of a PC/mobile.
Troubleshooting Tips to Improve the Internet Speed on your Roku
Upon examining the troubleshooting tips, you can follow seven different methods in sequential order to increase the speed of the network connection. As it will also recover this problem, the sooner, the better.
Placement of the Router and the Roku Player
Initially, check whether the router is placed in the correct position so that the signal strength from the Wi-Fi can be shared wisely. At the same time, ensure that the Roku device is placed only a few meters from the Wi-Fi connection and not more than that, as that can also interrupt the signal strength.
Disconnect Multiple Devices
Multiple devices on a single home network can slow down the network. It is possible that connecting the WiFi to other streaming players and gaming consoles does affect the quality of the internet connection. So, you can disconnect the idle devices while using your Roku to stream media content.
You can also disconnect the WiFi network from Roku and try checking the internet speed again to see if it’s any good.
Update the Firmware of the Router
The outdated firmware of your router can result in poor signal strength. So visit the router’s website and upgrade your router’s firmware to improve the internet performance. If you can’t find the option, then reach out to your network provider to learn how to update your router without any delay.
Update Your Roku Device
Similar to the router, you have to update your Roku device to enhance your internet speed. When the device is undergoing an update, it will acquire more protocol data and other internet upgrades. So go to settings and update your Roku device for faster internet.
Connect an Ethernet Cable
If you find the problem is the wireless connection, then you can connect your Roku TV using a wired ethernet cable to fix the cause. For a wired connection, attach one end of the cable to the ethernet jack of the Roku TV and the other end directly to the router. After that, restart your Roku TV and change the Network settings to Wired.
Note: If your router is completely out of use, then use your mobile hotspot as an alternative to connect your Roku to the internet.
Alter the Network Settings
You can make slight changes to Roku’s network settings to get the network signal back to normal. Either disabling the QoS setting or altering the DNS servers can increase the signal strength of the network connection.
Eventually, any of these methods will definitely increase the signal strength on your Roku TV.
Switch to New Network
While connecting the network, do you see the connection check showing a red X symbol? Don’t worry. This indicates that there is a minor issue with the connectivity. To overcome this, simply restart your router and switch to Wired/Wireless internet.
If everything doesn’t help, then your Roku is not receiving proper data from your home router. So to this, simply connect your Roku to a new WIFI router to get this issue solved.
Visit our community forum page to find out about internet speed-related discussions and any info regarding the Roku device.
