When I run into a problem where the Roku app is not connecting to my TV, I treat it like a Wi‑Fi mystery I can actually solve. I walk through a few quick checks that almost always get the app talking to my screen again.

Roku app not connecting to TV: The quick version

Step 1: Make sure Roku and phone share the same Wi‑Fi

When my Roku app doesn't pick up the TV at all, the first thing I check is that both devices are using the exact same Wi‑Fi network and not a neighbor’s or a guest network with hidden restrictions.

I open Settings > Network > About on Roku to read the network name, then match that on my phone’s Wi‑Fi screen, including whether each one is on the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band.​

Here’s the quick check I run:

• On Roku, go to Settings > Network > About and note the network name and connection status.​
• On my phone, open Wi‑Fi settings and connect to that exact same network, avoiding any “Guest” or similarly named SSIDs.​
• If the router splits 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, I put both phone and Roku on the same band so they can see each other reliably.​

Step 2: Wake, restart, and “unfreeze” your Roku

More than once, my Roku TV looked fine on screen but still refused app connections until I did a clean restart. When the app keeps spinning on “Looking for devices …”, I restart the TV or player before touching anything else on my phone.​

What I usually do:

• Turn the Roku TV fully on, then go to Settings > System > Power (or System) > System restart and confirm.​
• For stubborn cases, unplug the TV or streaming stick for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for the home screen to fully load before opening the app again.​
• If you use Fast TV Start or similar low‑power modes, try toggling them on so the TV stays more “awake” for the app.​ (Fast TV Start is only available on Roku TVs; it’s not available on streaming sticks or boxes.)

Step 3: Enable “Control by mobile apps”

A surprisingly common reason the Roku TV app does not connect to the TV comes from a disabled or locked‑down mobile‑control setting. When this setting stays on Disabled or a restricted option, the phone simply cannot talk to the TV, even on perfect Wi‑Fi.

Here’s how I check it:

• On Roku, I go to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Control by mobile apps.
• Under Network access, I change the setting to Enabled or Permissive so the Roku app and similar tools can connect over my home network.
• After I save the settings, I close the Roku app on my phone, reopen it, and refresh the Devices tab to see if the TV appears.

Step 4: Update Roku software and the Roku app

Whenever my Roku app is not connecting to my TV right after an update or after I have not used it for a while, I assume something is just out of date. Keeping both sides current removes a lot of invisible compatibility errors that only show up as “device not found” messages.​

I run this quick update loop:

• On Roku, press Home, then go to Settings > System > Software update > Check now and install any available updates.​
• On my phone, open the App Store or Google Play, search for “Roku,” and tap Update if a newer version is available.​
• After both updates finish, I restart Roku once more and fully close and reopen the Roku app for a clean handshake.

Step 5: Restart your phone and router

Plenty of people chase Roku settings for an hour and then fix everything by rebooting the phone or router. When the app previously worked and suddenly cannot see the TV, I treat it like a temporary network bug, rather than a new configuration problem.​

My reset routine looks like this:

• Restart the phone completely, not just the app, to clear stuck network services that can block local discovery.​
• Unplug the router for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and let Wi‑Fi fully come online before trying again.​
• Once the Wi‑Fi is stable, I confirm both Roku and phone reconnected to the same network, then reopen the Roku app and tap Devices.

Step 6: Fix band, guest, and privacy quirks

Some of the trickiest cases come from routers that hide devices from each other, or phones that try to be “too private” on Wi‑Fi. When the basic steps fail but streaming itself still works, I start looking at advanced network and phone features.​

Things I adjust in this phase:

• Make sure neither device is on an isolated guest network or a router mode that blocks devices from seeing each other (often called client isolation).​
• Put your Roku and phone on the same Wi‑Fi band; sometimes moving Roku to the 5 GHz network improves discovery and AirPlay or casting as well.​
• Temporarily disable Private Wi‑Fi Address or similar MAC randomization on the phone, refresh the Roku app, then turn it back on once the app finds the TV again.​

Step 7: Try manual IP, extra toggles, or a reset

When nothing else works, I treat it like a stubborn pairing problem and walk through a last set of deeper fixes. These are the moves that typically rescue edge‑case setups or older hardware.​

What I try at the end of my checklist:

• On Roku, open Settings > Network > About and note the IP address, then in the Roku app, choose Connect manually and enter that IP to see if the TV responds.​
• Double‑check power settings like Fast TV Start on Roku TVs and enable them so the TV responds to network wakeups better.​
• As a final step, back up any custom settings you care about and run a factory reset on the Roku device, then reconnect it from scratch and retry the app after setup.​

Enjoy Volley Games on Roku

Fixing a Roku app not connecting to the TV makes your whole setup feel more reliable, especially on game night. Once my Roku app sees the TV every time, I stop worrying about remotes and start thinking about what everyone wants to play next.

Volley Games on Roku turns that stable connection into a full voice-controlled game‑night lineup that lives right on your home screen. With everything working, I can jump from streaming straight into a few fast rounds just using my voice and remote as the mic.

With Volley Games on Roku, you get a ready‑to‑play collection of voice‑powered games:

• Jeopardy! transforms your living room into a quiz stage where you shout answers and chase high scores like a real contestant.
• Song Quiz fires short music clips at you and your friends and keeps everyone racing to name the song or artist first.
• Wheel of Fortune drops you into wheel spins and letter picks so you can solve the puzzle before the rest of the room.
• Karaoke turns the TV into a party screen so you can pick a track, follow the lyrics, and sing along together.

Download Volley Games on Roku and start a 7‑day free trial of the full game lineup. Set it up once, keep your Roku app and TV talking, and you’ll always have a game‑night hub ready in a few taps.

FAQs

Why is my Roku app not connecting to my TV?

Your Roku app is not connecting to your TV because your phone and Roku are on different Wi‑Fi, mobile app control is off, or something is out of date. When I hit this, I match Wi‑Fi, enable “Control by mobile apps,” and run updates first.

How do I force the Roku app to detect my Roku TV?

You force the Roku app to detect your Roku TV by refreshing Devices, matching Wi‑Fi on both, restarting them, and trying manual IP connect. I always walk that sequence in order so I do not skip an easy fix.

Can the Roku app work when my Roku TV is wired with Ethernet?

Yes, your Roku app can work on a wired Roku TV with Ethernet as long as your phone uses the same local network. My TV stays on Ethernet while my phone uses Wi‑Fi on the same router, and the app connects fine.

What should I do if the Roku app used to work but suddenly stopped?

You should treat a Roku app that suddenly stopped working as a network or update issue: restart Roku and your phone, reboot the router, and run updates. I’ve fixed most “it used to work” problems with just that reset loop.

How can I install the Volley Games app on Roku?

You install the Volley Games app on Roku by opening the Channel Store, searching “Volley,” and adding Volley Games to your channels. I pin it near the top of my home screen, so starting the official Jeopardy! for TV or Song Quiz takes only a couple of clicks.