Roku TV Apps Not Working? Reasons & 8 Easy Fixes

When my Roku TV apps aren't working, it’s almost always the same handful of issues hiding beneath the surface. Here we'll tackle the same old repeat offenders so you can get your Roku apps running as expected.

Roku TV apps not working: Quick fixes

1. Check if it’s “just this app” or “everything”

Before fixing anything, I always figure out how bad the situation is. Is it one app not opening, or is Roku TV freaking out across the board?

Here’s what I do first when Roku TV apps are not working:

• Open 2 or 3 different apps (for example, Volley Games, Netflix, then a free channel like The Roku Channel).
• Notice the pattern:
  
  • One app won’t open, but others do → app-specific problem.
  • Multiple apps kick back to the home screen → system, memory, or OS problem.​
  • Videos won’t play or keep buffering in several apps → usually a network or bandwidth issue.​

Once I know whether the problem is local to one app or the whole system, the rest of the troubleshooting becomes much faster and less frustrating.

2. Use a clean restart to fix Roku TV apps not working 

If I had to pick the fix that helps most often, it would be a proper system restart. Simply turning the TV off isn’t enough because many Roku TVs keep the OS in a low-power state and save bad data.​​

Here’s the restart routine that usually settles flaky apps:

• Go to Settings > System > Power > System restart > Restart and let Roku reboot fully.​
• If the menu looks a bit different, go to Settings > System > System restart instead and confirm.​
• For stubborn cases, unplug the TV or Roku box for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for the home screen.​

When apps were kicking me back to the home screen over and over, a clean restart often gave me at least enough stability to open Settings and keep fixing things.

3. Make sure your internet isn’t the real villain

A lot of complaints about Roku TV apps not working end up being network problems in disguise: shows won’t start, apps load forever, or video quality looks terrible, and then the app errors out.​

I always sanity‑check the connection directly on the Roku:

• Go to Settings > Network > Check connection and run the test.​​
• Confirm that Roku says you’re connected and that signal strength is “Good” or “Excellent,” not “Poor.”​​
• If it looks bad, I:
  
  • Power-cycle the router for 30 seconds.​
  • Move the router or Roku closer, or switch from Wi‑Fi to Ethernet if the device supports it.​
  • Quickly test Wi‑Fi on another device (phone, laptop) to see if it’s slow everywhere, not just Roku.

If other devices stream fine but Roku struggles, that’s when I shift focus back to the TV’s software and storage.

4. Update Roku OS and all apps

Outdated OS and apps are a very common reason Roku TV apps stop working, especially after a big update from Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube. The good news is that a single system update can refresh a lot of things at once.​

Here’s how I bring everything up to date:

• From the Roku home screen, go to Settings > System > System update.​​
• Select Check now and let Roku look for both OS and channel (app) updates.​
• If Roku finds updates, choose Update now and wait for it to apply changes and restart.​

If a single app is acting up but others are fine:

• Highlight that app on the home screen.
• Press the star (*) button on the remote and select Check for updates to refresh just that app.​​

When Roku’s not working after you’ve ignored updates for a while, this single step often brings everything back to life.

5. Fix apps that crash or bounce back to the home screen

If certain apps open, flash a loading screen, and then throw you back to Roku’s home screen, that’s usually a sign of a corrupted app install or low memory. In those cases, I stop fighting the app and just give it a clean reinstall.​

Here’s the sequence that usually works:

1. Highlight the broken app on the home screen.
2. Press the star (*) button and choose Remove channel.​​
3. Go to Settings > System > Power > System restart and restart the Roku.​
4. After the restart, open Streaming Channels (Streaming Store/Channel Store), search for the app, and add it again.​

If Roku shows “Can’t run app” or “Insufficient memory,” that’s a big clue that storage or RAM is the issue. In that situation:​

• Remove a few (hardly used) channels to free memory
• Restart again, then test the problem app

This is also where clearing cache indirectly helps, because it frees up resources the app needs to launch.

6. Clear Roku TV cache and free up memory

Roku doesn’t give a classic “Clear cache for this app” button like a phone, but there are a couple of tricks that mimic it and help when Roku TV apps not working becomes a frequent pattern.​

Two things usually help me here:

1. Use the remote reset shortcut to clear cached data and reload the OS:
   
   • Press Home 5 times, Up 1 time, Rewind 2 times, Fast Forward 2 times, then wait while Roku restarts.​
2. Remove unused channels (especially large streaming apps and games) to relieve memory pressure that can trigger “Can’t run app” errors.​

After this combo, apps that were sluggish or constantly crashing often feel noticeably snappier.

7. Watch for account, region, or service outages

Sometimes, Roku not working isn’t actually a Roku problem at all. Apps can break because the streaming service itself is down, your subscription has lapsed, or the app has changed availability on Roku.​

When apps won’t play content but the interface works, I check:

• Whether other devices (phone, tablet, laptop) can stream from the same account
• My subscription status on the service’s website or app
• The app or Roku’s status pages and social channels for outage notices

If the app is failing on every device in the house, that points to a service-side problem where no amount of rebooting Roku will help. Sadly, you’ll just have to wait it out.

8. Advanced fixes and when to factory reset

If you’ve updated, restarted, reinstalled apps, and confirmed the network is fine but Roku TV apps are still not working, it might be time for a deeper reset.​​

Here’s when I go further:

• Persistent crashing across multiple apps even after updates and reinstalls
• Frequent “insufficient memory” warnings even after removing channels
• Strange OS behavior, audio/video out of sync, or black screens when starting playback

Two heavy-duty options:

1. Soft reset with network and OS refresh (already covered: restart + update + clear cache).​
2. Full factory reset, which wipes everything and reinstalls the OS cleanly:
   
   • Go to Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset and follow the prompts.​​

Before a factory reset, I make sure I know all my key logins (Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, etc.), since I’ll be signing back into everything afterward.

Why do Roku TV apps stop working in the first place?

After wrestling with why my Roku apps stop working enough times, a few root causes show up over and over:

• Roku OS or the app hasn’t kept pace with recent updates.​
• Weak Wi‑Fi or intermittent internet causing failed logins and endless buffering.​​
• Too many apps or corrupted data pushing Roku over its limits.​
• A recent Roku or app update temporarily breaks something until a patch arrives.​
• Expired subscription, region restrictions, or service-side outages.​

When I keep Roku updated, clean out apps I never use, and give it a proper restart now and then, I see far fewer nights ruined by apps refusing to open.

Enjoy smoother game nights with Volley Games

Once you resolve the issues with your Roku TV apps not working, reward yourself with much-needed downtime on Volley Games. Our voice-powered titles turn a regular Roku into a social game hub that fits right into family nights or casual get-togethers.

With Volley Games on Roku, you can:

• Fire up Jeopardy! and shout answers from your living room couch like you’re on the real show.
• Jump into Song Quiz and race friends or family to name songs and artists before the timer runs out.
• Spin through Wheel of Fortune rounds, pick letters, and nail the final phrase from your couch.
• Switch over to Karaoke, follow the lyrics on screen, and turn your freshly fixed Roku into a full-on sing-along.

Download Volley Games from Roku’s Channel Store and enjoy a 7‑day free trial of the full lineup. Find out why our trivia, music, and party games are the perfect way to turn your game nights into fun rivalries and fond memories.

FAQs

Why are my Roku TV apps not working?

Your Roku TV apps may not be working because of bad Wi‑Fi, outdated apps or Roku OS, low memory, or a corrupted install. I go through each of these steps in order, so nothing goes unchecked.

What should I try first when Roku TV apps are not working?

When Roku TV apps are not working, you should first test a few different apps, then restart the Roku OS and run a network check. That will quickly tell you if it’s just an app, your Wi‑Fi, or everything under the Sun.

How can I get Volley Games on my Roku TV?

You can get Volley Games on Roku TV by opening Streaming Channels (Streaming Store/Channel Store), searching “Volley,” and adding the Volley Games channel. Now, it’s always at the top of my home screen for quick access on game night.

How do I fix a Roku app that keeps kicking me back to the home screen?

You can fix a Roku app that kicks you out to the home screen by removing the channel, restarting Roku, and then reinstalling it. If it still crashes, I suggest checking for updates and making sure you have enough free space.

Can my Wi‑Fi really cause Roku TV app issues?

Yes, your Wi‑Fi can definitely cause Roku TV app issues. When app buffering or errors happen to me, I run Roku’s connection test and restart my router before blaming the apps.