Roku App Can’t Find Your Roku? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• Control by mobile apps turned off on your Roku
• A VPN on your phone hiding your Roku from the app
• A wired Roku with an IP address in a different range from your phone
• A router setting that blocks devices from communicating with each other
• A Roku that isn’t connected to the internet, or a weak or disconnected Wi-Fi signal
• A phone or tablet that isn’t compatible with the Roku mobile app

Step-by-Step Solutions

Work through the steps in order, and check the Roku mobile app for your Roku after each one.

1. 1

   Step 1: Put your phone and Roku on the same Wi-Fi network

   Your Roku and your phone or tablet need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to connect.

   From the Home screen on your Roku, go to Settings, select Network, then About. Compare the network your Roku is connected to with the network your phone or tablet is connected to.

   Many routers use two signals, so you may see more than one network with a similar name, such as MyNetwork_2.4GHz and MyNetwork_5GHz. Make sure your Roku and your phone or tablet are connected to the same band and network name.

2. 2

   Step 2: Allow Local Network access on iPhone or iPad

   On iOS 14 or higher, you must allow the Roku mobile app to detect and connect to your Roku.

   A prompt asking for this permission typically appears the first time you launch a new app. You can also open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, scroll down the list of installed apps and select Roku, then tap Local Network and move the slider to green.

3. 3

   Step 3: Turn off any VPN on your phone

   Check that your phone or tablet isn’t connected to a VPN while you use the Roku mobile app.

   Some VPN apps route all traffic through the virtual network, which can make your Roku not visible to the app.

4. 4

   Step 4: Make sure Control by mobile apps isn’t disabled

   Your Roku must be allowed to accept commands over the Wi-Fi network for the mobile app to work.

   When the Control by mobile apps setting is disabled, the Roku mobile app can’t communicate with your Roku. On your Roku, go to Settings, select System, then Advanced system settings, then Control by mobile apps.

   If the setting was disabled, use your Roku remote to enable it again.

   Good to know

   With the Enabled option, your Roku can always be controlled by mobile apps but responds only to commands from devices connected to the same local network.

5. 5

   Step 5: Check your network setup

   If your devices are on the same network and still can’t connect, check your network’s configuration.

   If your Roku uses a wired Ethernet connection, check that it has an IP address in the same range as your phone or tablet. For example, if your wired Roku is assigned 192.168.2.169 and your phone is assigned 192.168.1.173, the devices will likely be unable to communicate. Try connecting your devices over Wi-Fi instead.

   Your network may also block devices from communicating with each other. Check your router’s documentation to learn how to check and disable this setting, or contact the person who manages your network.

   Good to know

   You can find your Roku’s IP address in Settings, Network, About.

6. 6

   Step 6: Make sure your Roku is online

   If your Roku isn’t connected to the internet, the mobile app can’t detect it.

   This can happen after a reset or when you’re setting up your Roku for the first time. Your Wi-Fi signal may also be weak or disconnected.

   On your Roku, go to Settings, select Network, then About, and check which network it’s connected to.

7. 7

   Step 7: Restart your Roku and the Roku mobile app

   If your Roku still doesn’t appear on the discovery screen, restart your Roku and close and reopen the app.

   To restart your Roku, unplug the power cable, wait a moment and plug it back in. Or press Home on your Roku remote, select Settings, then System, then Power if you see it, then System restart.

   After your Roku powers back on, make sure it’s connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.

   To close the Roku mobile app on an iPhone or iPad, swipe up, or double click the home button, then swipe the Roku app away. On Android, press the Recents button, then swipe the Roku app away. Then open the app again and wait for the discovery screen to load.

8. 8

   Step 8: Connect to your Roku manually

   You can connect the app to your Roku by entering its IP address.

   On your Roku, go to Settings, select Network, then About, and note the IP address.

   Open the Roku mobile app and tap Devices, then Get help?. Select Connect manually, enter your Roku’s IP address and tap CONNECT.

9. 9

   Step 9: Check that your phone is compatible

   Some phones and tablets may not be compatible with the Roku mobile app.

   An iPhone or iPad running an older version of iOS, or one that’s jailbroken, may not be compatible with the app. An Android phone or tablet that’s rooted, running uncertified software or not Play Protect certified may not be compatible either.

   Also check for Roku mobile app updates in the App Store or Google Play Store.

   Good to know

   The Roku mobile app supports Roku devices running Roku OS version 6.2 or later, though some features aren’t available on all devices.

Frequently Asked Questions