I can’t tell you how frustrated I was with my Roku when it refused to my hotspot.
I mean, everything works fine. Other devices can connect. So why can’t Roku?
After fiddling with the Roku and different hotspot settings (and almost throwing the Roku out the window out of frustration), I found a solution.
If your Roku won’t connect to your hotspot, this article is for you!
What Worked for Me:
What made my Roku finally connect to my hotspot was changing the Wi-Fi from 5GHz to 2.4GHz. I made a separate 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network on my router for my older devices.
Just keep in mind, that streaming content on Roku with a hotspot is going to eat up a lot of your mobile data.
Grab a 4K Roku streaming stick here.
Roku Not Connecting to Hotspot Fixes
1 – Change to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Some Roku devices only support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks. Others will see 5GHz Wi-Fi networks but refuse to connect to them.
To double-check if the Wi-Fi frequency is the issue, configure your router to broadcast two separate networks: one at 2.4GHz and the other at 5GHz.
Your Roku should be able to connect to the 2.4GHz network. If not, no worries, I have more solutions you can try.
While in your router settings, you can also try changing the channel of the 5GHz network. I recommend a lower channel range, between channels between 30-64 should do the trick.
2 – Change the Hotspot Security Type to WPA2
Most phones will automatically use WPA3 as the encryption method for the hotspot password. The problem is not all Roku devices work with that encryption method.
If you enter the password on your Roku but you get an “Incorrect Wi-Fi password” or another error message, this is likely the reason.
Thankfully, it’s easy to solve. If you have an Android phone, open your hotspot settings, tap on details, and change the security type to WPA2 or a lower option.
Restart your hotspot and see if your Roku can connect to it now.
3 – Restart Your Roku Device
There could be an issue with the software on your Roku device that is preventing you from connecting to a hotspot.
An easy way to solve this problem is to power cycle the Roku. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.
To power cycle, simply unplug the Roku from the power source and wait 30 seconds. Reconnect the Roku and try to connect to the hotspot again.
Power cycling usually helps clear our bugs from all kinds of devices. It also helps solve issues with consoles, such as when your Xbox won’t connect to Wi-Fi.
4 – Remove Special Characters from the Password
Another trick that can get your Roku connected to your hotspot is to remove any special characters from the password. Keep it simple. I would just stick to numbers.
Some Rokus struggle to connect to networks that have complicated passwords. It’s an easy thing to try and it could be the solution for you.
5 – Reset Network Settings on Roku
Resetting the network settings on your Roku will remove the possibility that it’s trying to connect to an old network with incorrect settings.
To reset network settings on Roku:
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Select “System,” then “Advanced system settings.”
- Choose “Network connection reset” and confirm the action.
- Wait for the device to restart and attempt to connect to the hotspot again.
6 – Contact Roku Support
When all else fails, you might need to contact Roku’s support. There’s a chance you received a defective unit and might be able to get a replacement.
You can check out my article on how to fix Roku not connecting to Wi-Fi.
The Bottom Line
Changing the Wi-Fi frequency is the most likely solution.
The second best option is to change the hotspot’s security type. If none of these fixes work, then there might be something wrong with your phone’s hotspot.
