How to update a Roku
To update a Roku, press Home on the remote, go to Settings, then System, then Software update, and select Check Now. The same steps work on a Roku streaming player and on a Roku TV.[1]
You usually don’t need to. Roku checks for new software by itself about every 24 to 36 hours and installs it in the background. The manual check is for a Roku that has been off or offline for a while.
Update a Roku by hand
- Press Home on your Roku remote.
- Scroll to and select Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Software update.
- Select Check Now.
Roku says to check by hand if the device was disconnected for a long time, or if you recently installed an app from the Streaming Store. The Roku restarts after it installs an update.[1]
Check the version
Open the System update screen (the same place as above). Roku says it shows the current software and build version, and the date and time of the latest update.[1] That date only records the last install. To check for available software, select Check Now; your Roku downloads and installs any available update automatically.
Automatic updates
Roku says the device checks for new software during initial setup, whenever it is powered on, and then at random intervals of about every 24 to 36 hours. Downloads and installs happen in the background without interrupting what you are watching. Wireless speakers and subwoofers paired with a Roku TV or player update along with it.[1]
Roku’s page describes no setting for turning automatic updates on or off. What the Roku needs is power and a working internet connection.
If it won’t update
Roku’s update-problems page gives these steps, in this order.[2]
- Wait a few minutes and try again, in case Roku’s update service is having problems.
- Go to Settings, then Network, and check the Roku is on the right Wi-Fi network.
- Check another device on the same router can load a website. If the signal is weak, move the Roku closer to the router and don’t leave it behind the TV.
- Restart both. Unplug the Roku for 30 seconds, or press Home and go to Settings, System, Power, System restart. Unplug the router for 20 to 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
- Check again under Settings, System, System update, and select Check now.
- If your model has an Ethernet port, connect the Roku straight to the router.
- If it still fails, try a mobile hotspot. If the update works there, Roku says your home internet connection is the likely problem. If not, contact Roku Support.
A Roku TV with no internet connection can be updated from a USB drive; Roku has a separate guide for it.[1]
Error codes
| Code | What Roku says it means | What Roku suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | The Roku can’t reach the update server | Check your internet, then restart the Roku and the router. |
| 002 | Weak internet signal | Improve the Wi-Fi signal or move the Roku closer to the router. |
| 003 | The update download didn’t complete | Restart the devices or use an Ethernet cable. |
| 004 | A general update failure | Restart the devices and try again. |
| 005 | The network connection timed out | Restart your network or try later. |
From Roku’s update-problems page.[2]
Why it matters
A streaming box sits on your home network all day and is easy to forget. Like a router, it only stays safe if its software keeps being updated. Devices that never get updated, or that came with something nasty built in, are how homes end up lending their internet connection to criminals: see our alert on the Android TV box botnet Google disrupted. The Roku support articles we cite do not list security fixes. For the phones and computers in the house, see the latest versions and security releases we track, and our guide to updating AirPods.
Questions
How do I update my Roku manually?
Press Home on the Roku remote, go to Settings, select System, select Software update, then select Check Now. Roku’s page lists the same five steps for streaming players and Roku TVs.
Does a Roku update automatically?
Yes. Roku says the device checks for new software during setup, whenever it is powered on, and at random intervals of about every 24 to 36 hours. Downloads and installs happen in the background.
How do I see which software version my Roku has?
Open the System update screen. Roku says it shows the current software and build version, and the date and time of the latest update.
Can I update a Roku TV with no internet?
Roku says Roku TV models can be updated with a USB drive, and has a separate guide for it.
Why won’t my Roku update?
Roku’s advice: wait a few minutes and retry, confirm the Wi-Fi network under Settings, Network, restart the Roku and the router, then check again under Settings, System, System update. Using an Ethernet cable, where the model has a port, is another step it lists.
What do Roku update error codes 001 to 005 mean?
Roku lists them as: 001 the Roku can’t reach the update server; 002 weak internet signal; 003 the download didn’t complete; 004 a general update failure; 005 the network connection timed out.
Does the Roku restart after an update?
Yes. Roku says the device reboots after installing an update.
References
- ^ Roku Support, “How to update the software on your Roku streaming device”, last updated 24 June 2026, read 8 November 2026.
- ^ Roku Support, “How to fix Roku streaming device update problems”, last updated 24 June 2026, read 8 November 2026.