Roku is a streaming platform for watching free and paid video content on your TV using the Internet. It is recommended to have a minimum download speed of 1.5 Mbits/sec to stream standard definition videos. At least 3.0 Mbits/sec is a must to watch High definition content. You can check the internet speed on Roku from Settings. So, if you can’t get the right internet speed for your Roku TV to stream seamlessly on it, there are some techniques available that might help you with increasing your internet speed on your Roku.
Roku Internet Minimum Bandwidth Requirements
You can browse any type of content on Roku with an optimal internet speed in case you would like to stream HD movies or UHD, and you must meet the following requirements.
- SD (480p): 3+ Mbps
- HD (720,1080p): 5-13+ Mbps
- 4K (UHD-2160p): 16-25 Mbps
How to Check Internet Speed on Roku
These are the step-by-step instructions to check your internet connectivity details for any Roku device.
(1) Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
(2) The home page appears on the screen.
(3) Scroll down and Tap Settings to open the side tab.
(4) Now proceed to click Network.
(5) Again, the side tab opens; choose the About option by clicking on it.
(6) Here, you can see the list of the following information on the screen.
- Network name
- Connection status
- Connection type
- IP address
- MAC address
- Download speed
- Wireless channel
- Signal strength (wireless only)
(7) If your connection is displaying as Excellent or Good, which means that your internet speed is normal. If it is Fair or Poor, it means your connection is far below the minimum bandwidth requirements.
(8) For Wireless connection, you will get details about the Signal strength and Internet Download Speed. For Wired, you can get details only about the Internet Download Speed.
You can also check out to Fix Roku Won’t Connect To Internet Issue guide whenever you face an internet connectivity issue.
Techniques to Improve Roku Internet Speed
1) Router Placement
You have to place a router in the middle of the house to evenly distribute Wi-Fi signals throughout the house. Avoid placing your router in the basement or near the wall or window of the house. Adjusting the angles of the antenna on the router can sometimes improve signal strength and Internet speed on Roku.
2) Roku Placement
It is necessary to change your device’s direction so that it faces the router to improve signal strength and internet speed. So, if your Router’s placement is wrong, you may face internet connectivity issues. Placing your Router in the right location might help you with fixing the internet speed issues.
3) Update the Router
You need to ensure firmware and drivers are up-to-date by visiting the manufacturer’s website frequently to stay updated. The procedure to update your Router differs based on the brand you use. Mostly you can update your Router directly from the dashboard of your Wi-Fi network. So, update your router and fix the internet connection issues on Roku.
Related: How to update Roku firmware
4) Connected Devices
Check the number of connected devices on your network and remove other devices which you’re not been using for some time. This is because the number of devices you have connected to the same Wi-Fi network, the slower the internet connection on all of your devices. It is only due to the internet bandwidth partitioning between all of your connected devices. So, removing one of the devices from your Wi-Fi network will fix the Roku internet speed issue.
5) Strong Network Security
Create a strong network password to protect your router from strangers, as they may try to steal your bandwidth. This only occurs when you have an open Wi-Fi network. Also, there is no restriction for any strangers to connect to your Wi-Fi when it is Open. So, protect your Wi-Fi network with a password. That will help you to restrict your Wi-Fi connectivity.
6) Extender or Booster Use
A wireless range extender or booster helps to increase your coverage area in a large house. You can also use an HDMI extender for wired connections. And using this extender will help you with increasing the Wi-Fi range, which in turn will help you with improving your internet speed on Roku.
7) Change Wireless Channel
Try to create a separate channel to avoid interference from other frequencies. You can use 1, 6, and 11 frequencies as they don’t overlap with one another. And this is one of the fixes that you can try to improve the internet speed on Roku.
8) Get a New Router
The router usually gets slows down after 3 – 5 years if there are no improvements after servicing. In such cases, updating to a new router is a considerable choice.
Likewise, you can check your internet settings regularly on Roku. Also, follow the techniques whenever necessary to get an active bandwidth and a proper signal. It is mandatory to check the manufacturer’s website for timely updates. For security concerns, you can try a VPN tool to secure your activity from internet breaches. You can also visit the webpage [speedtest.net] to check your download and upload speed instantly.
Frequently Asked Question
There is no specific app to check the internet connection speed on Roku. However, you can check your Wi-Fi network speed on a browser with the URL speedtest.net.