Using the Roku power cord / adapter instead is recommended if you receive a low power error message on your Roku streaming player or streaming stick when connected to your TV’s USB port.

While charging your device via the USB port on your TV, you will receive the Roku “low power” warning. The TV may not be able to handle the charge in some cases. Plug your Roku directly into a wall power outlet using its power cord / adapter

To see if that helps, you can also plug your Roku into another USB port on the back of your TV. The power capabilities of different USB ports vary.

Below is more information on that…

 

Roku Low power issue can be solved by using the power cord or adapter

There is a power cord / adapter attached to each Roku streaming stick and streaming player.

Your Roku power adapter has a USB port that should be used rather than the USB port on your TV. Connect the adapter to a wall outlet.

You can replace your lost power cord online if you misplaced it.

However, charging cables must meet the exact power specifications of the device they are powering otherwise they won’t work.

It is often cheaper to buy these charging cables online because they do not provide the same amount of power!

If you are unsure, check your Roku device and refer to the Roku Power Supply Guide.

Detailed information about the voltage and amp requirements for each Roku device can be found in the guide.

Online, you can find a reliable power supply adapter using this information! The best ones can be found on Amazon.

 

What is the power consumption of Roku?

Power consumption by Roku streamers and sticks is usually low when they are used.

Roku Ultra, for example, uses 5 watts when streaming 4K HDR content.

The Roku Streaming Stick, on the other hand, uses closer to 2.5 watts if you stream from it.

It is not possible to turn off a Roku device that is plugged directly into an electrical outlet (since it does not have an “off” switch).

When you see the Roku low power error, it’s probably plugged into the back USB port of your TV. If your TV is off, it will not use any power and your Roku will be off as well.

 

What is the point of all this?

Well, the USB port on the back of your TV can only produce a certain amount of power. A USB port can output power between 3 watts and 8 watts (depending on the version).

Let’s move on now that you understand the potential problem. You’re in trouble if the USB port on the back of your TV can only deliver 2.5 watts of power while your Roku Ultra uses 4.5 watts.

You can provide your Roku with plenty of power by connecting your device directly to an outlet with the Roku power cord / adapter that came with your device.

Note: If the low power issue persists, try plugging the Roku into a different USB port on your TV. The power capacity of various USB ports varies, so it might be sufficient to use a different port.

 

Insufficient or low battery power on a Roku device

If you do not have enough power, you will see a dozen of signals that your Roku device does not have enough power.

Your screen will display an “insufficient power” or “low power” notification.

A red blinking light may appear on your Roku device instead. Roku devices have a small LED, and when the LED blinks red, it indicates an insufficient power supply.

This LED should be white or completely off under normal conditions.

You should note that if this LED is solid red, the Roku is overheating. It needs to be unplugged and allowed to cool down.

Lastly, if your Roku constantly crashes, is unstable, or is just generally unpredictable, a insufficient power supply is almost certainly to blame.

Your Roku device may behave strangely when it has low power. If you fix the power supply issue, your Roku will be back to normal.

You will notice that your Roku blinks red and behaves sporadically in most cases. Both of these symptoms are common.

 

If the problem persists, clear Roku device cache.

I’ve heard of people who assumed their Roku was malfunctioning due to low power when it was crashing constantly, only to discover the issue was purely software-related.

You might need to clear the cache on your Roku device if it crashes and acts unstable after being directly plugged into a wall outlet with the dedicated power cord/adapter.

Roku’s cache can cause issues such as crashing apps, stuttering sound, and buffering TV.

If you experience any of these issues, press the Home button on the remote to return to the main screen.

Once you have waited two to three seconds, press the following buttons on your remote (one after another, non-stop): Home five times, Up once, Rewind twice, Fast Forward twice.

Roku should restart once or twice after you have done this. Before using it again, you should see the home screen appear and stay up for at least 12 seconds.

There you go, your cache has been cleared and hopefully your problems have been resolved!

 

Wrapping Up

Your Roku may be showing a “low power” message because it is plugged into your TV’s USB port.

You must use a Roku power cord / adapter instead of connecting your Roku to a electric receptacle.

You may also encounter sporadic behavior by your Roku (such as crashing, buffering, freezing, and general instability) when a blinking red light appears.

If you still have problems after plugging your Roku directly into a wall outlet, try clearing your Roku’s cache!

What did you do about your low power issue? I’d love to hear from you!

 

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