When Rakuten TV is not working on Roku, it can manifest in a few different ways.
- Nothing happens when you select the Rakuten TV icon.
- Rakuten TV starts to load but freezes on the logo loading screen.
- When the Rakuten TV app launches only a black screen appears and nothing happens.
Normally, there’s no error code and the screen will just freeze either on the logo or the blank screen. The following tips will help you troubleshoot this issue and fix it.
Causes of Rakuten TV Not Working on Roku
When you use Rakuten TV on Roku, you’re dealing with two different online services, so there are multiple points of failure. There could be an issue with the Rakuten TV service, with the Roku connection to your TV, or something to do with your internet connection itself.
Because of this, it’s important to first verify these services are working. Then move on to checking your Wi-Fi network, your internet connection, and then issues with the Roku streaming player itself.
How to Fix Rakuten TV Not Working on Roku
This issue applies to all Roku streaming players including Roku Express, Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Ultra, and Roku Streambar.
1. Check to see if Rakuten TV is down. If Rakuten TV is down, it won’t work on your Roku.You can check social media sites like Twitter for mentions of an outage, or use a site that reports website outages.
Tip: If Rakuten TV is down, all you can do is wait for it to come back up.
2. Check your internet connectivity. If your internet connection is slow, or your Roku has a weak connection to your Wi-Fi, you’ll have trouble streaming content from apps like Rakuten TV. In that case, you’ll need to improve your internet speed for Rakuten TV to work on your Roku.
You can check this by installing a speed test app or using a speed test website. For the most accurate results, run the test using your phone in close proximity to your Roku device, and make sure it’s connected to your Wi-Fi network and not using cellular data during the test.
3. Restart your network equipment. If you notice network connectivity problems or slow download speeds, try restarting your network equipment.
To restart your network equipment: Unplug your router and modem from power, wait at least 30 seconds, then plug the modem back in. When the modem has established a connection, you can plug the router back in.
4. Improve your Wi-Fi connection. If you notice a slow or weak internet connection in the vicinity of your Roku, but your speeds are better elsewhere in the home, you may need to reposition your network hardware, reposition your Roku device, or make other tweaks to improve your Wi-Fi connection.
Note: If your Roku has an ethernet port, use that to connect to your modem or router and check to see if Rakuten TV works over the wired connection.
5. Try your other Roku channels. If your internet connection seems fast enough, try some of your other Roku channels. If they don’t work, then you should suspect a larger issue with the Roku, like a firmware problem.
If your other streaming apps work, then you can focus on issues with Rakuten TV itself.
6. Make sure your Rakuten TV account is still active. If you can log into your Rakuten TV account on other devices, double-check the Rakuten TV profile you’re trying to use on Roku still exists.
Also, verify your Rakuten TV account credentials. Try logging into the Rakuten TV app on your Roku again, being especially careful to enter your login details correctly.
If all else fails, try changing your Rakuten TV account password, and then reconnect your Rakuten TV app on Roku using that new password.
7. Clear the Roku’s cache. If the cache is full or contains corrupt data, clearing it out might fix your problem. To clear the cache, press Home on the remote five times, Up once, Rewind twice, and Fast Forward twice.
Note: This process may take several minutes to complete.
8. Restart your Roku device. If there’s a problem with the Rakuten TV app or the Roku device itself, restarting the device may fix the problem. This will force the Rakuten TV app to close and restart as well.
To restart your Roku, navigate from the home screen to System > System Restart > Restart, then wait for the device to shut down and restart.
Note: If you notice the power light on your Roku device flickering when you plug it in, you could have a faulty power port. Try a different power cable. If the light still flickers, you may need to replace your Roku streaming device.
9. Update your Roku. Your Roku should update its firmware and your installed apps automatically under normal circumstances, but sometimes you need to do it manually. If your Roku or Rakuten TV app have any available updates, installing them may fix your problem.
Here’s how to check for firmware and app updates on Roku: Press home on your remote, then navigate to Settings > System > System Update > Check Now.
10. Reinstall the Rakuten TV app on your Roku. In some cases, a malfunctioning Roku channel can be fixed by removing it and then adding it again.
Here’s how to remove Rakuten TV: Press Home > Streaming Channels > Rakuten TV > Remove channel.
You can then re-add the channel: Press Home > Streaming Channels, type Rakuten TV in Search Channels, select Rakuten TV, then select Add Channel.
11. Turn off your VPN. If you use a VPN to connect your router or Roku device to the internet, your VPN may be causing connection issues. Turning off your VPN and connecting to the internet directly may resolve your Rakuten TV channel issues.
12. Troubleshoot your Roku remote. You may need to reset the Roku remote and then pair it with your Roku streaming device again. If you can’t get your remote to work, try launching the Rakuten TV channel with the Roku mobile app instead.
13. Check Roku parental controls. Make sure that the Roku account you’re trying to use isn’t blocked from launching the Rakuten TV content that you want to watch.
14. Reset your Roku streaming device. This will factory reset your Roku, which means it will erase everything from the device and restore it to its original state. After the process has finished, you’ll need to download and install updates, and then download all of your channels again.
To factory reset a Roku: Navigate to Settings > System > Advanced > System Settings > Factory Reset, then enter the provided code.
Note: When you restart after the reset, you’ll also notice that all of your channels are gone. You’ll need to re-add them.
FAQs
To log out of Rakuten TV on most newer Roku devices, including Roku 4, 3, Streaming Stick, Express, and Roku TV, open Rakuten TV and choose a profile if prompted. From the menu on the left, select Settings, then select Sign Out > Yes.
There’s no easy way to change the Rakuten TV user account on Roku, but there’s a workaround. Go to your Roku home screen and navigate to My Channels. Highlight the Rakuten TV app and press the star button on your remote. From the editing settings, select Remove Channel. Then, go back to your Roku Home screen, find the Channel Store, and reinstall Rakuten TV using your preferred Rakuten TV account.
Finding your “My List” listing on Rakuten TV is the same across any platform with which you access Rakuten TV, including Roku. Launch Rakuten TV, choose a watch profile if prompted, then select My List from the top menu.
To get Rakuten TV on your Roku device, navigate to the Roku Channel Store and find Rakuten TV, then click Add Channel. Or, plug in your Roku, then navigate to Streaming Channels on your screen. Search for and select Rakuten TV, then select Add Channel.
Was this page helpful?
Jasper Reed is the founder of heyhowtodoit.com with 8+ years of experience in Search Engine Optimization.He has researched, tested, and written hundreds of articles ranging from social media platforms to messaging apps.
With a passion for technology and a natural aptitude for understanding consumer behavior, Jasper has built a successful career in blogging.He has been quoted and referenced by major publications and media companies.
An avid traveler and tech enthusiast, Jasper loves to explore new places and experience different cultures. With his thick-rimmed glasses and geeky demeanor, Jasper is a true tech nerd at heart.
Follow Jasper on Twitter and Reddit.
You can read more about the team here.
