Roku sticks and TVs are great but not free from various issues. They can begin to slow down, stop functioning altogether, and eventually become unusable. The other day I tried to use my Roku stick, but it had stopped working. This lead me to research how long they’re supposed to last and the signs they’ll show once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan.
A Roku device can last between 2-8 years depending on what it is and how much you use it. The smaller Roku devices, such as sticks and boxes, don’t last nearly as long as the Roku TVs do. The longevity of each device greatly depends on a number of different factors such as how much it’s used and the environment it’s in.
When the Roku device is well taken care of, it will last quite a long time. If the device is subject to falls, spills, and moisture, the hardware can be affected enough to hinder its use.
| Device | Lifespan |
| Roku Express Box | 2-4 years |
| Roku Streaming Stick | 2-3 years |
| Philips Roku TV | 7-8 years |
| TCL Roku TV | 6-8 years |
| Hisense Roku TV | 4-7 years |
| Sceptre Roku TV | 3-6 years |
| Samsung Roku TV | 7-8 years |
| RCA Roku TV | 3-5 years |
| Vizio Roku TV | 4-7 years |
How Often Do You Have To Replace Roku Devices?
A Roku TV can last anywhere from 7-8 years if it’s well taken care of. It can be tough to give an exact timeframe as to how long a Roku can last since there are certain factors that can speed up its lifespan.
My Roku TV has been going strong for 4 years without showing signs of slowing, but my Roku stick only lasted 2 years before it began to show signs of sluggishness and hardware failure.
The Roku stick is more prone to deteriorating over time, lasting only 2-4 years. A Roku stick that is outdated can slow down and can also become sensitive to heat stress. Smaller Roku sticks and boxes can only handle so much heat from being used before it begins to stop functioning properly.
Not only that, but smaller Roku devices may lack the proper technology to keep up with future software upgrades. This will cause it to not operate to its full extent and will need replacing when a newer model that has the new technology installed in it.
Factors Affecting Lifespan/Problems
The lifespan of a Roku device depends on a variety of factors. Roku televisions are made by different manufacturers and their lifespan of them can depend on how well the television itself is made.
Roku sticks and boxes are a little different since they’re only manufactured by Roku. Let’s take a look at some of the most common issues that can affect your Roku Device.
Related Read: Roku Blinking White Light (It’s Not Power Outage)
Electrical Issues
An electrical issue can completely destroy devices within milliseconds. Just a few weeks ago a bolt of lightning caused a power surge through my house and fried one of my devices that was plugged in.
A steady electrical current is needed for the proper functioning of devices. Any voltage fluctuation can result in the burnout of any device plugged into an outlet, such as a Roku TV or stick. You can’t prevent a short circuit, but you can manage it by having your electrical circuits inspected every once in a while.
You can prevent issues from short circuiting and electrical malfunctions by unplugging yoru devices during storms or when not in use.
Related Read: Can You Use a Firestick on a Roku TV?
Usage
The lifespan of your Rok device depends on how much you use it as well. Using the device all of the time will affect its lifespan. Any Roku device that works on electricity will demand some unplugged hours.
You can use the device continuously for several hours, but you shouldn’t use it for the entire day as it’s not good for it. You should definitely make sure you’re unplugging or turning off your Roku device for a few hours every day to extend its lifespan.
Picture Mode
Nobody wants to watch their favorite show on a TV with crummy picture quality. If the picture quality is faulty, you will begin to notice speed and gaming issues. The picture quality of a Roku TV depends on several things.
The standard picture mode can be disturbed by gaming modes and if it’s distorted, the picture quality lowers. Picture quality can also reduce the lifespan of a Roku TV. If you have the picture quality turned all the way up, it can lower the TV’s lifespan by quite a bit.
Brightness
Turn your TV down! Some people will use the default brightness that came with the setup of the TV. However, the brighter the TV is, the less of a lifespan it’s going to have.
You can change the brightness setting for different things. The home theater setting should have a lower brightness level. Not only can the brightness of the TV affect its lifespan, but it can strain your eyes as well.
Brands
The lifespan of a Roku TV can greatly depend on the brand of the TV itself. Philips and TCL TVs are highly reliable whereas RCA and Sceptre TVs rank much lower on the list.
Unfortunately, there are different price tags on different brands of TVs. You’re definitely going to pay more for a Philips or Samsung Roku TV, but they’re likely to last longer The RCA and Sceptre TVs are going to be cheaper, but won’t last as long.
Too Many Years/Hours of Use
I use my Roku device at least 6 hours per day. Some would say that’s too much for the TV, but mine hasn’t slowed down yet.
The average lifespan of a Roku device can depend on how much you use them. On average, any Roku device can last 2-8 years, with the TV lasting the longest. This is based on the average use of 3 hours per day of streaming.
If you stream all day every day on your Roku TV or stick, it can drop its life expectancy to 3-4 years or less. There’s no amount of years that’s considered to be too much for a Roku device, but you may notice the device getting sluggish as it reaches the end of the line.
Outdated Device
If you notice that your Roku device is stuttering, lagging, or showing glitches, it may be outdated and you may need a new one.
The first thing you’re going to encounter on an outdated Roku device is that the system will begin to restart on its own. When it reboots suddenly, it means the device is experiencing serious issues and will become useless.
In general, you can get 2-8 years out of a Roku device before it starts showing signs of being outdated. The timeframe can vary based on how much you use it, how long you’ve had it, and if it’s being updated regularly.
Roku releases many firmware updates per year and if your device isn’t updating because its hardware is out of date, the device won’t run to its full capacity.
As of the beginning of 2022, there were a variety of Roku devices that are no longer being supported and will no longer receive new versions of Roku OS.
These include:
- Roku LT 2400X/Eu
- Roku LT 2450X
- Roku HD 2500X
- Roku 2 HD 3000X
- Roku 2 XD 3050X
- Roku 2 XS 310X/EU
- Roku Streaming Stick 3400X
- Roku Streaming Stick 3420X
The final firmware version supported by those devices is Roku OS 9.
The firmware version of your device has a huge impact on how long it lasts. Since Roku TVs are meant for streaming and gaming, it relies heavily on the internet for updates and connections. If you don’t update the TV the right way, you may not get the whole entertainment package.
Firmware updates assist in proper streaming and if you don’t complete this when asked, the Roku TV or stick functionality is disrupted.
You can check to see if there’s an update needed by following these steps:
- Press the Home button on your remote
- Go to Settings
- Select System
- Click on System Update
Here you can check the firmware version and when the device was last updated. If there’s an update, your Roku device will automatically start it and it will restart on its own. I check once per month for a software update if my device didn’t automatically do it.
Signs Roku Has Gone Bad
Roku Won’t Turn On
As your Roku device reaches the end of its life expectancy, you could run into the issue of it not turning on at all.
If you have a Roku player that refuses to turn on, there are a couple of steps you can take to troubleshoot it:
- Use the proper power adapter or change your current one
- Attach the power adapter securely
- Try a different power outlet
- Check the status light
- Try plugging it into the USB port on your TV
- Disable auto power saving
If everything seems to be okay, unplug your Roku device for five seconds and plug it back to see if the soft reset allows it to power on. You can also try this troubleshooting method that requires your remote:
- Press the Home button 5 times
- Press the Up key once
- Hit the Rewind button twice
- Press the Fast Forward button twice
- If you’ve done it correctly, your Roku stick should restart
If you have a Roku TV that won’t turn on, you can unplug it and plug it back in like a streaming stick. Leave it unplugged for at least 10 seconds and plug it back in. Try to use the power button on the TV itself first before you try the remote.
Overheating & How To Fix It
Excessive usage of a Roku stick or TV can result in overheating. There are built-in sensors on Roku TVs that are indicators of overheating. This is more likely to happen if you’re streaming shows all day long without shutting the TV off in between.
Overheating can damage your Roku TV or stick as well as the wires and other circuits of the devices. This will ultimately reduce the lifespan of the Roku TV or stick.
You can fix the overheating issue by giving your Roku device a break. Unplug it for a few hours to give it some time to cool down. If it’s consistently hot even when not in use, you should consider replacing its power supply. Sometimes when power supplies are bad, it can cause a faulty circuit going to the device, which can lead to overheating.
Constantly Rebooting
If your Roku TV or stick is rebooting on its own quite often, this is a sure sign that your device has reached the end of its lifespan. Roku TVs can burn out as a result of rebooting too much as well, but it may not always mean it’s going to die soon.
A factory reset can get your Roku TV back in working order. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Home button on your remote
- Go to Settings
- Go to the System option
- Select Advanced System Settings
- Click on Factory Reset
- Your TV will now reset itself to factory defaults
Once you do this, you will have to reinstall all of your streaming apps and re-enter network credentials.
Frozen Screen
I’m no stranger to a frozen Roku TV or Roku stick. The lifespan of these devices depends on how fast they’re working and sometimes they can stop working out of the blue. The screen may freeze and there’s nothing that can be done about it aside from unplugging the device and plugging it back in.
In this type of situation, the remote won’t work either. Most devices will begin to freeze because they’re faulty or have reached the end of their lifespan. This number can depend on how long you’ve been using the device and the brand of the TV.
You can attempt to perform a factory reset as explained above. This could solve your freezing issue if it’s just a bug.
Remote Issues (Voice & Button Issues)
If your remote seems like it’s not working properly, the first thing you should always do is replace the batteries. If you replace the batteries and your remote is working again, then this is a huge win for you. If this isn’t the case, then make sure the remote has a clear path to the device.
First, make sure you can see the front of your Roku device. When the device is powered on, there should be a status light in front of the device. Test the remote in various positions such as holding it higher and pointing it down at the front of the TV.
Move it to the left and right, making sure it’s always pointed directly at your Roku device. Make sure there are no obstructions and try to move your Roku device to a position where it responds better.
If your voice remote is unresponsive, there are a couple of troubleshooting methods you can try:
Pair The Remote Again
- Remove the power cable from your device
- Wait 5 seconds and re-connect the power cable
- Wait until your Roku device displays the home screen
- Restart your remote by removing the batteries. If it’s rechargeable, press and hold the pairing button for 20 seconds
- You should see the status light slowly flash green, stop, the rapidly flash
- Release the pairing button
- Press and hold the pairing button for 5 seconds until you see the status light begin to flash. If it doesn’t flash, recharge or replace the batteries
- Wait 30 seconds while the remote reconnects to the Roku device
Recharge Your Batteries
If you haven’t already done so, try to recharge your batteries or remote.
- Connect the micro-USB end of the charging cable to the charging port of your remote
- Connect the other end to a standard USB power adaptor
- Wait for the status light to change to solid green when complete
If the status light doesn’t begin to flash within a few seconds, try a different power cable or adapter.
Restart Your Roku Device and Remote
If your remote uses regular batteries, remove the batteries and remove the power cable from your Roku device. Wait 5 seconds and re-connect the cable. You can also restart your Roku device from the settings menu by performing the following steps:
- Press Home on your remote
- Select Settings
- Choose System
- Select Power
- Select System Restart
When the Roku device displays the home screen, re-insert the batteries in your remote or press and hold the pairing button for 20 seconds for rechargeable remotes.
Wait at least 30 seconds after your remote restarts. If there’s no response, try to re-pair the remote by pressing and holding the pairing button for 5 seconds.
Can An Old Roku Be Updated?
An old Roku can be updated depending on which model it is. These models are discontinued and can no longer be updated to the newest Roku OS:
- Roku LT 2400X/Eu
- Roku LT 2450X
- Roku HD 2500X
- Roku 2 HD 3000X
- Roku 2 XD 3050X
- Roku 2 XS 310X/EU
- Roku Streaming Stick 3400X
- Roku Streaming Stick 3420X
If you have a remote that isn’t one of these, you can most likely update it. To update your Roku manually, perform these steps:
- Press Home on your remote
- Go to Settings
- Select System
- Choose System Update
- Click on Check Now
If there’s an update, select Update and wait for your Roku to restart. If it’s not working, you can check your device information against the model number to see if it’s outdated. You can do this by following these steps:
- Go to Settings on your home screen
- Click on System
- Choose About
- Click on OK
You will see the model number of your Roku device and you can cross-check it against the outdated Roku device models.