If your Roku streaming device or streaming stick is plugged into your TV’s USB port and you are seeing the Roku “low-power” error, then you should use the Roku power cord/adapter.
When you try to charge your Roku device via the USB port of your TV, you will get the “low power” warning. This is not possible for some TVs. Instead, plug your Roku into a wall outlet and connect it to the adapter/power cord.
To test if your Roku works, you can plug it into another USB port on the back of your TV. Different USB ports offer different power capacities.
Use the Roku power cord/adapter
All Roku streaming devices and steamers come with a power cord/adapter.
You can unplug the Roku from its USB port at the back of the TV and plug it into the USB port of the Roku power supply adapter. Plug the adapter into a wall outlet.
You can order a replacement online if you lose your power cord.
Charger cables must meet the power specifications of the device they are charging.
These charging cables are often cheaper online than they cost because they provide less power.
If in doubt, verify the Roku device that you have and consult the Roku Energy Supply Guide.
This guide will show you how to determine the voltage for each Roku device, as well as the amp’s output.
This information will help you to find a reliable power supply adapter online. PWR has a great one. You can see the price on Amazon.
What power does Roku use?
Roku streaming sticks and players use very little energy when in use.
For example, When you stream 4K HDR content using your Roku Ultra, your device consumes 4.5W.
If you stream with a Roku streaming stick, your Roku consumes less than 3 watts.
Roku will use less power when it isn’t in use – approximately 2 watts. (Because there’s no “off” button, Roku devices that are plugged into wall outlets will still consume electricity.
The Roku low power error is most likely caused by your Roku being plugged into the USB port at the back of the TV. If the TV is turned off, then your Roku will be off and not use any power.
What is the point of all this?
The USB port at the back of your TV can only produce so much power (depending on which version).
Now you can see where the problem lies. Your Roku Ultra streaming device uses 4.5 watts, but your TV’s USB port only provides 2.5 watts.
You can provide plenty of power to your Roku by using the Roku adapter/power cord that came with it.
TIP: You can always plug your Roku into another USB port on your TV to check if it solves your power problem. You might find enough power from a different USB port than you think.
Signs your Roku device is not getting enough power
If your Roku device doesn’t get enough power, there are several signs you can look out for.
The first and most obvious alert is which will appear on the screen.
Alternatively, the LED on your Roku device might start to blink red. Your Roku device has a small LED that blinks red when the power supply is not adequate.
This LED should be white under normal conditions.
If the LED is glowing red, your Roku may be overheating. Let it cool off by unplugging it.
If your Roku crashes frequently, is unpredictable, or is otherwise, then it’s almost certainly because your power supply has gone too low.
Roku devices that are low on power can behave strangely. Your Roku will work as well as new if you fix the power supply problem.
NOTE: Your Roku will blink red in most cases. You may also notice it acting strangely. These symptoms can often be seen together.
Clear cache from your Roku device
If your Roku device is acting up, you might think it was power-related. However, people have reported that the problem wasn’t related to power.
If your Roku device was plugged directly into a wall outlet with the adapter/power cord, but it is still crashing or acting unsteady, it might be time to clear the cache.
Screen freezing, app crashes, sound issues, TV buffering, and other problems can all be caused by your Roku’s cache. Your Roku’s cache can cause all of these issues.
To get to the main screen if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, press the Home button on the remote.
After waiting 2-3 seconds, enter the following combination using your remote control (pressing each button one after another, non-stop) Home 5, Up 1, Rewind 2, Fast Forward 2, and 2 times respectively.
The Roku should restart once or twice. It will take some time for the home screen to appear. Wait at least 10 seconds before you try again.
This is it! Your cache has been cleared.
NOT If your screen is black completely or flickering, refer to these additional troubleshooting tips
Conclusion
Your Roku may be giving you a low power alert if it is plugged into your TV’s USB port. There is not enough power coming from this port.
Instead of using the Roku power cord/adapter, plug your Roku into a wall outlet.
Other than the alert that pops up, other signs of low power include a blinking light on your Roku and sporadic behavior overall (like crashes, buffering, freezing, and general instability).
