Roku Ultra Black Screen & Frustrated? (No Panic, Easy Fix!)
We know that the unexpected Roku Ultra black screen could be confusing or even frightening when you first encounter it, but don’t worry–it’s a common problem.
The Roku Ultra connects to the TV via an HDMI cable, which leaves a handful of potential things that could go wrong.
The possibilities range from a wrong TV source, and bad HDMI connectors, to interference from other devices, or a potential resolution mismatch.
So, let’s walk you through the solutions and get your Roku Ultra picture back on your screen!
Roku Ultra Black Screen – Fixed in 8 Quick Methods!
Note: Have you tried rebooting both your Roku Ultra and TV by unplugging the devices from the power outlet for at least 60 seconds?
1. Change the TV Input Source
When you have an input stream from a device such as Roku Ultra, one end of the HDMI cable is connected to the player, and the other end goes into your TV.
The connector on the TV’s side plugs into one of the available HDMI sources (typically TVs have around 2–3 HDMI input ports).
Based on which HDMI input port your Roku Ultra is plugged into, you need to select that input source through the TV input menu.
So, using the TV remote (not the Roku Ultra remote), press the “Inputs” button, typically located on the front, which will open the sources menu.
Then, check which HDMI port your Roku Ultra is plugged into (HDMI 1, 2, or 3), and then using the TV remote, select this exact HDMI port from the sources menu. Your image should appear.
Important: If your player is plugged into the HDMI ARC port, note that this is for audio devices such as soundbars, so use HDMI 1, 2, or 3 (not ARC).
2. Use a Different TV HDMI Port
A black screen on your Roku Ultra can occur due to a faulty HDMI port on your TV.
Swapping to another HDMI port on your TV can bring back the picture in seconds, as long as you select the matching HDMI input port, as we’ve discussed in the previous steps.
Start by unplugging the Roku Ultra’s HDMI from its current HDMI port on your TV and finding another free HDMI input to connect to.
Then, grab your TV remote, press the Input or Source button, and scroll to the new HDMI port you just used, like HDMI 2, to switch the TV’s display over.
Tip: If you’re still seeing only a black screen, ZontSound recommends power cycling your Roku Ultra and trying ALL available HDMI ports on your TV.
3. Switch the HDMI Cable Ends
Another quick thing to do before proceeding further is to swap the HDMI cable ends.
Yes, this may sound unintuitive at first, but it has proven to help with many other users having the same black screen issue with their Roku Ultra players.
Also, while switching the cable’s ends, ensure that your HDMI cable is not under pressure, like furniture sitting on top of it, or being severely twisted.
4. Inspect Ports and Connectors
If your Roku Ultra is flashing a black screen, flickering, or constantly showing artifacts on the screen, this almost certainly means an HDMI connection issue.
Anything from dust to tiny debris can sneak into the HDMI port or cable connectors, breaking the signal, causing flickering, or a black screen.
A quick peek and a careful clean can get things working again, so using your phone’s flashlight, inspect both the HDMI inputs and connectors.
Important: Cleaning!
If you notice that there is something stuck inside the HDMI ports or connectors, we recommend using a toothpick to gently reach in and remove the obstruction.
This goes for both the HDMI of your TV and the Roku Ultra, but be gentle not to damage the pins.
Note: If you spot greenish or rusty corrosion on the port or connector, you may need to swap the entire HDMI cable with a new one or use a different port.
5. Unplug All Other HDMI Devices
Your Roku Ultra black screen might be appearing due to interference from other HDMI devices connected to your TV simultaneously.
Well, a quick and easy way to find out whether that’s the cause of the problem would be to start unplugging everything from the TV, until only the power cable and the Roku Ultra HDMI are left.
Here are potential devices you should unplug:
If the input picture from your Roku Ultra appears on the TV, start reconnecting your devices one by one to determine which one causes the problem.
6. Test Roku Ultra on Different TVs
If you’ve tried everything but your Roku Ultra screen goes black, maybe the issue comes from the TV, not the Roku Ultra, hence it’s worth trying with a different TV/monitor.
You only need to find a TV or monitor with an HDMI input source, connect it to power, and plug in the HDMI from your Roku Ultra.
If the image appears without a problem, this puts an end to your investigation, as it’s now clear that the previous TV was causing the black screen problem.
7. Try Using a Different HDMI Cable
If your Roku Ultra is stuck on a black screen, the HDMI cable might be the culprit, especially if you are trying to output a 4K signal through a non-4K HDMI cable.
Some older cables not built for 4K or stretching too long can impact the signal, leaving your TV showing a black screen.
Some lengthy HDMI cords (over 10 feet) may not work with 4K signals; hence, if you have a 4 K-enabled HDMI cable or, at least, a shorter HDMI wire, ensure to test it.
If you don’t have a replacement HDMI cable, try to lower the resolution of your Roku Ultra by continuing to the next method.
8. Change Roku Ultra Resolution (Blindly)
The reason for the Roku Ultra black screen is often a mismatch between the selected Roku TV Ultra resolution and the supported resolution on the TV.
That’s why changing the player’s resolution, more specifically lowering it, can instantly resolve the black screen you’re facing.
We understand that if your Roku Ultra is showing a black screen, you wouldn’t be able to see the menu and navigate through the options.
Well, don’t worry–we got you covered on this one!
Here are the steps to “blindly” try and switch to a different resolution:
- First, press the “←” Back Button several times.
- This should bring you back to the home screen.
- Then, press the Down Arrow exactly 9 times.
- This will move you down and highlight “Settings”.
- Press the “OK” button to enter the menu options.
- Now, press the Down Arrow exactly 3 times.
- This will move down and highlight “Display Type”.
- Next, press the Right Arrow once to move right.
- This will enter the “Display Time” menu options.
When you’re here, you can change the resolution:
- Move down 1 time and hit “OK” = 4K HDR TV
- Move down 2 times and hit “OK” = 4k TV
- Move down 3 times and hit “OK” = 1080p TV
- Move down 4 times and hit “OK” = 720p TV
We recommend trying something other than 4K, hence 1080p (Full HD) or 720p (HD) to see if the picture will show up.
If it doesn’t work, try the same steps again, as you may be in a different menu due to a mistake, so just to be sure, test again.
Note: If you can’t bring the picture back on your Roku Ultra, try changing the resolution on your TV using the TV remote (the option is typically in Settings → Display).
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.
