How to Connect Roku to Mobile Hotspot in 5 Simple Steps

By Benny Kounlavouth,

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To make the most of your Roku device, you must connect it to a reliable wireless network. If your router isn’t working properly, you may want to connect your Roku player to your phone’s mobile hotspot. But, how can you do that?

Below, we’ll discuss the five simple steps you can take to connect a Roku player to your phone’s mobile hotspot. Keep reading to learn how to begin the process!

How to Connect Roku to a Mobile Hotspot in 5 Simple Steps

Connecting your Roku player to your phone’s mobile hotspot may initially seem intimidating.

Luckily, the process is relatively simple and can be completed in just five easy steps.

To connect your Roku player to a mobile hotspot, you must:

Activate your mobile hotspot
Navigate to your Roku’s network settings
Search for available networks
Select your mobile hotspot
Enter the password

The same steps apply to all Roku devices and all hotspot-enabled smartphones.

Below, we will explain each step in more detail to help you through the setup procedure.

Activate Your Mobile Hotspot

The first thing you must do is activate your smartphone’s mobile hotspot.

You can usually do this through your smartphone’s cellular or WiFi settings, depending on the type of phone you own.

Find “Hotspot” or “Mobile Hotspot” in your settings, then toggle the feature on.

Alternatively, some phones allow you to activate your hotspot from the drop-down notification bar.

Remember that when you use your phone’s hotspot, you connect to the internet through cellular data.

While a mobile hotspot will give you a relatively fast connection, using it with Roku can deplete your data plan quickly.

Navigate to Your Roku’s Network Settings

After toggling your mobile hotspot on, you will have to move to your Roku for the remaining steps.

Here, you will navigate to your network settings and connect to your mobile network.

Follow the steps below to get where you need to be:

Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
Scroll down and select “Settings.”
Choose “Network.”
Select “Set Up Connection,” then press “Wireless.”

Now, you’ll be able to connect to your mobile hotspot easily.

Search for Available Networks

After selecting “Wireless” in the previous step, your device will scan for available networks.

After a few seconds, a list of available wireless networks should appear on your screen.

If the device does not find any available networks, run the scan again by refreshing the page.

Select Your Mobile Hotspot

After the scan completes, a list of available wireless networks will appear on your screen.

Scroll through the available networks until you find your mobile hotspot. The network will typically have the same name as your phone. If you gave your mobile hotspot a unique name in your phone’s settings, you’ll see this name appear instead.

Select this network when you see it. If you cannot find it, go back to your phone’s settings and ensure your hotspot is still active.

Enter the Password and Connect

Most mobile hotspots require you to enter a password to connect to another device.

This password may appear on your phone screen each time you connect a new device, or it may be listed on your hotspot’s settings page.

Some phones will ask you to set a password before you can use your hotspot for the first time.

If yours does, make sure to choose something you can easily remember.

After entering the password, press “Connect” on your TV screen to complete the process.

Now, you can begin streaming content on Roku using your phone’s hotspot to access the internet.

Why Won’t My Roku Connect to My Mobile Hotspot?

Although it’s generally very easy to connect your Roku player to your mobile hotspot, some experience technical glitches or issues that prevent them from doing so.

If you are having trouble connecting your Roku to your mobile hotspot, there are a few solutions you can try:

Perform a network reset on your Roku. Navigate through Settings > System > Advanced System Settings > Network Connection Reset.
Update your Roku software. From your Roku settings screen, navigate to “Settings,” then “System Update.” This will enhance your player’s performance.
Reset your phone’s hotspot. Change the hotspot’s name and password, then try connecting to your Roku with the new details.
If you’re using an iPhone, leave the hotspot menu on your screen while connecting to your Roku.

These fixes are often enough to solve any problems you’re having while trying to connect your player to your mobile hotspot.