Table of contents(14)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Browse the Roku app store from the home screen
- 03Method 2: Search for an app by name
- 04Method 3: Download apps when your remote is lost or broken
- 05Which method should you use?
- 06Fix 1: The download gets stuck or never finishes
- 07Fix 2: The app isn't available in your store at all
- 08Frequently Asked Questions
- 09Why can't I download apps on my Roku TV?
- 10How do I get Netflix or other streaming apps on my Roku TV?
- 11Can you download apps on a Roku TV without Wi-Fi?
- 12How do I download apps on a Roku TV using my phone?
- 13How many apps can I download on a Roku TV?
- 14Related guides
Roku TV isn't one product. Hisense, TCL, Insignia, Onn, and Element all license Roku's software for their own TV lines. A Hisense R8-series set, a TCL 5-series, and an Onn Walmart model all run the same Roku interface underneath. So the steps below work the same no matter which brand name is on the bezel. The only real difference between them is the remote hardware, not the app store itself.
The 30-second test
Before you try any fix below, run through these three checks:
- Is the TV connected to Wi-Fi? Open the network settings menu and confirm it shows as connected, not just a list of visible networks.
- Is a Roku account linked to the TV? Downloading apps, even free ones, needs a linked account.
- Is the TV's software current? Check for a pending update — an old software version can block new app downloads.
If all three check out, go to Method 1. If one fails, fix that first. No download finishes without working Wi-Fi and a linked account.
Method 1: Browse the Roku app store from the home screen
Every Roku TV has a built-in app store on its home screen. Scroll to the row where available apps are listed — the exact layout varies by software version, sometimes a grid of tiles, sometimes a dedicated row. Browse by category or scroll until you spot the app you want.
Select it, then choose the option to add or install it. The app downloads in the background and usually shows up on your home screen within a minute, depending on your Wi-Fi speed.
When it won't work: if the app never appears in the store at all, it may not be available in your country, or your TV's software may be too old to support it. See Fix 2 below.
Method 2: Search for an app by name
Browsing is slow once you already know what you want. Every Roku TV includes a universal search tool, reachable from the home screen, that looks across the whole app store at once.
Type the app's name, pick it from the results, and select the same add or install option as Method 1. The slow part is typing with an on-screen keyboard and a direction pad — every letter takes several arrow presses.
When it won't work: voice search depends on a working microphone in the remote. If the mic button doesn't respond, type the name instead.
If you don't have a physical remote, or its buttons are failing, HiRemote turns an iPhone into a full Roku TV remote with D-pad navigation and a real keyboard. Searching for an app means typing the name instead of clicking through an on-screen keyboard one letter at a time. It's a free download on the App Store.
Method 3: Download apps when your remote is lost or broken
A missing or dead remote is one of the most common reasons people can't get a new app onto their Roku TV. You can see the home screen, but you can't navigate to the store. If your remote has batteries but still won't respond, troubleshoot that first in our Roku remote not working guide before assuming you need a replacement.
The official Roku mobile app replicates the original remote's D-pad and keyboard. It's free to install on iOS and Android, and it talks to the TV over the same home Wi-Fi network.
For Hisense Roku TVs, HiRemote does the same job: full D-pad control plus a real keyboard, free on the App Store.
If you'd rather not install anything, hiremote.app also runs a free Roku remote directly in your browser, and it works on TCL, Insignia, Onn, and Element Roku TVs too, not just Hisense. Type the TV's IP address and you get working D-pad buttons — no app, no account, no signup. It's covered in the Roku web remote guide.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Browse the store (Method 1) | Discovering apps you don't have a name for yet | A working remote and Wi-Fi |
| Universal search (Method 2) | Installing an app you already know by name | A remote with search or a keyboard |
| Phone as remote (Method 3) | A lost, broken, or missing physical remote | A phone on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV |
Fix 1: The download gets stuck or never finishes
This almost always comes down to Wi-Fi, not the app itself. Move the TV closer to the router if you can. Restart the router and the TV, then try again. A weak signal can let a download start without ever finishing, so it looks frozen instead of failing outright.
If restarting doesn't help, check your TV's free storage. Older or lower-storage Roku models run out of room after a handful of large apps. The fix is removing one you don't use before adding a new one — see our guide on removing apps if you need to clear space first.
Fix 2: The app isn't available in your store at all
Not every app is offered on every Roku TV. Two things usually explain it: region or software version. Some apps are limited to specific countries due to licensing, so one country's store can be missing an app that another country's store has, even on identical hardware.
Separately, very old software builds don't support newer apps at all. Check your settings menu for a pending update and install it before assuming the app doesn't exist. Roku publishes current software and app-availability information on its own support site if you want to confirm further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I download apps on my Roku TV?
Most failed downloads come down to a weak or disconnected Wi-Fi connection, low storage space, or outdated software. Check that the TV shows as connected in its network settings, confirm you're signed into a Roku account, and look for a pending software update. If the app still won't install after all three check out, it may not be offered in your country or for your TV's software version.
How do I get Netflix or other streaming apps on my Roku TV?
You add Netflix the same way as any other app — through the built-in store on the home screen. Search for it by name, select it, and choose to add or install it. Most major streaming apps, including Netflix, come preinstalled on new Roku TVs, so check your home screen before assuming it's missing.
Can you download apps on a Roku TV without Wi-Fi?
No — Roku TVs download apps directly from the internet, so a working internet connection is required every time. There's no offline installation method, like loading apps from a USB drive, on standard consumer Roku TVs. If your Wi-Fi is down, fix the network connection first before trying to add any app.
How do I download apps on a Roku TV using my phone?
Your phone can't install an app directly onto a Roku TV — app stores don't work that way on this platform. What a phone can do is act as the remote. Apps like HiRemote or Roku's own mobile app give you D-pad and keyboard control over Wi-Fi, so you navigate the TV's own store from your phone instead of typing on an on-screen keyboard.
How many apps can I download on a Roku TV?
Roku doesn't publish a fixed app limit, but every TV has finite internal storage, and older or budget models fill up faster than newer ones. Once storage runs low, new downloads fail or stall, even though the store still shows them as available. If you hit that wall, removing an unused app frees up room for a new one.
