Roku add channel with code not working

If you’re unable to add new channels to Roku TV, and you’re looking for a solution to fix this issue, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll show you how you can quickly solve this problem.

Why Can’t I Add Channels to Roku?

1. Check if the channel is geo-restricted

It could be that the channel you’re trying to add is geo-restricted. Channels such as YouTube and Netflix are available worldwide, but others may not be available in your region. If the channel providers do not offer access to their channels in the region you’re currently located, try reaching out to them to inquire further about the channel availability in your area.

2. Disable your VPN

Many users who want to bypass geo-restrictions, use a VPN tool to hide their real IP address. Keep in mind that VPNs may sometimes slow down your connection which leads to buffering issues. But that’s not the only problem. If you’re using a VPN, Roku flags that as an attempt to get around geo restrictions. As a result, certain features may become unavailable.

Disable your VPN, refresh your current location by reselecting your location and try again.

3. Clear the cache

As you continue to use Roku, temporary files get stored on your devices as cache files and cookies. They may sometimes prevent you from adding new channels to your list.

If you noticed certain apps or channels are not working as they should, clear the cache. These problematic apps or channels might be preventing you from adding new channels.

1. Go to the Homescreen
2. Select the app or channel that’s been giving you headaches
3. Remove the problematic app or channel (press the asterisk button on your remote and select the Remove channel option)
4. Restart Roku to clear the cache
5. Reinstall the app or channel you just deleted from the Roku Channel Store
6. Sign back in and check if the issue is gone.

4. Delete other channels

If you’ve got a long list of channels saved on your account, go to your Roku Home screen and try removing any unused channels.

Select the channels you haven’t used for a while and hit the Remove channel button.

Restart your device and check if that resolves your problem.

5. Create a new account

Other users managed to fix this problem by creating a new account. If your current user profile got corrupted, try creating a new account.

You can create your account on https://my.roku.com/signup.

You can then link your Roku TV to your new account and try adding new channels again.

6. Reset your Roku device

By performing a factory reset on your Roku device, you will remove all your settings and preferences, and unlink your Roku device from your Roku account.

Method 1

1. Go to your Roku Home screen
2. On your remote control, press the following buttons:
   • Press Home five times and then press the Up button
   • Press Rewind two times and then Fast Forward two times
3. Wait one minute for Roku to complete the reset process and then restart the device.

Method 2

You can simply press the Reset button located on the back of your device to reset it.

Contact Support

If you followed all the steps listed in this guide but you still can’t add any channels, contact Roku support.

Use your Roku email address, and include your Roku device serial number in the message. You can get it from Settings → System → About.

There you have six solutions you can use to troubleshoot the problem where Roku fails to add new channels to your list. Let us know if you managed to fix the problem in the comments below.

As @renojim stated, Roku removed all private channel functionality earlier this year. If you found some code online, it won't work anymore. Roku still offers developers the ability to test channels with a private code, but they are limited both in the length of time they will work and the number of users that can install the channel. So the days of someone offering a Roku channel privately without being offered in the Roku channel store are gone.

The private channel function was not removed due to political or ideological purposes. Some people were offering content illegally, and it was placing Roku in a tenuous legal position. So they decided to remove the ability for all private channels, regardless of the content offered. The content removed spanned from one extreme to another, so no particular type of media was targeted. If anyone claims Roku did it because they wanted to remove any particular type of content, that is not accurate. 

Dan

Roku Community Streaming Expert

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