How to Make Roku Forget a Wi-Fi Network

Evan Gower October 25, 2019

There are a number of reasons why you may want to delete, or make your Roku forget, a Wi-Fi network. That being said, there are also plenty of reasons why this isn’t one of those things you should be stressing out about.

Roku manages wireless networks in a very safe way for the average user. And, whether you’re using a Roku smart TV or a Roku streaming stick, the connection options are always the same.

Can Roku Forget a Wi-Fi Network?

Whenever you remove and plug in your Roku streaming stick, it will automatically reconnect to the previously used Wi-Fi network. But if powering it off can’t make it forget, is there an alternative option? Yes, but it’s more a method of last resort.

You see, a Roku device can detect all nearby Wi-Fi networks, or at least the ones that are in its range. This means that just like your smartphone, to some extent, your Roku device can pick up a signal from your router, your neighbors’ router, and so on.

You can’t actively erase wireless networks from that list. But, it’s not like Roku is remembering them in a favorites list. If you leave your home and plug your Roku device into someone else’s TV, the player will detect other Wi-Fi networks within its range.

A Method of Last Resort

Because Roku doesn’t have an option that will let you clear the cache, there aren’t really other ways to delete your personal preferences and account information to start with a clean slate other than performing a factory reset.

The good news is that performing a factory reset is a lot easier than you think.

Check the back or bottom of your Roku streaming stick.
Press and hold down the button for 20 seconds or longer.
Wait until the device starts flashing and then let go.
If there’s no tactile button, check for a pinhole.
Get a paperclip, pry one end loose, and use that to press the button.

Regardless of what type of button you find, you’ll always have to wait for a minimum of 20 seconds for the device to hard reset itself. Once that happens and you reboot your TV, you’ll have to reconfigure your Roku device all over again.

This means adding account credentials again, establishing a new network connection, and so on.

Wi-Fi Networks That Aren’t Recorded

Roku’s Hotel and Dorm Connect feature is very interesting. This allows you to connect to a new network offsite, and was designed to accommodate students and people on vacation.

When you connect to a Hotel network, for example, you’ll need to go through a new authentication process.

Plug your Roku stick into a new TV.
Press the Home button.
Use the remote to navigate to Settings.
Choose Network.
Select Set Up Connection.
Pick Wireless.
Select the first option – I am at a hotel or college dorm.

Using the second option, I am at home, will make your Roku stick try to connect to your home Wi-Fi network. So why all the fuss? First of all, this can protect you from other people charging up your data plan if you lose your Roku stick or if someone steals it.

Furthermore, it helps the people at Roku understand who’s using your personal device, from where, and why. At the same time, this also ensures that you can enjoy Roku with all your personalized settings even on a foreign device and on a foreign network.

Note that access to a smartphone and tablet will also be required, because this is a two-step authentication process. You should also have the Wi-Fi password to the local network on hand, otherwise this will be a pointless process.

Now, here’s what’s really cool. After you’re done using the hotel’s TV and you move on, that network won’t be saved in your device’s memory. Not when you check the networks from back home, nor will the preferences be saved, should you have to revisit that same hotel.

Is There Any Reason to Want to Make Your Roku Forget a Wi-Fi Network?

One could argue that looking at what networks have been accessed could help someone track your movements. Someone like a spouse, parent, or an ex. But, because of how Roku devices are set up, this can’t happen because there’s no Wi-Fi network history to access.

Therefore, you can rest assured that as long as you delete your browsing history, your guilty pleasures remain your own. Did you ever do a factory reset to hide your network activity on Roku? Let us know in the comments section below.