Why is 4K Dolby Vision not working on my Roku streaming player?
With some Roku® streaming players, you can stream 4K Dolby Vision™ with a compatible TV and streaming channels. However, you may not be able to view Dolby Vision content at 4K resolution if your Dolby Vision-capable TV was manufactured prior to 2018. These models, and a few manufactured in later years, only support 4K Dolby Vision at lower frame rates like 30 frames per second (fps). Unfortunately, some streaming channels, such as Netflix, will not play 4K Dolby Vision when the TV does not support higher frame rates like 60fps.
This article helps you determine why 4K Dolby Vision may not play on your TV and offers options to resolve the issue or choose an alternate configuration. Visit the Roku product comparison chart to determine if your player supports Dolby Vision.
How to know if your TV supports Dolby Vision
Dolby Vision is an advanced form of HDR (High Dynamic Range) available on high-end TV models that improves image quality with more accurate color and contrast details on a scene-by-scene basis.
To determine if your TV supports Dolby Vision, your Roku streaming player automatically checks the capabilities of the HDMI connection whenever connected. To see the automatic settings, go to Settings > Display type > Automatic.
What to do if the HDMI connection does not support 4K Dolby Vision
If your TV supports Dolby Vision and you see the message below, you may need to adjust a setting on your TV called FreeSync.
FreeSync is designed to enhance your experience with a connected game console (e.g., Xbox, PlayStation), but with some TV models, FreeSync may disable Dolby Vision. To correct this behavior, you need to adjust the settings on your TV to disable FreeSync on the HDMI port where your Roku player is connected.
You can refer to the sample instructions below if you have an LG TV, but the steps may vary from model to model, and may change when TV software is updated. When in doubt, refer to the user manual or online documentation for your specific make and model.
LG: Go to Home > HDMI > Settings > Advanced > Picture > Additional Settings > FreeSync > Off > Restart
A note on HDMI cables
Roku players that support HDR ship with an HDMI 2.0 compatible cable. If you cannot use the included cable, be sure to purchase a Premium High Speed HDMI Cable or Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable. The typically more expensive Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable is a good choice for reducing potential Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® interference, or for future-proofing an installation where the cable location is in an otherwise inaccessible area. Cables that are not labeled or may be labeled "high speed" or "standard speed" may not be adequate for 4K HDR10, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision content at 60fps.
If your Roku player is connected to an AVR or soundbar, make sure all cables are HDMI 2.0 compatible. If you see a black screen or poor performance and video degradation with a 4K HDR signal, replace any older cables with a Premium High Speed HDMI Cable or Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable.