Do you see an error code 401 on Disney Plus when using your Roku TV?
Recently, Disney Plus subscribers complained about a strange error code on their Roku TV, which occurs in the middle of watching a movie or TV show. The error message doesn’t point out a specific issue that kept most users hanging.
Since the error code shows up while streaming a show, it can ruin your scheduled watch party or could get in the way of your free time.
Given the vast number of factors to consider, troubleshooting this error on your Roku TV can be time-consuming, especially if you don’t know where to start.
Based on what we’ve found out, this problem is often caused by a network connectivity issue or Disney Plus’s servers encountered an unexpected error.
Now that we know something about the error code 401 on Disney Plus, we can identify the best approach to fix this issue on the platform.
Today, we will show you the best methods for fixing the error code 401 on Disney Plus.
Let’s jump right in!
1. Check Disney Plus and Roku Servers.
Before making any changes to your device, you should identify first if the problem is really on your end. To do this, check the current status of Disney Plus’ servers using Downdetector. It is a website that gives updates regarding the situation of applications and other sites.
You can also use it to view the current status of Roku’s servers to check if the problem is on their end. If Disney or Roku’s servers are down, the best option to do for now is to wait until their team gets everything sorted out.
On the other hand, you can still do the rest of the methods below and see if anything works out for you.
2. Try to Watch Another Show.
Movies and other TV shows on Disney Plus may encounter temporary errors and become unavailable for a certain period. If the error code 401 on Disney Plus occurs after playing a show, go back to the media library and see if the same thing happens on other titles.
This way, you can identify if the issue is with the entire platform or specific movies and TV shows. Proceed to the last method below to contact their team if certain shows are unavailable on Disney Plus.
3. Check If Your Device Is Compatible.
Disney Plus is available on Roku OS, but not all Roku devices are supported due to the number of models out on the market. In this case, visit the Help Center and ensure that your current Roku TV is compatible with the app.
If not, consider upgrading to a supported device or use a web browser to access Disney Plus.
4. Re-Login to Your Account.
Unexpected errors may have occurred on your user data that caused Disney Plus to malfunction. In this case, refresh your current session by logging out of your account to eliminate bugs and glitches.
See the steps below to log out of your Disney Plus account on Roku TV:
- First, open the Disney Plus app on your Roku TV.
- After that, access the side menu and click on Settings.
- Lastly, select Log Out using your remote and press the OK button.
Once done, log back into your Disney Plus account after a few minutes and check if the problem is solved.
5. Check and Reset Your Internet.
Playback issues on Disney Plus could also indicate that your network cannot handle the bandwidth requirement of the platform. To play HD movies on Disney, you need an internet connection with a speed of 5 Mbps or higher.
To check if your network meets this requirement, run a test on your network using Fast.com to measure its upload and download speed.
If the result shows that your network is the problem, restart your router to refresh your service provider’s connection. Unplug the power cable from the wall outlet and let your router rest for 5 to 10 seconds. After that, plug back in the power cable to restart your router.
Run another test on your network to check if it is now running correctly. Contact your ISP if you continue to encounter problems and ask them to fix their service. On the other hand, consider upgrading your current plan if it doesn’t meet the bandwidth requirement of Disney Plus.
6. Restart Your Roku.
One of the basics of troubleshooting an issue on an application is restarting the device you use. This will help eliminate any errors that may have occurred on your system, which causes the app to malfunction.
To restart your Roku TV, follow the guide below:
- First, open the Home menu on your Roku TV and go to the Settings.
- After that, select System and access the System Restart tab.
- Lastly, click on Restart and wait for your Roku TV to reboot.
Once done, go back to Disney Plus and check if the problem is solved.
7. Clear Your Cache and Data.
Similar to browsers, Roku devices store temporary data called cache and cookies to help improve their performance. However, this temporary data can get corrupted over time due to unexpected issues and cause other apps not to work.
If the error code 401 occurs while watching on Disney Plus, try to clear your Roku TV’s cache and cookies to fix the issue.
See the steps below to clear your cache and cookies:
- First, access the main menu of your device and make sure that the Home tab is selected.
- After that, press the Home button on the remote five times, followed by the Up button.
- Now, press the Rewind button twice.
- Lastly, press the Fast Forward button two times and wait for your Roku TV to clear its cache and data.
Once done, go back to Disney Plus to check if the error code 401 would still occur.
8. Update Your Roku Device.
Updates on any system are vital to keeping its services running correctly and prevent compatibility issues with applications. System updates also contain patches to fix any errors or bugs that may have occurred on the device.
If Disney Plus is not working on your Roku TV, try to update its operating system to eliminate any errors. This will also update all the applications installed on your device.
Follow the steps below to update your Roku TV:
- First, open your Roku TV and access its Settings.
- After that, click on System and select Software Update.
- Lastly, choose Check Now and follow the on-screen prompts to update your device.
After the update, go back to Disney Plus and check if the problem is solved.
9. Reinstall Disney Plus.
If the update did not work, you could also try reinstalling the app on your Roku TV. Some of its installation files may have gotten corrupted, and the update can no longer fix it. It is also possible that the app is not installed correctly on your device, which causes the error code.
Check out the guide below to reinstall Disney Plus on your Roku TV:
- On your device, access the Streaming Channels tab and find Disney Plus.
- After that, press the Ok button on your remote.
- Finally, select Remove Channel to delete the Disney Plus app.
Once done, reinstall the app on your Roku TV and check if the error code 401 would still occur on Disney Plus.
10. Reset Your Roku.
Before doing this method, we suggest that you redo all the steps above first since this will delete all the data on your Roku TV. Now, if Disney Plus is still not working, the last thing to do on your device is to reset it.
This way, any changes made on your device would revert to factory defaults and eliminate any errors in the process.
To reset your Roku TV, follow the guide below:
- First, open the Settings on your Roku TV and access the System tab.
- After that, choose Factory Reset.
- Lastly, follow the on-screen prompts to reset your Roku TV.
Once done, reinstall Disney Plus on your device and check if the error code would still occur.
11. Report the Problem to Disney Plus.
At this point, we’ve listed all the possible solutions for the error code 401 on Disney Plus. However, if the problem still occurs on your Roku TV, we recommend that you visit Disney’s Help Center and contact their support.
The problem could be much complex, and you should leave the matter to the experts.
When asking for help, make sure to give all the essential details like your account information, the device you are using, and a screenshot of the error to help Disney’s team address the issue faster.
You can also visit our dedicated guide if the Disney Plus app is not working at all on your Roku TV.
This brings us to the end of our guide in fixing the error code 401 on Disney Plus. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section below, and we’ll get back to you whenever we can.
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