170
Roku Streaming Device
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Roku error 170 means there is a billing or payment problem with your Roku account or a channel subscription. This could be an expired credit card, a billing address mismatch, or a failed payment for a Roku Pay subscription. Roku needs up-to-date billing information to process payments and maintain subscriptions. Updating your payment method on the Roku website usually resolves this error quickly.
Affected Models
- Roku Express
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K
- Roku Ultra
- Roku TV
- Roku Streambar
- All Roku models with Roku Pay
Common Causes
- Credit or debit card on file with Roku has expired
- The billing address entered on Roku does not match the address on file with your card issuer
- The card was declined for a subscription renewal charge
- Your Roku account has been flagged for a payment dispute or chargeback
- A temporary issue with Roku Pay's payment processing system
How to Fix It
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Go to my.roku.com on a computer or smartphone. Sign in with the same email and password as your Roku device. Click 'Update payment method' under the billing section and verify your card details are correct and not expired.
Roku Pay is the billing system used for all channel subscriptions made through Roku. All payment management is done at my.roku.com.
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Update or replace your credit card information. Even if the card number has not changed, the expiration date or CVV may be different on a renewed card. Enter all details exactly as they appear on the new card.
Make sure the billing address entered on Roku matches exactly what your bank has on file — including apartment numbers and abbreviations.
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Check your email for a payment failure notification from Roku. These emails contain a direct link to update your payment method and often explain specifically which charge failed.
Check your spam folder too. Roku payment emails sometimes get filtered.
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Restart your Roku after updating the payment method. Go to Settings > System > System Restart. After it restarts, try accessing the channel again.
The Roku needs to sync with its servers after a payment method update. A restart speeds up this synchronization.
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If the payment method is correct but still failing, try adding a PayPal account to your Roku billing instead of a credit card. Go to my.roku.com > Billing > Update payment method and select PayPal as an alternative.
PayPal can be a useful workaround if your bank is repeatedly declining Roku's charges for fraud prevention reasons.
When to Call a Professional
Payment errors are handled through Roku's account management at my.roku.com. If you believe your payment is valid and still getting error 170, Roku's customer support (support.roku.com) can look into your account directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Roku charge me directly or does the individual channel charge me?
It depends on how you subscribed. If you subscribed to a channel directly through the Roku channel store (using the Subscribe button on Roku), then Roku Pay handles the billing and the charge appears on the card linked to your Roku account. If you subscribed to a channel directly on the channel's own website (like netflix.com, hulu.com, etc.), that channel bills your card directly and Roku is not involved in the billing. Error 170 on Roku specifically relates to Roku Pay charges — subscriptions made directly through Roku's channel store.
I cancelled a Roku Pay subscription but am still being charged. What do I do?
Log in to my.roku.com and go to Manage Subscriptions. Verify the subscription shows as cancelled with an end date. If it shows active, cancel it from the website (not from within the Roku app). If you see a charge after a confirmed cancellation, contact Roku support at support.roku.com with your account email and the charge details. Roku's support team can issue refunds for erroneous charges.
Can I use a prepaid card or gift card for Roku Pay?
Roku Pay accepts some prepaid Visa and Mastercard debit cards, but success varies. Prepaid cards sometimes fail billing address verification since they often do not have a physical address associated with them. Roku gift cards are the easiest prepaid option — search for 'Roku gift card' at major retailers to add credit to your Roku account without a credit or debit card.