6 Effective Fixes For ESPN Media Not Allowed Error

If you are facing the media not allowed error on ESPN, do not worry, you are not alone. To help you out, I have compiled a list of easy fixes to continue watching your favorite sports on ESPN.

You may experience the ESPN media not allowed error on your Roku device because the authentication has failed, and you do not have permission to access the channel.

ESPN requires a cable provider to allow streaming. When the authentication fails, you cannot load the ESPN app. However, you can easily resolve this problem by updating the ESPN application and trying other fixes if that doesn’t work.


Key Takeaways

  • The media not allowed error appears when you open the ESPN app on a Roku device.
  • It may occur due to authentication issues, server outages, outdated devices, or the ESPN app.
  • You can fix the error by updating the ESPN app, authenticating to the correct TV provider, re-installing the app, and installing the latest firmware update on your Roku device.

1. Check The ESPN Server Status

The first thing I did was ensure that the ESPN server was running before you jump into the guide, I suggest you take a minute to ensure that there is no server outage on ESPN’s end, as was the case with this Reddit user. To check the ESPN server status follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to DownDetector.com.
    espn media issue
    DownDetector.com – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  2. Type “ESPN” in the search bar.
  3. Scroll down to see the server outage status for the ESPN app.
    espn server issue
    ESPN App Server Issues – Image Credits [Emopulse]

You will be able to see ESPN+ outages in the past 24 hours. If the server is down, there is nothing you can do but wait out the storm.

espn server outage
Server Status – Image Credits [Emopulse]
You can also visit the ESPN Plus Official Twitter for updates about server issues. If the server is down for maintenance, you will likely find information about it there.

2. Authenticate TV Provider On ESPN Again

When you try to watch a game on ESPN, it asks you whether you want to use your TV service provider to access that program. I would advise you to authenticate the TV provider before continuing to stream on ESPN. A Reddit user also tested this and said it solved the issue.

Follow these steps to change/authenticate the TV provider on ESPN:

  1. Log out of the ESPN app.
  2. Go to “Settings” on your Roku device.
    espn media not allowed
    Settings – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  3. Select “Account Information > “TV Provider” and log out of your TV provider.
  4. Open the ESPN app.
  5. Then, select a program to watch on ESPN.
  6. You will see a dialogue box asking you to allow the TV provider to access the content. Choose “Allow.”
  7. Next, choose your TV provider.
  8. Enter your TV provider credentials.

3. Restart Your Roku Device

I found that restarting your Roky device is also helpful when trying to rid yourself of the ESPN “Media Not Allowed” error. This also worked for this user on Roku Community so I suggest you give it a try. You can perform a soft reset by unplugging the device from power and waiting a minute before reconnecting it

Alternatively, you can also follow these steps to restart it:

  1. Go to “Home” by pressing the home icon on the remote.
    roku home
    Roku Home
  2. Select “Settings” > “System” > “Power” > “System Restart” to restart your Roku Device.

4. Log Into ESPN Again

Another easy fix I tried to solve the authentication error on ESPN was to log out and log into ESPN again. This has helped a user on Reddit and will clear the app’s cache and memory, and you can continue streaming on ESPN.

  1. Open ESPN on your device.
  2. Select “Settings” > “Account Information” > “Login to ESPN Account” to find your activation code.
  3. Enter the activation code here.
    activate espn
    Authentication – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  4. Sign in to ESPN again to resolve the media not allowed problem.

5. Re-install ESPN On Roku

Another method that worked for me was uninstalling and re-installing ESPN+ on Roku. This is an effective method that was also reported to work for this user on Reddit. If you are using an outdated version of the app, re-installing it will update to ESPN’s latest version. Follow these steps to do just that:

  1. Sign out of the ESPN app from Account Settings.
  2. Go to “Home” > “Streaming Channel.” Find the ESPN channel in the list of installed channels.
    espn media not allowed
    Streaming Channels
  3. Select the ESPN channel on the screen and press “*” on your Roku remote.
  4. You will see a pop-up dialogue with different options related to the channel.
  5. Select “Remove Channel.”
    espn media not allowed
    Remove Channel – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  6. Go back to Home.
  7. Go to “Roku Channel Store” by going to “Search Channel.”
    espn media not allowed
    Search Channel – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  8. Install “ESPN” on Roku again by selecting “Add Channel.”
    espn media not allowed
    Install – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  9. Log in using your credentials.

You will be able to stream on ESPN now. However, if this doesn’t work, I advise you to attempt to restart the Roku device before installing ESPN on Roku again. Once the Roku device has been restarted, go to the Channel Store to install it and authenticate yourself using your account information.

6. Switch Your Internet Connection

Another thing I did was switch up my internet connection in an attempt to fix the error, this turned out fruitful for me as it was for this user on Reddit. Sometimes the Roku device glitches set your internet as the cable provider and try to activate ESPN through your internet connection.

To resolve this, follow these steps:

  1. Go to “Settings” > “Account Information” > “TV Provider” and log out.
  2. Log out from your ESPN account as well.
  3. Press the “Home” button on your Roku remote.
  4. Choose “Settings” > “Network.”
    roku settings
    Settings – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  5. You can connect to another internet provider from Network Settings.
    network settings
    Network Settings – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  6. Disconnect the Roku device from your internet connection and switch it to another.
    espn media not allowed
    Connect To Internet – Image Credits [Emopulse]
  7. Log into ESPN again using the activation code.
  8. Select a program and allow access to the TV provider.
  9. Choose your correct TV provider and enter its credentials.

To Sum It Up

the “Media Not Allowed” error on Roku when accessing ESPN can be resolved through various steps. Begin by checking the ESPN server status on platforms like DownDetector.com and authenticate your TV provider on ESPN again. Restarting your Roku device, logging out and back into ESPN, or reinstalling the ESPN app can address authentication and application-related issues. If the problem persists, switching your internet connection may prove effective. By following these troubleshooting steps, you can overcome the error and enjoy uninterrupted streaming on your Roku device.

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