The Roku Streaming Stick 4K has no screen of its own, so a picture whose colors look wrong, dull or tinted is the result of the stick's output settings, the cable and the TV's input mode working together, and the fix is to align them. Start on the Roku: press Home, go to Settings, Display type and let the stick run its automatic detection, or choose the best display type your TV supports, such as 4K HDR. If you choose a type the TV cannot handle, colors or the picture can break.
The checks in more detail
Then look at Settings, Display settings, Advanced display settings, for the color depth, such as 8, 10 or 12 bit, and the color space, such as 4:4:4 or 4:2:2; if the picture has banding or odd colors, try a lower option. Dolby Vision is supported by this stick, but the TV needs to be set to the HDMI mode that accepts it. Now the TV. Each HDMI input has a mode, often called HDMI enhanced format, UHD color or HDR mode, and a TV left in standard mode may show HDR content washed out, since it does not understand the signal.
Turn on the enhanced mode for the input used by the stick, and choose a picture mode such as Movie, Cinema or Filmmaker for HDR content. A picture that looks too bright or flat in some apps may be a mismatch of HDR and the TV's brightness settings; compare with a standard dynamic range show. Remember that the stick sends what the app supplies, so a low-quality stream will look soft whatever you do. Check the cable and power. The stick plugs into the HDMI port and takes power from USB;
use the supplied adapter, not the TV's USB port if the stick shows weak or flickering color, because underpowered sticks can give a poor signal. Try a different HDMI port, or use the extender cable that came with the stick if the TV's ports are tight. A pink or green tint across everything suggests a loose connection, so reseat it. Update the Roku in Settings, System, System update. If colors stay wrong on a second TV, the stick may be faulty, and Roku support can help with the model number 3820 and serial number.
Differential
Likely causes of “Roku Streaming Stick 4K colors look wrong, washed out or tinted”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A display type that does not match the TV
What separates it Colors or picture break
How to confirm Run automatic detection or choose a supported type
- 2
The TV's HDMI mode set to standard
What separates it HDR looks washed out
How to confirm Turn on the enhanced mode for that input
- 3
Color depth or space set too high
What separates it Banding or odd colors
How to confirm Try a lower option
- 4
Underpowered stick or loose connection
What separates it A tint or flicker
How to confirm Use the supplied adapter and re-seat it
- 5
A low-quality stream
What separates it A soft or dull picture
How to confirm Compare with another show
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The display type
- The TV's HDMI mode
- The picture mode
- Whether another TV shows the same
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedRun display type detection
ReversibleIn Settings.
Turn on the TV's enhanced HDMI mode
ReversibleFor that input.
Choose a suitable picture mode
ReversibleMovie or Filmmaker.
Try a lower color depth
ReversibleIf banding appears.
Use the supplied adapter
ReversibleAnd re-seat the stick.
Update the Roku
ReversibleIn System update.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Display type
- Auto detection is the best start.
- HDMI mode
- The TV must accept HDR on that input.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If colors are wrong on a second TV, contact Roku with the model number
- !Use the supplied power adapter
- !Update the Roku
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Does the Stick 4K support Dolby Vision?+
Yes.
Why is HDR washed out?+
The TV's HDMI mode may be standard.
Should I power it from the TV's USB?+
The supplied adapter is safer.
What is display type?+
The setting that tells the stick what the TV supports.