Lawsuit accuses Roku, TCL of 'bricking' TVs with defective software updates

A new lawsuit filed against Roku and TCL accuses the streaming service and TV company of sending out chronically defective software updates that leave smart TVs "bricked" and unusable. 

Roku has denied the allegations. Here’s what we know: 

Roku, TCL lawsuit over ‘defective software updates’

The backstory:

Roku offers streaming services through devices like streaming sticks that integrate into smart TVs, or by purchasing Roku’s own TVs or devices pre-integrated with Roku’s operating system. TCL televisions, the other company named in the lawsuit, are pre-programmed with Roku streaming.

What they're saying:

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, a Los Angeles woman, accuses Roku of issuing software updates that are "repetitively defective, materially impairing the functionality of Roku Products, rendering many consumers’ televisions either entirely unusable … blacked out, or otherwise substantially degraded in terms of device performance," the lawsuit states. 

The lawsuit alleges that Roku and TCL are aware of the defective updates, as they’ve been documented multiple times on Roku’s official community forums. 

RELATED: Apple settlement: Owners of some iPhone models could get $95

"Over the weekend, one of my two TCL Roku TVs went black," one Roku user complained in the forum, according to the lawsuit. "It flickers for a moment when I turn it on, then black. It still has audio. This happened once before on the same tv, but after about three days it started working again. I have tried all the tricks multiple times, but nothing has worked. I suspect last time this happened it was an issue with a software update due to some other posts on here."

Another user reportedly had four Roku TVs go down after an update. 

"Defendants knowingly sold (and continue to sell) tens of thousands of Products that have Software Defects which corrupt user experience to the point of inoperability, including screen black outs, loss of video, the screen flashing on and off, or otherwise malfunctioning," the lawsuit states. "Despite consumers’ persistent complaints of repeated system failures, often leaving their TVs completely inoperable, Defendants offer no recourse. This is inconsistent with representations made in express warranties which promise to repair, correct, or otherwise remediate the Software Defect."

‘Bricked’ TVs

Dig deeper:

According to the lawsuit, "bricked" is another term for an "entirely unusable" television, and Roku’s not the only company accused of knowingly "bricking" devices. 

Another class-action lawsuit in California accuses Amazon of misleading customers by marketing its early Fire TV Stick devices as "instant" streaming with no buffering, then later "bricking" them and rendering them nearly unusable.

RELATED: Amazon Fire stick TV lawsuit: Are you affected? Here’s what to know

The lawsuit alleges that by removing support, Amazon forced customers to upgrade to newer versions to regain the same "instant" streaming experience.

Roku responds

The other side:

A Roku spokesperson told FOX TV Stations that "we believe the claims are meritless."

TCL was not immediately available for comment. 

By the numbers:

Roku reported $1.25 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2026, up 22% year-over-year. 

What's next:

Court records show the lawsuit remains open, with no status updates or hearings scheduled. Attorney Daniel Karon told The New York Post that the plaintiff may have a hard time proving there are enough potential victims to be granted class-action status. 

Consumer