Crunchyroll Not Working? Fixes + Error Codes 5 & 6

If Crunchyroll is not working, run this sequence — it clears most problems, including the dreaded error codes 5 and 6: 1. Try a different episode or series; if only one title fails, the problem is that video, not your setup. 2. Force close the Crunchyroll app and reopen it. 3. Restart your streaming device or TV completely — unplug it from power for a minute. This is the fix that most reliably clears error codes -5 and -6 on TVs and Roku players. 4. Check for updates to both the Crunchyroll app and your device's system software. 5. Sign out of your Crunchyroll account and sign back in. 6. If nothing has worked, delete and reinstall the app. The sections below cover what the error codes actually mean and the device-specific fixes worth trying.

Error Codes 5 And 6, Explained

Crunchyroll's error codes -5 and -6 show up mainly on TV apps — Roku, Fire TV, and smart TVs — usually when the app loses its connection to Crunchyroll's servers or its locally cached session data goes stale. They often appear in waves during big simulcast premieres, when Crunchyroll's servers are under the heaviest load. That is why the effective fixes are connection and session resets rather than anything exotic:

Restart the device, not just the app. A full power-cycle (unplug for 60 seconds) clears the app's cached session and forces a fresh server connection. Users consistently report this resolves error 6 on Roku when nothing else does.
Test your internet. Run a speed test on another device on the same network. If other streaming apps buffer too, restart your router and move on from Crunchyroll-specific fixes.
Check whether it is everyone. If Crunchyroll fails on your TV and your phone (on mobile data) at the same time, it is almost certainly an outage on Crunchyroll's end — wait it out rather than reinstalling things.
Sign out, then back in. An expired login token can wedge the TV apps; a fresh sign-in issues a new one.

Other Errors You Might Hit

DRM / protected-content errors (in a browser). Crunchyroll's help center says most DRM errors are fixed by turning on protected-content permissions or updating your browser. In Chrome, make sure the site is allowed to play protected content, clear Crunchyroll's cookies, and try again. An incognito window is a quick test — if it plays there, an extension is interfering.
Endless loading or black screen on TV apps. Work the standard order: force close, restart device, update app, reinstall. On a Firestick, clearing the app's cache also helps — and an outdated Fire OS causes crashes across every app, so check how to update your Firestick.
Buffering and quality drops. Crunchyroll's own advice includes restarting your modem/router and testing in a private window on the web. Take other heavy devices off the network during premiere nights.
Playback works but you see ads you should not. That is an account issue, not a bug — confirm your Premium subscription is active and you are logged into the right account.

Fixes By Device

Roku

Restart from Settings > System > Power > System Restart (or just unplug it). This is the top community-verified fix for error 6.
Remove the Crunchyroll channel, restart the Roku, and reinstall it from the Channel Store. Our Roku troubleshooting guide covers the system-level fixes that apply here too.

Fire TV / Firestick

Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Crunchyroll and choose Clear cache.
Still broken? Choose Clear data (you will need to sign in again), then restart the device.

Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio)

Unplug the TV from the wall for one full minute — TV apps hold their state until power is fully cut.
Update the TV's firmware under Settings > Support/System > Software Update, then update or reinstall the Crunchyroll app.

PlayStation, Xbox & Switch

Fully quit the app (close it from the home screen, not just suspend), then relaunch.
Check for app updates in the console's store; delete and reinstall if the error persists.

iPhone & Android

Swipe the app away and reopen; toggle airplane mode to reset the connection.
Update the app, and on Android clear the app's cache under Settings > Apps > Crunchyroll > Storage.

If Nothing Works

Contact Crunchyroll at help.crunchyroll.com with the exact error code, your device model, and the episode that failed — that combination gets you past the canned responses fastest. It is also worth confirming your subscription is in good standing, since a failed renewal quietly downgrades your account: Crunchyroll's current US plans are Fan at $9.99/month, Mega Fan at $13.99/month, and Ultimate Fan at $17.99/month after the price increase Crunchyroll announced in February 2026. If your account was never activated on this TV in the first place, start with our guide to activating Crunchyroll.

FAQ

Why do I keep getting error code 6 on my TV but not my phone?

Because the TV app is the one holding a stale session. Your phone negotiated a fresh connection; the TV did not. A full power-cycle of the TV or streaming device almost always brings it in line.

Does Crunchyroll go down often?

Not often, but major simulcast premieres can strain it. If a big episode just dropped and you are getting errors on every device, give it 20–30 minutes before changing any settings.

Will reinstalling the app delete my watchlist?

No. Your queue, history, and preferences live on your account, not the device — they come back the moment you sign in.