9 common problems that you can fix in minutes

The Fire TV Stick is an excellent device that transforms your regular television into a smart TV. It gives you access to thousands of streaming apps at your fingertips. Although it is one of the top streaming devices, Amazon’s offering may have issues. Whether it’s Wi-Fi connectivity glitches, remote malfunctions, video buffering, or app crashes, these Fire TV problems can damper your cord-cutting experience in no time. Before these issues spoil your binge-watching sessions, check out the tricks below to get your Fire TV Stick back on track.

9 The Fire TV Stick doesn’t connect to a Wi-Fi network

Your Fire TV Stick is as good as a paperweight if it can’t connect to your home or office Wi-Fi network. Use these tips to troubleshoot Wi-Fi on FireStick:

Place your router near the smart TV and remove any interference between them.
Verify that the Wi-Fi password is correct.
Make sure the internet signal is strong and works as expected on other devices.

If none of the tricks work, restart the Fire TV Stick and try again. Here’s how:

Go to Fire TV Settings and select My Fire TV.
Scroll to Restart.

If you changed the Wi-Fi password recently, reconnect the Wi-Fi network using the steps below.

Open Fire TV Settings and select Network.
Select your Wi-Fi network and press the menu button (shown as three horizontal lines) to forget this network.
Select the same Wi-Fi network and enter an updated password from the following menu.
After your Wi-Fi is running, press the play/pause button to check the network status and run a speed test.

8 The remote doesn’t work

Your Fire TV Stick remote is powered by battery cells. If it stops working, replace it with a fresh set and try again. You can also reset your Fire TV Stick remote. However, the steps to reset a remote depend on the model.

If your Fire TV remote has hardware damage, switch to a digital remote until a new unit arrives. You’ll find the steps to activate a software remote in the link below.

7 The Fire TV Stick is stuck at the Fire TV logo

Is your Fire TV Stick stuck on the Fire TV logo? Here are some tips:

Unplug the Fire TV Stick from the power source, wait a bit, reconnect, and try again.
Use another HDMI port to connect your Fire TV Stick.
Use another power source.

6 The Fire TV Stick shows a black screen

If your Fire TV Stick is stuck on a black screen, try the troubleshooting tricks below to get past it and load the Fire OS home menu.

If your Fire TV Stick heats up, unplug it, leave it for 15 minutes, and slot it back into the HDMI port.
Make sure your TV is in the correct HDMI mode. For example, if you connected your Fire TV Stick to HDMI 1, confirm the same input.
If you use an HDMI extender, pick another one or slot the Fire TV Stick into the HDMI port.

5 The app crashes or doesn’t open

Several factors might cause your Fire TV Stick apps to fail to open or crash unexpectedly. If an app collects a corrupt cache, the system may not open it properly.

Go to Fire TV Settings and open Applications.
Select Manage Installed Applications.
Select an app that’s acting up.
Click Clear cache and try again.
You can also uninstall and install the app again to fix such glitches.

Another reason can be a lack of storage on your device, so go to the Applications menu and check the internal space. Delete unnecessary apps from the following menu, free up space, and try again.

Sometimes, apps may not open due to an outdated Fire OS version. Here’s how to update your streaming device to the latest build:

Open My Fire TV under Settings (check the steps above).
Select About and check for updates from the following menu.

4 The Fire TV won’t stop reading the screen

If your little one turned on the VoiceView accessibility feature on your device, the system reads the text displayed on the screen. The feature is aimed at those with visual impairments. Here’s how to deactivate it:

Open Fire TV Settings and select Accessibility.
Scroll to VoiceView.
Turn it off from the following menu.

3 The Fire TV Stick’s sound doesn’t work

Go over these quick tips if the audio doesn’t work on your Fire TV Stick:

Make sure your Fire TV Stick isn’t set on mute.
Close the current app. Restart the Fire TV Stick (refer to the steps above) and open it again.
Reconnect your home theater system.

While your Fire TV Stick can select sound mode automatically, you can also tweak it manually.

Open Fire TV Settings and select Disney & Audio.
Select Audio.
Click Surround Sound and pick a relevant option.

2 4K streaming doesn’t work

Several reasons can lead to a lack of 4K streaming on a Fire TV Stick. First, you need a 4K TV to stream your favorite content at maximum resolution. Then, make sure your Fire TV Stick model supports 4K streaming. Some older models, such as Fire TV Stick Lite, top out at 1080p resolution. Also, some streaming services may limit their content to 1080p resolution. Most streaming apps with live TV channels support only offer full-HD resolution.

1 Bluetooth glitches on a Fire TV Stick

If your Fire TV Stick doesn’t connect to a Bluetooth device like headphones or a gaming controller, follow the tips below.

Make sure your Bluetooth device is turned on and has sufficient power.
Keep your Bluetooth device near the TV.
Move frequency-emitting devices like microwaves and other consumer tech gadgets away from your TV.

Pro tip: Reset the Fire TV Stick

Do you still have an issue with your Fire TV Stick? It’s time to reset the device and start from scratch.

Go to the My Fire TV menu in Settings (check the steps above).
Select Reset to Default Settings.
Click Reset from the following menu.

Conquer Fire TV Stick errors in no time

When an Amazon Fire TV Stick acts up, it can spoil your weekend plans. Before you miss your favorite NFL game, UFC matchup, F1 race, or TV show, follow the tricks above to get back to uninterrupted entertainment for you and your family.

Next time your Fire TV Stick malfunctions, use this guide to resume watching your favorite shows and movies. Meanwhile, look at our comprehensive guide to discover the best Fire TV tips and tricks and ditch your traditional TV in style.

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