In this article, we’ll explain the 10 best fixes to get your Fire TV Stick running like normal again.
Why Your Fire TV Stick Is Freezing or Buffering
There are several potential reasons your Fire Stick has issues, including: It’s worth trying to narrow down the problem from these common reasons so that you know how to fix it. Below, we’ll cover 10 fixes for Fire TV devices, starting with the simplest, most likely solutions.
How to Fix Slow Fire TV Devices
Usually, getting your Fire TV Stick working again is fairly easy — here’s what to do:
1. Restart Your Fire TV Stick
Press and hold the Select and Play/Pause buttons for five seconds, and your Fire TV Stick should reboot. Once it does, check to see whether or not it’s working properly.
2. Check Your Cables
3. Check (and Fix) Your Internet Connection
If your internet is causing your Fire TV Stick to slow down, it should be an easy fix. Note: Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) might throttle your internet connection during peak hours. If this is the case, you might experience buffering during that time. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this, but wait.
4. Turn Off Your VPN
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can negatively affect your internet speeds. Streaming services also often prevent users from accessing their networks using a VPN. If you use a VPN, either of these things could be causing your Fire TV device to play up. Try turning your VPN off and see if the problem goes away. If it does, you might need to consider turning it off every time you stream, or you may need to give another VPN a go.
5. Clear Data and Cache
When you use the Fire TV Stick a lot, it accumulates temporary files in its cache. Occasionally, something goes wrong and one of these files becomes corrupted, causing the device to slow down significantly. To avoid this and make your Fire TV Stick speed up, you just need a clear cache. Here’s how to clear your cache:
6. Force Stop Background Apps
If you leave several processes and apps running in the background of your Fire TV Stick, they may be causing it to freeze and buffer more. To fix this, simply close the apps you aren’t using:
7. Uninstall Unused Apps
If you have installed apps on your Fire TV Stick that you no longer use, we recommend uninstalling them. This will help clear up storage space on your Fire TV Stick and ensure that it’s running as smoothly as possible. Usually, uninstalling old apps is the best way to prevent your Fire TV Stick from overheating. To do so:
8. Update Your Fire OS to the Latest Version
If you’ve had your Fire TV Stick for a while, there’s a chance that it needs a software or firmware update. Often, these updates include patches that fix common glitches and performance issues, as well as security patches that can protect your device from malware. To update your Fire TV Stick: Note: You should also make sure your streaming apps are updated. Your Fire TV Stick should do this by default, but just in case, head to Settings > Applications > App Store. Ensure Automatic Updates is toggled on, then reboot your Fire TV Stick.
9. Turn Off Data Monitoring (and Other Settings)
The Fire TV Stick’s data monitoring feature helps to ensure that you don’t exceed your data allowance. However, to collect app usage data, your Fire TV Stick must use a small amount of system resources. This can cause Fire TV Stick devices to slow down even more. To turn off data monitoring: Note: There are several features that you can disable which might help speed your Fire TV Stick up. Try disabling Collect App Usage Data, Access Prime Photos, Share Your GameCircle Nickname, and App Notifications within the settings menu.
10. Factory Reset Your Fire TV Stick
If nothing else has worked, your last resort is to perform a factory reset. This will return your Fire TV Stick to default settings, remove all of the apps you’ve installed, and hopefully, fix whatever issue was causing your slow Fire TV Stick to lag. To factory reset your Fire TV Stick:
Improve the Streaming Experience
