When your Amazon FireSick troubleshoots and any media you play starts buffering, you are likely to think that maybe the FireStick or the remote is not working. At times, it may not turn on at all. Luckily, there is a solution to every problem. You can follow numerous solutions to get your FireStick working again if it has stopped working or is troubleshooting. Let’s look at some of those:
Check Whether the FireStick is Configured Properly
First and foremost, double-check the FireStick for proper configuration. Even though it is self-evident, cables easily loosen over time. If the device becomes unresponsive, try connecting it to a new HDMI port in your television.
Secondly, make sure the FireStick is adequately charged, plugged into a power socket, and that you are using the genuine adapter if you still have it. Avoid using your television ports for charging the device.
Having one less cord next to your TV is quite appealing. They do not always provide sufficient power to keep the FireStick running continuously. The FireStick may function adequately most of the time, but occasional boot loops and random restarts are likely.
Check for Connectivity Issues
Your network system could be at fault if you are experiencing lackluster performance, buffering multimedia, or the dashboard not responding at all.
To verify if you have Wi-Fi connectivity, click to “Settings” and then go to “Network.” You can also use this page to verify the signal power. If it is faulty, you will receive reduced speeds, regardless of how powerful your broadband connection is. This can result in latency or a drop in visual quality.
The only approach to addressing this is moving either of the devices closer to each other, with fewer items barricading the signals between them. Rebooting the router rapidly will often help with interrupting signals or other Wi-Fi issues.
Restart your FireStick
The FireStick has been built and designed to allow it to be left plugged in and connected 24/7. However, rebooting can fix many challenges, including connectivity problems and failed upgrades. There are three ways to restart a FireStick;
- By going to Settings > My Fire TV > Restart and then agree when requested. This is the ideal route because it will correctly shut down all applications before rebooting.
- By holding down and selecting Play/Pause keys on the controller for at least five seconds if you cannot move through screens. This will result in an immediate reboot.
- If none of the mentioned options work, the last resort is to unplug the system. The power supply must be disconnected and reconnected to impose a reboot. This should not be done when the device is upgrading.
Check for Available Updates
Not all issues with your Fire Stick are caused by the gadget. To deal with this, ensure the software on your FireStick is upgraded.
Let’s consider the FireStick app Kodi as an example to help you understand. Kodi is among the apps that allow access to a multitude of free content which may not be licensed in your district or costs a lot.
However, if you use an outdated Kodi edition on your FireStick, the most recent being19.4 Matrix, you may experience buffering and latency issues. So, if you want to learn about upgrading Kodi on your FireStick without risking your pre-existing add-ons and builds, follow these complete step-by-step instructions to do so. Any buffering problems that you are facing with Kodi or any other FireStick app could be just an update away.
Amazon advises you to keep the Fire TV Stick connected at all times. This allows app upgrades to proceed in the meantime, and you do not have to worry about disconnecting the device while one is taking place.
Reset FireStick Applications
You can download several excellent applications on the Fire Stick. However, they can occasionally cease working or crash repeatedly. There are specific ways of dealing with this situation.
Ensure your applications are updated first. This should occur automatically, much like with your Fire Stick program. However, you can do it too if you like. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications to manage system files. If an update is released for the problematic app, you can download it.
If it does not work, you can try resetting the software. Select the software you wish to fix from the menu and click Clear cache. This will remove all data files that the app has inadvertently saved, which can pose problems.
If this also does not work, go back to the same menu and opt for Clear data. The app will be entirely reset as a result of this action. You will have to start over, including all login information. Also, remember that removing apps you do not use can assist the Fire TV Stick to run faster.
Conclusion
The Amazon FireStick is generally decent, and when it breaks down, it is typically relatively simple to repair. A possible culprit is the battery or connectivity failure, and you should not bother about restarting apps or going far enough into the settings until you have verified those. Of course, the gadget may be beyond restoration at times. If that is the case scenario, you may have to replace the FireStick.
