Devices like Firestick, Roku TV, or Apple TV are some of the many different devices available on the market right now that are gaining a lot of popularity lately. These are compact gadgets that directly plug into your TV’s HDMI port and connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable. With that, they allow you to access various online services and apps on your TV, such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many more. These services offer you a huge library of movies, shows, documentaries, and other content that you can watch anytime you want. You can also use these devices to cast or mirror content from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to your TV screen.
However, with advanced features, there are also some drawbacks to such devices. A lot of users encounter streaming devices getting slowed down after some time, which can hinder the performance of the device as well as affect your overall experience drastically. There can be many reasons behind a slow streaming device, such as a Fire Stick. But there are also some handy tricks that you can apply to regain the original performance of the device. In this guide, we are going to cover the same for Amazon’s Fire Stick which is one of the most popular streaming devices available on the market right now. You can also find step-by-step instructions for each of our tips so that you can easily test which option works out for you.
Reasons Behind Slow Fire Stick
A slow Fire Stick can be very frustrating, especially when you want to enjoy your favorite shows and movies on your TV. Generally, the user interface of a streaming device is designed to be user-friendly and requires a little navigation to find the content you need to watch. But, if the same is offering slow response or delayed input, it can get really annoying after a certain time. More importantly, you would want your streaming service to be fast, whether you are browsing the content or streaming it. And since most users use the remote, it would be a hassle if the device crashes after registering a lot of delayed inputs at once. To avoid that, you need to understand some aspects that can cause your Fire Stick to slow down after a certain time.
Insufficient storage space
Just like your smartphone, laptop, or computer, the Fire Stick also has a limited amount of internal storage space, which can fill up quickly if you install too many apps or download too much content. This affects the performance and speed of your device. And since Fire Sticks are compact devices, they do not offer exceedingly fast hardware. For instance, the 1st Gen Amazon Fire Stick in 2020 was powered by the MT8695D Quad Core CPU and only 1 GB of RAM. So if the storage space is full, it can slow down the device as the RAM and CPU would need more time to process the data and handle simultaneous requests at once.
Large app cache
Every app on your Fire Stick stores some data in its cache, which is a temporary storage area that helps the app run faster and smoother in the future. However, over time, the cache can become too large and take up too much space, which can slow down your device. In most cases, the cache generated by the application may not be useful as it would not contribute to your usual usage. Thus, it is necessary to check the applications for extensive app cache and clear the cache from time to time.
Network problems
Fire Stick also relies on a stable and fast internet connection to stream videos and access online services. Whether you are using a wired or wireless connection, it requires bandwidth based on the service you are using as well as the content you’re streaming. If your network is slow or unstable, it can affect the speed and quality of your streaming experience. While there is little you can do except increase the bandwidth of your connection to fix this, you can try out some nominal fixes such as reducing the distance between the router and the Fire Stick or reducing the number of devices connected to the router to reduce the strain on your bandwidth.
Overheating of the Fire Stick
Your Fire Stick can get quite hot when it is in use, especially if it is placed in a tight or enclosed space with poor ventilation. This happens because the processor and other internal hardware of the Fire Stick generate heat as they function. It can cause thermal throttling, which means that the device will reduce its performance and speed to prevent overheating and damage. Generally, each CPU is designed with a thermal throttling logic which slows down the performance of the unit automatically under high temperature to avoid damage to the CPU. Because of that, you may notice the Fire Stick performing well after a reboot, but slowing down after an hour or so because of increased temperature.
Problems with the power supply
Fire Stick also needs a proper power supply to run smoothly and efficiently. To ensure that, Fire Stick is shipped with a dedicated power adapter and a power cable which must be used to power the device. If a low-quality or incompatible power adapter is used, it can cause power fluctuations, adversely affecting the performance and speed of your device. It can also occur if the power outlet or extender you are using does not offer a uniform power supply. In worst-case scenarios, it can cause permanent damage to the device, which may not be covered by warranty if an incompatible power adapter was used.
Hardware problems
There can be various hardware issues inside the Fire Stick, such as faulty components, loose connections, or physical damage that can cause this problem. These issues can impair the functionality and mainly affect the performance speed of your device. Unfortunately, if your Fire Stick has hardware issues, there isn’t much that can be done since these devices aren’t designed to be repaired. However, you can claim a free replacement from Amazon if your device is under warranty period and it is not affected by any external factor.
Background apps and services
Fire Stick usually executes multiple apps and services in the background, which consume your device’s resources, such as memory and CPU. While some of these apps and services are essential for the operation of your device, others are unnecessary or redundant. If there are multiple redundant services running in the background, it will definitely hamper the performance of the Fire Stick and increase the loading times for the app or service you are using at the moment.
Outdated Fire Stick firmware
Firmware is basically a software component that controls how your device works and interacts with other devices and services. It is important to keep your firmware up to date to ensure that your device runs smoothly and securely. An outdated firmware can cause compatibility issues, security vulnerabilities, bugs, glitches, and performance problems. In most cases, outdated firmware causes problems with app compatibility and increases the installation and opening time for almost all 3rd party apps.
VPN service
VPN is a tool that allows you to change your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic to make it appear as if you are creating the request from a different region. This can help you access geo-restricted content, protect your privacy, and also enhance your security. However, using a VPN service can affect your bandwidth and in turn, the speed and quality of your streaming experience. This is because a VPN service can add distance and additional encryption to your connection, which can slow it down and reduce its bandwidth.
How to fix slow Fire Stick and improve performance?
Now that you are familiar with what can cause problems with the Fire Stick, let us move on to what you can do to fix the problem yourself. For best results, we recommend trying out all of the fixes since it will only help with the performance and make the device’s performance better. However, make sure you understand the instructions carefully and follow each step carefully so that you don’t end up with more problems. To fix no sound on firestick Hope it helps.
1. Restart the device
The simplest and most effective way to speed up your Fire Stick, or any other streaming device for that matter, is restarting the device. Restarting it can clear up any temporary files, close any background apps, and refresh the system altogether. To restart your Fire Stick, you can unplug it from the power source and plug it back in; just make sure to power OFF the device before doing so. You can also restart the UI to see if it helps by using Settings > My Fire TV > Restart on your Fire TV menu.
2. Fix problems with the power source
To ensure a proper power supply, you should always use the original power adapter and cable that came with your Fire Stick. Also, prefer to plug the device directly into a wall outlet instead of a power strip or an extension cord. If you notice damage or permanent bents on the power cable, you should replace any damaged or faulty power components. This problem also occurs when you are using special accessories for the Fire Stick such as the micro USB cable to connect additional devices. So, try to use the Fire Stick without any additional peripherals and see if the speed is any different.
3. Check ventilation problems
Overheating of the Fire Stick can cause thermal throttling, which means that the device will reduce its performance and speed to prevent damage caused by increased temperature. To avoid that, you can:
- Disconnect your Fire Stick when not in use.
- Use a relatively longer HDMI cable or an HDMI extender to move your Fire Stick away from the TV or other heat sources.
- Place your Fire Stick in a cool and well-ventilated area and avoid direct sunlight from any adjacent window or doorframe.
- Use an external cooling fan to lower the temperature of your Fire Stick.
4. Remove unwanted apps from Fire Stick
Fire Stick and other similar devices are designed primarily with entertainment in mind. Thus, the storage capacity and hardware are offered considering a handful of streaming services. But, the actual capabilities of the device are far better thanks to the operating system and 3rd party accessories that lets you connect a variety of devices to the Fire Stick. While it can offer a much better accessibility and entertainment, it may also cause your Fire Stick to slow down. To free up space, you can uninstall the apps that you don’t use, delete the downloaded files that you don’t need, or use an external USB drive to expand your storage capacity. To uninstall apps from your Fire Stick, you can go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications on your Fire TV menu and select the app that you want to uninstall.
5. Disable unused apps and services
If you aren’t willing to uninstall all apps or services, you can try to disable the ones that you aren’t using right now to improve the performance of the Fire Stick. This can certainly free up resources and improve the performance of the Fire Stick.
- Force stop the apps that you are not using by going to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications on your Fire TV menu and selecting the app that you want to stop.
- Disable the notifications from the apps that you don’t need by going to Settings > Preferences > Notification Settings > App Notifications on your Fire TV menu and turning OFF the notifications for each app.
- Turn OFF features that you don’t use, such as data monitoring, location services, parental controls, etc.
6. Clear app cache
Over time, the app cache can become too large for some apps and take up too much space, which can slow down your device. To clear the cache, you can go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications on your Fire TV menu and select the app that you want to clear. Also, it would be helpful to uninstall and reinstall the application if you are unable to clear the cache.
7. Check for firmware and OS updates
Amazon’s support team controls Firmware and OS of the Fire Stick, and you will receive timely updates for the same to maintain the performance of the device. Over time, it is possible for some firmware or OS updates to be missed by your device because of inactivity or connectivity issues. To check for firmware updates, you can go to Settings > My Fire TV > About on your Fire TV menu and select Check for Updates. If there is an update available, select Install Update and wait for the process to complete.
8. Disable automatic updates for apps
Fire Stick also automatically downloads and installs updates for the 3rd party apps that you have installed on your device. While this can help you get the latest features and fixes for your apps, it can also consume your device’s resources and bandwidth. While it is happening in the background, it will strain the resources and network of your device and cause the active process to slow down. To disable automatic updates for apps, go to Settings > Applications > Appstore on your Fire TV menu and turn off Automatic Updates.
9. Turn OFF usage data collection
Amazon collects and sends some internal data about your usage statistics and preferences to Amazon and third-party providers for future improvements. This can help Amazon improve its services and products, but it can also affect your device’s performance and privacy. To turn OFF usage data collection, you can go to Settings > Preferences > Privacy Settings on your Fire TV menu and turn OFF Device Usage Data, Collect App Usage Data, and Interest-based Ads to cut off the service completely.
10. Turn OFF the data monitoring feature
Fire Stick also has a data monitoring feature that lets you track and manage your own data usage on your device. This can help you avoid exceeding your data limit, but it can also slow down your device. To turn off data monitoring features, you can go to Settings > Preferences > Data Monitoring on your Fire TV menu and turn off Data Monitoring.
11. Perform a factory reset
As a last resort, we will suggest performing a factory reset on your Fire Stick. If the problem occurs because of any software issue, performing a factory reset can resolve it. It will basically reset all configurations of the device to the factory state, offering you the same experience as you would get from a brand-new device. However, keep in mind that you will have to download all of the 3rd party apps you use again and also personalize the settings to suit your usage. Here’s how you can factory reset the Fire Stick.
- Turn on your TV and connect your Fire Stick to it.
- Press the Home button on your remote to go to the home screen of your Fire Stick.
- Use the navigation buttons on your remote to scroll to the right and select Settings at the top.
- Scroll down and select My Fire TV.
- Scroll down again and select Reset to Factory Defaults.
- A pop-up message will appear asking you to confirm your decision. Select Reset.
- Wait for the reset process to complete. It may take several minutes.
- After the reset is done, you will have to set up your Fire Stick again, such as pairing your remote, connecting to your Wi-Fi, signing in to your Amazon account, and downloading apps.
FAQs
A. There are many possible reasons why your Fire Stick might be slow or laggy. Since Fire Stick has a relatively lower storage capacity and processing power, having too many apps running in the background can use up your device’s resources and make it slow. Fire Stick also needs to have the latest firmware and software updates to run smoothly. So, outdated firmware can also cause compatibility issues, bugs, glitches, and performance problems.
A. Restarting your Fire Stick does not automatically clear the cache. However, it may indirectly help with cache management in some cases. Restarting your Fire Stick can clear temporary caches associated with the currently running apps. When you restart the device, it closes all the running apps, and as a result, any temporary data stored in the cache by those apps is usually cleared. Restarting a Fire Stick may also clear some system-level cache. The Fire Stick itself may perform some housekeeping tasks during startup that could include clearing the system-level cache. However, this is typically less effective at clearing significant amounts of cached data.
A. While it may not damage the device or the firmware in any way, resetting your Fire Stick frequently is generally not necessary and can be an inconvenient process. While occasional resets can help resolve issues, doing it too often may lead to unnecessary data loss. One of the most prominent reasons to avoid frequent factory resets is that resetting your Fire Stick will erase all your apps, settings, and login information. If you reset frequently, you’ll need to set up the device and reinstall apps repeatedly, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
A. Upon factory reset, The Fire Stick will return to its default settings. This means that all customizations and configurations you’ve made will be erased, and the device will be like it was when you first took it out of the box. So, all installed apps, app data, and associated settings will be removed. This includes any login credentials and personalized settings within apps. Fire Stick will also erase your Wi-Fi network. You’ll need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi and re-enter your network credentials each time you reset your device.
A. The choice between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks for your Fire Stick depends on your specific Fire Stick model, the position of the router, and the content you are streaming. Since a 2.4 GHz network provides better coverage and can penetrate walls and obstacles more effectively, making it a good choice for larger homes or when the Fire Stick is farther from the router, however, a 5 GHz network provides faster bandwidth, which is beneficial for streaming high-definition content, online gaming, and other bandwidth-intensive activities.
Conclusion
There are many benefits of going for a streaming device, such as a Fire Stick, rather than buying a new smart TV, especially if your TV already supports HDMI input and if you already have a fast and reliable WiFi connection. Having a Fire Stick can enhance your viewing experience and offer you content on demand. And if you are using faster bandwidth, you can also go for the Fire Stick 4K model to further improve the viewing experience. However, there are some problems that you can’t avoid, such as sluggish UI and streaming, which is often faced by Fire Stick users after a while. To avoid that, we have prepared this helpful guide where you can find the possible reasons behind the problem as well as the solutions that can fix the issue for you. You can also reach us via the comment section in case you have a doubt about Fire Stick, and we will get back to you right away.
