Maybe you just purchased your first Amazon Firestick or suddenly your Firestick won’t turn on anymore although it was working fine before. What could be wrong? Did you hook it up properly? Is the Firestick faulty? This is not an uncommon issue that some Fire TV users encounter.
If your fire stick won’t turn on, first double-check the setup and complete a hard reset. If that doesn’t work, try resetting your router or modem. Alternatively, you may need to perform a software update. It’s also possible Amazon’s service is down, so check for an outage. Finally, check if your batteries are low and need replacement.
Before you try to return your Firestick or purchase a replacement, you may want to troubleshoot the problem first. Let us take a look at some of the most common problems that may cause an Amazon Firestick to not turn on and how to troubleshoot them.
Troubleshooting Firestick that won’t turn on
1. Software Update Error
Sometimes an Amazon Firestick will not turn on because of a software update error or the Firestick is unable to download and properly install an update.
If you can unplug and plug in your Firestick and eventually get it to turn on, you should try to update the software immediately.
After the update, check to see if that fixes all your current problems.
If you are unable to update the software of your Firestick then more action is required.
Consider taking the following steps:
- Make sure the Amazon Firestick is connected to the Internet.
- Try restarting your modem or router if you think you having connection issues.
- Unplug the Firestick from the TV and plug it back in after a few minutes.
- Make sure you have enough storage space for the software download.
INTERESTING READ: Can You Use Firestick With Roku TV
2. Service Temporary Down
On the rare occasion that Amazon is having network issues and Firestick service is interrupted, there is not much you can do on your end.
When you see the “Home is Currently Unavailable” message, you can either wait a few hours and try again or you can contact Amazon customer support.
If you contact Amazon and they inform you that the Firestick network is up and running then you could have one of the following issues.
- Connection issues: Your Wifi connection could be too slow or it is cutting in and out.
- Registration issues: If you do not register your device, you may miss out on regular software updates and some apps may stop working.
- Software problems: If you are not updating your software, you are missing out on fixes that help to prevent errors.
- Not enough storage space: If you install too many apps on your Firestick, it may cause errors because it does not have enough storage space and memory to operate properly.
- HDMI connection issues: A faulty HDMI port can cause error messages as well as prevent your Firestick from working correctly.
3. Firestick Remote Having Low Battery
If the batteries in your Firestick remote are too low or completely dead, then your remote may malfunction and be unable to turn on your Firestick. Some Firestick users mistake a dead remote for a larger issue and go through a lot of trouble troubleshooting other potential issues.
Checking the batteries in your Firestick remote should be one of the first things you do. The Firestick remote takes two triple-AAA batteries. To check to see if the batteries are working properly, remove them from the Firestick remote and try to use them in another device.
Some devices you may have in your home that need two triple-AAA batteries include other remotes, a wireless doorbell, clocks, and some electric toothbrushes.
Simply try the batteries in another device that you find laying around your home, and if the device works with the batteries, then you know the issue is not the battery.
If the batteries have been proven to be dead, simply purchase some replacements.
INTERESTING READ: Firestick Remote Volume Not Working
4. Hard Reboot Fire TV
Sometimes doing a hard reboot on your Fire TV and clearing the cache is enough to fix any issues you may be experiencing. To do a hard reboot of your Fire TV, take the following steps.
- With your television powered on, go ahead and unplug the TV from the power outlet.
- Remove the Firestick from the HDMI port on the television.
- Hold down the power button on your TV for 60 seconds.
- Reinsert the Firestick into the HDMI port.
- Plug the TV back in, turn it on, and make sure you have the input set to the correct HDMI slot.
- Your Firestick should now turn on, if not, then continue troubleshooting.
5. Restart Router or Modem
Your router or modem could be affecting your Amazon Firestick and its functionality. If you suspect that your router or modem could be the culprit.
You will need to first make sure that your network device is compatible with the Amazon Firestick. You can do this by performing a quick internet search or by contacting Amazon customer support.
If you already know that your router or modem is compatible with your Firestick because it was working normally before, then you may just need to reset your network device.
To reset a router or modem, follow these steps.
- Unplug the router or modem from the power outlet.
- Wait at least 30 seconds to let the device cool down and to indicate to the ISP that your device is offline.
- Plug the router or modem back into the power outlet and let it power on. If your device does not power on within a few seconds, you may need to press the power button.
- Wait 60 seconds while ISP authenticates your device and assigns it a public IP address.
- Wait 120 seconds while the router boots up and gives all connected computers, smartphones, and your FireStick, a new private IP address.
6. Check Wi-fi Signals
If your internet connection to your home is working properly, then you may have a problem with your Wifi signals reaching the Firestick device. This may happen depending on where your router or modem and television are located in your home.
For this, you should check other devices to see how the Wifi signal strength is when you are near the television. You can use your phone, tablet, or laptop to test the signal strength. Every device should have a universal Wifi signal located somewhere on the start screen that typically contains three to five bars.
Look at that symbol on your device when you are standing near the TV to see if it is full or if it shows only one or zero bars. If there is an X or a ! visible, then that means you are having trouble getting a strong Wifi symbol.
Another test you can do is to do an internet speed test to see what kind of internet speeds you are getting in the area where your television is.
If you are getting low speeds or if you are not getting a strong Wifi signal, you can move the location of your TV or router or purchase a Wifi signal amplifier or repeater to increase the signal strength.
7. Check Faulty Power Button
If you are not able to use the power button on your remote but you suspect the other buttons are working properly, then you may have a faulty power button.
The first thing you should do is check to see if the batteries are dying. If the batteries are fine, then make sure you are trying to use the power button when you are within 10 feet of your TV.
If the power button is still not working, then try unplugging the Amazon Firestick from the power outlet and then plugging it back in after 60 seconds. You may also want to try using the Fire TV application to pair the remote to the Firestick.
If all else fails, you may have to reset your remote to factory settings or take your remote to a certified Amazon Firestick technician. The certified Amazon Firestick technician can diagnose the problem, and if need be, replace the power button or the entire remote.
8. Check the Firestick Setup
Another thing you will want to double-check right away if your Firestick won’t turn on is to see if it is set up correctly. Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to properly set up your Amazon Firestick.
- Insert the Firestick into one of your television’s HDMI ports.
- Plug the power adapter into a power outlet.
- Put two triple-AAA batteries into the remote.
- Power on the television and change the input to the correct HDMI port.
- Pair the remote with the Firestick by pressing the home button.
- You should see a message that says press play to start.
- Press play and your remote will automatically pair with the Firestick.
- Follow all the on-screen prompts to connect to the internet and to download and install the latest software.
- Log in to your Amazon account and complete the two-step verification process.
- Follow any other instructions that may pop up.
9. Faulty Motherboard
It is extremely rare, however, having a faulty motherboard in an Amazon Firestick could potentially happen. If you have tried everything else, you may need to send your Firestick to a certified Amazon Firestick repair shop to have them test the motherboard, and if need be, replace it.
10. Firestick Audio Issues External Speakers
If you are not getting any sound from your television, soundbar, or external speakers but you are getting a picture, then you may need to troubleshoot.
Try one of the following troubleshooting tactics to see what is causing the lack of sound.
- Check to see if the TV volume is muted and if the volume needs to be turned up.
- Check your external sound system to see if that is muted or needs to be turned up.
- Remove the Firestick for a few minutes and then reconnect it to the HDMI port.
- Check your internet connection to make sure it is not super slow. Super slow internet can cause a movie to have glitches in the sound and video output.
- If you are using an AV receiver for a surround system, make sure it is properly powered on and that the Firestick is named as one of the sources of sound to the AV receiver.
- Check the settings of your external sound system and the sound settings on the Firestick.
- Use video sync tuning in the Firestick settings menu to ensure that the video and sound are lining up.
- Set up a soundbar manually by going to the equipment control settings on your Firestick. If the Firestick does not recognize the sound bar, you can help it identify the external sound system in these settings.
- If all else fails, then simply restart and unplug everything from your Firestick to the television to the router or modem.
11. Double Check All Your Connections
Sometimes problems could be caused by something as simple as a loose connection. Double-check all connections from the Firestick and television. Check the Firestick to HDMI connection, the USB to power supply connection, and the connection to a power outlet.
If you have any other connections, double-check those as well including external speakers and any other accessories you may have. A loose connection could be causing a disturbance to the operation of the Firestick.
12. Unplug Your Firestick from its Power Source and Power-Cycle Your TV
To power-cycle your TV to see if that can help address the issue of your Firestick not turning on, first you must unplug the Firestick from the HDMI port. Next, unplug the power source of the Firestick from the TV and the wall.
Once that is complete, follow the next steps to power-cycle your television set.
- Unplug the television from the powerstrip or outlet it is plugged into.
- Let the television sit unbothered for about 15 minutes.
- Press and hold down the power button for 60 seconds.
- Connect the TV’s power chord back into the socket.
- Turn on the TV and the power cycle process should have been complete.
- Plug the Firestick back into the HDMI port and reconnect the power supply.
- Turn on the Firestick and see if your problem has been resolved.
13. Make Sure You’re Using the Correct Input
When you first set up your Amazon Firestick, you will want to make sure that your TV has an open HDMI port that can be used. Connect the Firestick directly to the television through the HDMI port or by using an HDMI extension.
If your TV does not have an HDMI port, then you may be able to still connect the Firestick to your television by purchasing a special component or a composite converter.
Once you have made sure that your Firestick is connected to the correct input on your television, next, you will need to make sure that the input channel that you have on is the correct one as well.
If you have plugged your Firestick into HDMI2, then you will need to push the input button on your remote until your TV is set to HDMI2.
14. Use a Different HDMI Port on Your TV
Sometimes, you may have a faulty HDMI port on your television that is preventing the Firestick from working properly.
To double-check the HDMI port, try connecting another device to the port to see if it works. If not, then you may have a faulty HDMI port.
If you have a bad HDMI port, then you will need to use a different HDMI port on your television to have your Firestick work correctly. If the other HDMI ports are in use, then you will need to unplug whichever device you do not need while you are using the Amazon Firestick.
If you only have one HDMI port and it is bad, then you will need to contact a television repair service or your TV manufacturer to have the port replaced.
15. Resolve Any Image-Related Issues
Resolving image-related issues may help your Firestick to function properly. Here are a few things you can try if you are having image-related issues.
- Power-cycle the Firestick by holding down the Play/Pause button and the select button at the same time for a minimum of 5 seconds. This should automatically have your Firestick complete the power-cycle process.
- Double-check all the connections between the Firestick, the HDMI adapter/extender, and the television. You can also try another HDMI port to see if the port you were using is starting to go bad.
- Make sure that your Firestick has the latest software installed and that all applications are updated as well.
- Reset the Amazon Firestick to its factory settings. If you do this, all of your applications, preferences, and saved data will be erased and your Firestick will act like it did when it first came out of the box.
16. Check Power Adapter, Cord, and Power Source
Another option that could be the cause of your Firestick troubles is a bad power source, adapter, or power cord.
First of all, you want to make sure you are using the power adapter and cord that came with the Firestick at the time of purchase.
Second, you want to make sure that the power outlet you are using is working properly. Test it by plugging in a different electronic device to see if it is getting power.
Last, you will want to make sure that the power adapter and chord are working properly.
Since the power cord uses USB, you can try connecting a different USB-powered device to the cord and power adapter to see if they are relaying electricity properly from the power source to the device.
17. Try your Firestick on another TV
If you have a family in your home, chances are you have more than one television.
By double-checking the Firestick on another television, you can see if the problem lies in the TV or in the Firestick itself.
If you only have one television in your home, then you may want to ask a neighbor or a friend if you can come over to test out your Firestick.
18. Change out the power adapter/cable
When you double-checked the power source, adapter, and power cord, and if you were able to confirm that the problems are being caused by a failing power adapter or power cable, then you will need to purchase a new one.
Simply change out the power adapter and power cable with the new one after you have made your purchase.
19. Reset Firestick
If you are looking for the quickest and easiest way to reset your Firestick, simply unplug the power cord or adapter.
Once unplugged, leave it alone for a few minutes. After you have waited a few minutes, go ahead and plug it in again and try to turn on your Firestick.
If it turns on but you are still constantly having issues, then you may need to reset the Firestick to its factory settings.
20. Replace With Splitter
If you are thinking about using an HDMI splitter so you can plug in your Firestick as well as a few other devices at the same time, then you will want to make sure the splitter is compatible with the Firestick.
21. Get a new Firestick
If you have tried everything and your Amazon Firestick is still not working properly, it may be time to suck it up and buy a new one. But, how do you know which model Firestick is the best and which one is the right one for you?
Some Firesticks only support 1080p whereas others may support 4k, Dolby Vision, or Dolby Atmos. Some Firesticks use Alexa to help pick out movies, download apps and provide basic functions like changing the volume, powering down, etc.
Here is a wonderful guide to help you compare the different Firestick models to see which one may be best for you.
Conclusion
Again, before you go out and buy a new Amazon Firestick, there are a good number of troubleshooting tactics you should try first.
Your powering-on issue could stem from something as simple as bad batteries in the remote or a loose connection somewhere in the setup.
If you troubleshoot the problem with all of the suggestions provided above and you still have trouble, then yes, it may be time to purchase a new Amazon Firestick.
