It is not a surprise for Fire Stick users to encounter an issue where their Fire Stick won’t turn on. Although the streaming device is an excellent addition to your home entertainment, it can run into occasional issues for several reasons.
If your Amazon Fire Stick won’t turn on, you should first try to unplug the device from the power source and re-plug it after waiting for at least 60 seconds. If this does not help turn on Fire TV, you should confirm that you have chosen the correct input (HDMI source) on your TV. It should be the same HDMI port connected to Fire TV.
Issues like Firestick not turning on are more common than you may expect. There are several troubleshooting methods that you can use to fix it quickly.
What to do when your Fire Stick Won’t Turn On
There are several troubleshooting methods that you can try to fix Firestick not turning on. Make sure you follow the list one by one, testing each method before moving on to the next one.
Replace Batteries On Fire TV Remote
A low-battery issue with the Fire Stick remote will cause it to malfunction. You can press the remote buttons all you want, but your Fire TV remote won’t do anything if the battery levels are low. Unfortunately, sometimes users don’t consider this problem and wrongfully assume that their Fire Stick device has gone into a permanent sleep mode.
You can fix your “Fire TV not turning on” problem by ensuring that your TV remote has ample battery power. Change the batteries immediately if the remote continues to be unresponsive.
Use Original Power Adapter
A faulty power adapter might result in your Firestick not turning on. By ensuring that the power adapter is plugged in correctly, you can rule out any power adapter-related issues. You must also make sure that you are using the original power adapter that came boxed with the Fire TV Stick, not a third-party adapter.
Unplug Power Cord
To resolve the issue, you must allow your Fire TV Stick to cool down by unplugging the power cord. Here’s the correct method to unplug the power cord on your Fire TV and fix the issue:
- Unplug the power adapter
- Pull out the cord from the adapter
- Give it a cool down time of 30 seconds
- Replug the adapter and cord
- Turn on your TV and Fire Stick
Check The HDMI Source On TV
Sometimes your Firestick won’t turn on because you have overlooked one of the most basic determiners, i.e., checking the HDMI source and selecting the right source. You see, your TV remote has a source button that lets you switch between different HDMI ports and the devices connected to them.
You need to check your TV input and ensure that the HDMI port connected to your Fire Stick is the source you selected on your TV (like HDMI 1 or HDMI 2). You can check at the back of your TV, identify the HDMI port number connected to the Fire TV, and then choose the same source.
Using High-Speed HDMI Cable
Suppose you are using a Fire TV Stick that supports 4K resolution and your TV also supports the same. In that case, you need to ensure that you’re using a compatible HDMI cable that can transmit high-resolution video quality.
Also, you need to ensure that you’re plugging the HDMI into the HDMI HDCP 2.2 port on your TV. The high-speed ports are usually marked 4K or HDCP 2.2. You may need to shine a light on the port to confirm.
Plug Fire Stick Directly Into TV’s HDMI Port
Fire TV Stick comes with a small extender that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV, and then the Fire Stick is connected to the HDMI port on the extender, which then connects to the power adapter. When you face an issue like Fire Stick won’t turn on, you can remove the extender and plug the Fire Stick unit directly into the HDMI port of your TV. Sometimes the extender is the faulty link, and you can rule it out by removing it.
Fire Stick Won’t Turn On: Other Common Issues
Your Amazon Fire Stick won’t turn on due to several common issues caused by contributing factors. Take a look at the issues below and troubleshoot them on your Fire Stick.
Router Connection Errors
When their Fire TV device stops working, most Amazon Fire Stick users check the power adapter and HDMI cable. Unfortunately, they don’t think about checking their Wi-Fi router, which could be causing the issue.
If your Fire Stick is not turning on, then you should first check your router. You can restart your router by disconnecting it, wait for 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Then, turn on your Amazon Fire Stick to check if restarting your router has fixed the issue.
Note: Due to lack of internet connectivity, your Fire Stick remote could stop responding, often leading to the Fire Stick not turning on. You must restore the internet connectivity to fix the issue.
Compatibility Issues
If you do not use the original Fire Stick remote, you may encounter compatibility problems. Several additional compatibility problems include not using the Amazon authorized power cord or HDMI cable.
To resolve Fire Stick problems, you must ensure that you’ve installed your Fire TV Stick device correctly. You should also confirm that you’re using the original cables and remote that came bundled with the Fire Stick.
Broken Physical Connections
Occasionally, your Fire Stick will not turn on due to multiple connection failures. In this case, you need to determine whether your TV’s HDMI port and the HDMI output on your Fire Stick are both damaged. Perhaps a minor physical link has collapsed.
The best course of action is to systematically remove your Amazon Fire Stick remote batteries and reconnect every HDMI cable. You should also use a different HDMI port on your TV to rule out a problem with the port.
Note: If you find any damage in the Fire Stick cable or the unit, you should contact Amazon customer support and get the device fixed or replaced by their expert technicians.
Damaged Firestick Remote
The Fire Stick remote is the most frequently used controller. It is also the most dynamic component because it’s portable and does not stay in one place like the HDMI cable or the Fire Stick unit itself.
Fire Stick users are prone to damaging their remote as they use it while doing mundane activities like eating, often resulting in accidental liquid spills. If you damaged your Fire Stick remote in any way and your Fire Stick won’t turn on, you should replace the remote.
Alternatively, you can also install the Fire TV app on your phone and use the built-in remote control feature to control your Fire Stick.
Connectivity and Wi-Fi Connection Issues
If you do not have a fast internet plan, you will likely struggle to get your Fire Stick to function. The Fire Stick remote uses Wi-Fi signals to control the streaming device. Without a steady and speedy connection, it will not work properly, and sometimes your Fire Stick won’t turn on. You must check to see if you have a stable internet connection with decent internet speeds to stream on Fire Stick. If not, upgrade your internet subscription.
Here are the Internet download speed recommendations for streaming by Amazon:
- 0.5 Mb/second: Minimum required broadband connection speed
- 1.5 Mb/second: Recommended internet connection speed
- 3.0 Mb/second: Recommended speed for streaming SD quality
- 5.0 Mb/second: Recommended speed for streaming HD quality
- 25 Mb/second: Recommended speed for streaming Ultra HD quality
Faulty Motherboard
Motherboard issues are rare with the Fire Stick, although they can happen. Overheating is a likely source of the problem with a Fire Stick.
If you’ve concluded that your Fire Stick has a faulty motherboard, your only choice is to buy a new motherboard. In the meantime, you can ship your Fire Stick to an authorized Amazon customer service center. They may provide a lasting solution for your device for a small fee. Hopefully, this will fix the “FireStick won’t turn on” issue you’re facing.
Fire Stick Audio Issues
The Fire Stick often won’t turn on when you have connected external speakers for audio output. The external setup can cause audio issues on the Fire Stick. In this case, you should check and find out if the external speakers are compatible with the device. If it is not, then you should check the audio settings on the Fire Stick. Here’s how you can fix the settings in your Fire Stick.
How to fix audio settings in Fire Stick:
- Go to Settings
- Click on Display and Sounds > Audio
- Now, click on Surround Sound
- Choose Dolby Digital Output
If this does not fix the issue, you should disconnect the external speakers and connect them with another device to check if they are working correctly.
Fire Stick Image Issues
There’s a high probability that your Fire Stick is dead if it’s not displaying the correct picture output. An HDMI extension or a charging cable that isn’t correctly attached is most likely the cause.
Unplug all of your cords and everything else attached to your Fire Stick device. Wait for 5 minutes and then reconnect the cables and adapter. Sometimes an incorrectly placed cable can cause image output issues on the Fire Stick. You should also check and fix loose connections.
Faulty Power Adapter
If your Firestick is not turning on after trying the above troubleshooting methods, then you should take a good look at the power adapter attached to the Fire Stick. There’s a chance that it is damaged and unable to supply adequate power to the main unit. If it is defective, then you should contact Amazon support to get it replaced.
Damage To Charging Port Or Cable
In some cases, the USB wire attached to the power adapter could be damaged. You should unplug the wire and use it with another device to see if it continues to render no power. If the cable is damaged, replace the wire to restore the power to your Fire Stick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let us answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the firestick not turning on.
How do you reset an unresponsive Firestick?
You can reset your Fire Stick by pressing and holding the Play/Pause and back buttons simultaneously.
Why is my Amazon Fire Stick not working?
There are many reasons why your Fire Stick is not working. Those reasons include defective remote, damaged cables, poor signal reception, or faulty hardware components.
Why isn’t my firestick remote working?
Your Fire TV remote is not working due to battery drain or poor Wi-Fi connection. You should replace the batteries on the remote and check your internet connection to make it work.
Conclusion
As mentioned, there could be many reasons why your fire stick won’t turn on. You should troubleshoot every method one by one to determine the cause of the malfunction. If nothing fixes the issue, you should contact Amazon support to repair or replace the device.
We hope our guide about Fire Stick won’t turn on helps you in resolving the problem. Let us know in the comments.
