Amazon FireStick Frozen - Troubleshooting Guide

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Stuck with the Amazon FireStick frozen when you try to get some entertainment on? Here’s everything you can do to get the tiny media streaming device up and running again with the help of this troubleshooting guide.

Apart from becoming synonymous with online shopping, Amazon has also heavily invested in the online media business, with its very own line of smart devices that started with the “Fire” series. Amazon Fire tablets started off the genre of affordable media devices that were designed for families and children, and the release of Fire TV streamers has helped position streaming service such as Netflix and Hulu, along with Amazon’s very own Prime Video service into the homes of millions of users not just in the United States, but across the world.

To make video streaming content accessible to the masses, Amazon took a page from Google’s playbook and created an affordable media streamer – Amazon Fire TV Stick which has rivalled the Chromecast (and even bested it) for years now. Offering the connectivity, rich and intuitive interface of Fire TV OS, all at an affordable price has made the Fire TV Stick a popular buy. But just like any other gadget out there, the portable and affordable media streaming device has had its own share of issues, with users all across the globe reporting Amazon FireStick frozen and rebooting issues.

How to Fix Amazon FireStick Frozen Issues

Amazon has created a slew of media streaming devices under the Fire TV brand, but none have made waves as large as the Fire TV Stick. Apart from the portability that the thumb drive streamer offers, it is the low-budget price tag, yet the ability to work flawlessly with most of the latest and greatest TV entertainment apps is what makes it so popular.

But just like any other tech gadget out there, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is not infallible and can succumb to issues every now and then. We’ve compiled a guide that allows you to understand the reasons behind the Amazon FireStick keeps restarting issue, and several others, along with the solutions to troubleshoot them.

Reboot the Fire TV Stick

The oldest trick in the book when it comes to fixing any or all issues with a tech device is pulling the plug, and then plugging it back again. More often than not, the reason for Amazon FireStick frozen issue is a faltering app or a failed update that has caused the software to crash. The quickest fix to this problem is turning off the streaming device, and then booting it up again to give the device a fresh start.

Reboot Fire TV Stick from the menu

Using the Fire TV Remote, head over to the Settings menu on the screen.
Navigate to the My Fire TV button and tap on it.
Select the Restart option and confirm your action to reboot the Fire TV.

Hard Reboot Fire TV Stick

If the Fire TV Stick is unresponsive in every way, and you can’t navigate to the Settings menu, your only option is to give the device some tough love.

Disconnect the Fire TV Stick from the HDMI port of your TV.
Pull out the Micro-USB cable from the Fire TV Stick or the wall adapter.
Wait for 30 seconds to 1 minute with the FireStick disconnected.

Now feel free to plug the Fire TV Stick back in and see if the device boots up on the HDTV screen, bringing back all of the entertainment streaming glory.

Check the physical connections

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is designed to be shaped like a larger flash drive that plugs right into the HDMI port of your HDTV. But unlike a flash drive, it needs an external power source, provided as a courtesy of the Micro-USB cable and adapter that is provided in the box. If the Amazon FireStick keeps restarting or seems to be freezing up too often, it might not be receiving enough juice to stay powered up.

Inspect the connection between the Fire TV Stick and the power adapter to ensure that it hasn’t come loose.
Check whether the Micro-USB cable is performing optimally and can deliver the charge to the FireStick TV. Replace the connector cable to see if there’s any improvement in the situation.
If you have the USB cable of the Fire TV plugged into the TV’s USB port itself, it might not be enough to power up the device. We recommend using the official USB adapter included in the box.

Update FireStick TV

Amazon has created a custom version of Android OS, known as FireOS which is customized to the bone to provide a stunning big-screen entertainment experience. To keep the devices running smoothly, the manufacturer releases periodic software updates, that are essential to keep things humming smoothly. If you have skipped these software updates too often, chances are that the Amazon FireStick frozen issues can surface shortly after.

Using the Fire TV Remote, head over to the Settings menu on the screen.
Navigate to the My Fire TV button and tap on it.
Select the About option from the available list.
Press the Check for Updates button and wait as the system responds.

Reset FireStick TV

The Amazon Fire TV Stick comes with a built-in feature to reset the device to factory settings, which is designed to get rid of any and all issues with the device. Whether your Amazon FireStick has frozen, or the Fire TV keeps restarting, there’s a good chance that performing a factory reset will most likely rid you of all the issues around it.

Using the Fire TV Remote, head over to the Settings menu on the screen.
Navigate to the My Fire TV button and tap on it.
Select the Reset to Factory Defaults option and confirm your action.

However, if you aren’t able to access the Fire TV Stick, the other way to do so is using the Fire TV Remote.

Press and hold the Right and Back buttons of the Fire TV remote.
Keep holding down the combination of the two buttons for 10 seconds.
The Fire TV Stick should factory reset now, so complete the rest of the process on the TV screen.

Clear up RAM and Storage

While the Fire TV Stick may not seem anything like your mobile phone, but you’ll be surprised to know that the tech behind the two is oddly similar. Hence, the way you’d have to perform the occasional spring cleaning on your Android smartphone, you’d also have to do the same with the streaming device, especially if the Amazon FireStick frozen and rebooting issue seems to be bothering you.

Using the Fire TV Remote, head over to the Settings menu on the screen.
Navigate to the Applications button and tap on it.
Head to the Manage Installed Applications tab and click on it.
You will be able to see the list of all installed apps, so navigate and click on the one you don’t use too often and don’t mind removing.
Move down to press the Uninstall button and confirm your action.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to clear app cache on FireStick TV

If you’re facing issues when using a certain app on your Amazon Fire TV, chances are that some temporary files are causing the issue. All you need to do is clear app cache and app data to make sure that it works flawlessly as it did before.

Using the Fire TV Remote, head over to the Settings menu on the screen.
Navigate to the Applications button and tap on it.
Head to the Manage Installed Applications tab and click on it.
You will be able to see the list of all installed apps, so navigate and click on the one you don’t use too often and don’t mind removing.
Move down to press the Clear Cache button and confirm your action.
Now in the same menu, press the Clear data button and confirm.

What to do if the Fire TV remote doesn’t work?

Have you considered the fact that it isn’t your Fire TV Stick that isn’t faltering, but the Fire TV Remote that has either gone haywire or completely stopped working? We have created an entire guide that is dedicated to helping you resolve FireStick TV Remote issues, so read more here.

Try replacing the Fire TV Remote batteries.
Reboot and Re-Pair the remote to the Fire TV Stick.
Try using the Fire TV Remote app for Android and iOS.
Get a replacement Fire TV Remote from Amazon.

Amazon Fire TV error says software update not successful?

Software updates that are released for FireOS TV by Amazon are essential to ensuring the performance of the Fire TV and the compatibility of new and updated apps that are available on the App Store. When you encounter the error that says the software update wasn’t successful, it can affect the overall functioning of the device, and here’s how you can resolve it.

Reboot the Fire TV device.
Perform a Factory Reset on the Fire TV device.
Make sure that the device is connected to a stable internet connection.
Manually check for available software updates over at Settings – Device – About – System Update and install the latest one available.

Final Words

The cord-cutting era of wireless entertainment is finally upon us, where we are no longer enslaved to the cable companies that dictate what we watch and don’t watch. While the streaming services have rampantly spread across the globe, bringing them to the home entertainment system has been a task assigned to the budget streamers such as the Google Chromecast and the Amazon Fire TV Stick. While the manufacturers cut no corners in the performance of these smart TV devices, there can be issues bubbling up all the time, and that’s what we’re here to assist you with.

Did this thorough guide on how to solve Amazon FireStick frozen and rebooting issue, or did you have to send back the device for a closer look by the experts? Be sure to share your experience with the budget-friendly streaming device in the comments section right down below.

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Husain Parvez

Editor at Whytheluckystiff

Sharing a love-hate relationship with Biotechnology in Uni, Husain moved on to his true calling of becoming a tech geek. While briefly being persuaded by the Apple clan, he made it back to Team Android, and has been a loyal comrade since, with a keen interest in IoT, Entertainment Tech, and Gaming.

Amazon FireStick Frozen – Troubleshooting Guide