Why is my Firestick so Slow and How to Boost it?
Is your Amazon Fire TV Stick feeling sluggish? Waiting forever for apps to load, experiencing choppy playback, or dealing with endless buffering? A frustratingly slow Firestick can ruin your streaming experience. But don’t chuck that Firestick at the TV just yet! There are several common reasons why your Firestick may be slowing to a crawl—and fortunately, most are easy to fix. In this post, we’ll dive into the top 12 culprits behind a slow Firestick and show you how to get it back up to speed.
1. You Have an Outdated Firestick Model
One of the most common reasons for a slow Firestick is simply having an older model. The latest version—the 3rd gen Fire TV Stick 4K—packs a more powerful processor and speedier WiFi than previous Fire TV Sticks. If you’re still rocking a 1st gen model from 2014, it’s definitely time for an upgrade. Even a 2nd gen device from 2016 will feel pokey compared to the latest and greatest.
How to Check Which Firestick Model You Have
Not sure which Firestick you own? Here’s how to check:
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About
- Select your device and look at the model number:
- 1st Gen – D01400
- 2nd Gen – LY73PR
- Fire TV Stick 4K (2018) – LDC9WZ
- Fire TV Stick 4K (2021) – 7HK49T
Consider upgrading to a 3rd gen Fire TV Stick 4K if you have an earlier model. You’ll enjoy significantly faster load times and smoother streaming.
2. Your Firestick Is Overheating
Is your Firestick sluggish and unresponsive only after it’s been on for a while? It may be overheating. Like any electronic device, Firesticks can get toasty, especially with heavy use. If the internal components get too hot, the device will purposely slow itself down to avoid damage.
Signs of an Overheating Firestick
- Feels very warm or hot to the touch
- Slower performance the longer it’s been on
- Apps take longer to load or crash frequently
- Video playback is choppy or buffers often
A few simple steps can help prevent your Firestick from overheating:
- Avoid stuffing it behind your TV with poor airflow
- Plug it directly into the wall outlet vs. a power strip
- Keep it away from other heat-generating devices
- Use the included HDMI extender for better heat dissipation
3. You’re Running Low on Internal Storage
Firesticks don’t have a ton of onboard storage—8GB is typical, with only about 5GB actually usable. If you have a bunch of apps installed, you can easily max out the available space.
When your Firestick’s internal storage is nearly full, it can bog everything down, causing slower load times and sluggish navigation. You may even get “low storage” warnings.
How to Check Firestick Storage
Here’s how to see how much storage you’ve used:
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About
- Select Storage
- You’ll see how much space is used/free under “Internal”
If you’re low on space, uninstalling unused apps can help speed things back up. You can also consider moving some apps to a cloud drive and only downloading them as needed.
4. Too Many Apps Are Running
Having too many apps open simultaneously can slow your Firestick to a crawl. Each app uses some of the Firestick’s memory (RAM) and processing power. So when you have a dozen apps going, it can really drag things down.
You may not even realize how many apps are actually running. When you exit an app, it doesn’t always fully close—it may linger in the background. Over time, all these apps can pile up.
How to Close Apps on Firestick
To close apps completely and free up resources:
- Hold down the Home button to open the Quick Access menu
- Select Apps to see a list of running applications
- Navigate to the app you want to close and click the Menu button
- Select Force Close
Repeat this for each app you want to fully shut down. You can also go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications. Select an app, then choose Force Stop to close it.
5. Your Firestick Needs an Update
It’s easy to overlook Firestick software updates—they usually happen automatically when the device is in sleep mode. But if you leave your Firestick on 24/7 or it’s unplugged often, it can miss these critical updates.
Out-of-date software can cause all kinds of slowdowns and glitches. And you may not get the latest performance enhancements and bug fixes.
How to Update Firestick Firmware
To manually check for updates:
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About
- Select Check for Updates
- If an update is available, click Install Update
Your Firestick will download the update and reboot. The whole process usually takes 5-10 minutes. It’s a good idea to check for updates every month or so to keep things running smoothly.
6. Bloated Firestick Browser Cache
If you use Amazon’s Silk Browser or Mozilla Firefox on your Firestick, a bloated browser cache could be the culprit for slowness. Over time, your browser cache can become stuffed with temporary files, images, scripts, and other data from the sites you visit.
While caching speeds up load times by storing bits of sites locally, it can bog things down if it gets too full. Both Silk and Firefox have options to clear the cache.
How to Clear Cache on Firestick Browsers
In Silk Browser:
- Open the browser and click the 3-dot menu icon
- Go to Settings > Privacy
- Select Clear browsing data
- Make sure “Cached images and files” is checked
- Click Clear data
In Firefox:
- Open Firefox and click the hamburger menu
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security
- Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data
- Select Cached Web Content and click Clear
7. Slow Internet Connection
Sometimes the problem isn’t your Firestick at all—it’s your internet. Video streaming, especially in HD and 4K, requires a fairly fast and stable internet connection. If your WiFi network is slow, congested, or has a weak signal, your Firestick will suffer.
Keep in mind, the maximum speeds you get over WiFi will always be slower than a direct Ethernet cable connection. Interference from walls, appliances, and neighboring networks can also hamper your WiFi speeds.
Firestick Internet Speed Requirements
Here are the minimum speeds Amazon recommends for Fire TV Sticks:
| Video Quality | Recommended Speed |
|---|---|
| SD | 5 Mbps |
| HD | 5-8 Mbps |
| 4K Ultra HD | 15+ Mbps |
If possible, connect your Firestick directly to your router with an Ethernet adapter for the most reliable speeds. If you must use WiFi, make sure your Firestick is close to the router with minimal obstructions.
You can also try changing your WiFi router’s channel to one with less interference. Channels 1, 6, and 11 tend to have the least overlap.
8. Background App Refresh Is On
By default, your Firestick allows apps to refresh in the background. This means even when you’re not actively using an app, it can still be working and downloading data behind the scenes.
While this allows apps to stay up to date or preload content, it can also cause performance hiccups, especially on slower internet connections.
How to Turn Off Background App Refresh
- Go to Settings > Applications > Appstore
- Turn off “Automatic Updates”
You can also control this on a per-app basis in the Manage Installed Applications menu. Select an app, then disable “Auto-update”.
Just remember, with automatic updates disabled, you’ll need to manually update your apps periodically to get the latest features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
9. Data Monitoring Is Turned On
Firesticks have a “Data Monitoring” feature that tracks the data usage of your apps. It runs continuously in the background, which can slightly impact device performance and responsiveness.
If you don’t need to track data usage, turning this off may provide a small speed boost. Data monitoring is off by default, but if you previously enabled it, here’s how to switch it off:
- Go to Settings > Preferences > Data Monitoring
- Toggle Data Monitoring off
If you do want to keep tabs on data usage, consider only turning data monitoring on temporarily as needed rather than leaving it on 24/7.
10. HDMI CEC Device Control Is Enabled
HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) allows your Firestick to control other devices, like your TV or soundbar, over HDMI. It’s how your Firestick can turn your TV on/off or adjust the volume.
But sometimes HDMI CEC can cause unexpected behavior or laggy response times, especially if you have multiple CEC devices. If you notice delays when navigating menus or clicking links, try disabling HDMI CEC.
How to Turn Off HDMI CEC
- Go to Settings > Display & Sounds > HDMI CEC Device Control
- Toggle HDMI CEC off
You’ll lose the ability to control other devices with your Firestick remote, but you may see snappier performance. If disabling CEC makes no difference, you can simply re-enable it.
11. You’re Using a VPN
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are popular for streaming geo-blocked content or enhancing privacy. But routing your Firestick’s internet connection through a VPN server can significantly slow down your speeds.
This is especially true if you’re using a free or budget VPN service with limited bandwidth and overcrowded servers. Even reputable VPN providers will usually cut your speed by 10-20%.
VPNs and Firestick Performance
If your Firestick feels much slower when connected to a VPN:
- Try connecting to a different VPN server, ideally one closer to your physical location
- Check if your VPN offers split tunneling and whitelist the Firestick
- Upgrade to a premium VPN service with better speeds
- Disable the VPN when not needed to maximize speed and performance
In general, you’re always sacrificing some speed for the benefits of a VPN. If you require a VPN, opting for the fastest one you can afford will minimize the performance hit on your Firestick.
12. Your Firestick Needs a Reboot
When all else fails, there’s the tried-and-true IT solution: turn it off and back on again. Restarting your Firestick clears out any cobwebs, flushes the memory, and gives it a fresh start.
It’s a good troubleshooting step if your Firestick is acting sluggish, freezing up, or being unresponsive. A simple reboot can often resolve odd glitches and performance problems.
How to Reboot Your Firestick
There are a few ways to restart your Firestick:
- Hold down the Select and Play/Pause buttons for 5+ seconds
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Restart
- Unplug your Firestick, wait 10 seconds, then plug it back in
If you find yourself needing to frequently reboot to maintain performance, you may have a deeper issue, like a failing power supply or internal hardware problems. Contact Amazon support if regular restarts don’t resolve your speed woes.
Conclusion – Why is my Firestick so Slow
A sluggish Firestick can suck the joy out of streaming, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. From clearing out old apps and browser data to optimizing your WiFi network, there are plenty of ways to put the pep back in your Firestick’s step.
Remember, even small tweaks like shutting down background apps or disabling unused features can add up to a zippier device. And if you’re still relying on an original Firestick from the 2010s, it might be time to spring for an upgrade.
With a little digital decluttering and some smart adjustments, you can go back to binge-watching without the buzzkill of a slow, stuttering Firestick. Now get in there and show that Firestick who’s boss!
Frequently Asked Questions About Why is my Firestick so Slow
How can I test my Firestick’s speed?
You can use the Firestick’s included app “Analiti” to test your WiFi network speed and performance. Find it under Settings > Network > Analiti. Run the “Quality” test for a quick check of your connection speed, strength, and reliability.
Why is my firestick so slow? and Do Firesticks get slower over time?
Firesticks don’t physically slow down as they age, but they can feel slower over time as apps become more demanding and your storage fills up. Newer Firestick models will also have faster hardware than older ones. Keeping your apps and OS up to date can help maintain performance on aging devices.
Can I expand my Firestick’s internal storage?
Officially, no. Firesticks don’t have a slot for expandable storage like some streaming devices. However, there are third-party accessories and hacks to add more storage via the USB port, but these are unsupported by Amazon
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