12 Best Ways to Fix Amazon Fire TV Stick Black Screen

Video streaming is the future that we’re living in now. Amazon Fire TV Stick is one of the must-have devices for cord-cutters. While a Fire TV Stick is an exception device to unlock on-demand TV shows, movies and live TV channels, it’s not free of issues. Many users have complained about FireStick stuck on a black screen. If you are among them, use the steps below to get past FireStick black screen in no time.

Does your TV screen flicker or turn black for up to five seconds? The black screen issue could be due to a bug in the Fire TV Stick’s Fire OS or a basic hitch in the device’s operation. The type (and format) of content being played could also contribute. We outline the major possible causes of this issue as well as their respective fixes in this post.

1. Change Accessories

The Fire TV Stick’s black screen could stem from its accessories. Check that the streaming stick is properly connected to the power adapter via a USB cable. You should also ensure that the cable’s micro-USB end is tightly fitted into the Fire TV Stick. Likewise, you can try using a different USB power cable and check if things are different afterwards.

We recommend using the original USB accessories (power adapter and cable) bundled with the device. Third-party or counterfeit accessories might be unable to provide sufficient power required to boot the Fire TV Stick and keep it on for a long time.

2. Troubleshoot Internet Connection

It is recommended that you have at least 10Mbps for 1080p and 20Mbps for 4K streaming. If your internet connection is slow, you will experience constant buffering, leading to a black screen. If the internet connection isn’t the problem, move to the next solution.

If your Amazon FireStick has Wi-Fi issues, check our troubleshooting guide to fix the problem. FireStick also comes with a built-in tool to run speed test (more on that later).

3. Restart Fire TV Stick

As mentioned earlier, the black screen issue could be due to a minor glitch on the streaming device. And just like other Fire TV Stick issues, simply restarting the device can help restore it to normalcy.

Navigate to Settings > My Fire TV > Restart to restart your Fire TV Stick. If you are not able to access the FireStick Settings menu, use the remote to complete the reboot process.

You can hold the Select button (the round middle button) and the Play/Pause button together for about 5 seconds.If your remote is faulty or doesn’t work, you can also unplug the Fire TV Stick from its power source and replug it. Upon successful reboot, play some video content on your Fire TV Stick apps and check if the visuals are playing properly or not.

4. Try a Different HDMI Port

If you are still experiencing Fire TV Stick black screen issue, check that the device is fitted completely (not halfway) into the TV’s HDMI port. And if the TV has multiple HDMI ports, try switching the Fire TV Stick to a different port.

5. Use Another TV

FireStick not working or stuck on a black screen can be related to your TV. You should try plugging your FireStick into another TV or a top monitor. If the streaming device works fine, your outdated TV is the main culprit here.

6. Check Network Connection

Does your Amazon FireStick start showing a black screen out of nowhere? You should connect to a 5GHz Wi-Fi network as it offers better speeds and range compared to 2.4GHz frequency. You can also run a quick speedtest from FireStick Settings.

Step 1: Head to Fire TV Stick Settings.

Step 2: Open the Network menu.

Step 3: Select your Wi-Fi network and press the play/pause button.

Step 4: Run speed test from the following menu.

If your Fire TV Stick is set in a Wi-Fi dead zone, get yourself an Ethernet adapter and try again.

7. Use HDMI Extender

Although you can plug the Fire TV Stick dongle directly into your TV, Amazon strongly recommends using the bundled HDMI extender. In addition to improving Wi-Fi connectivity and remote performance, the extender also allows you to fit the Fire TV Stick into your TV’s HDMI port properly.

8. Check Input Source

You should match your remote’s source or input button to the HDMI port that your Fire TV is plugged into. Setting your TV’s active input source to HDMI 1 while the streaming device is connected to HDMI 2 or HDMI 3 could make you erroneously think that the TV doesn’t recognize the Fire TV Stick and lead to a black screen.

This is a common occurrence on TVs with multiple HDMI ports. Therefore, we recommend verifying that the active input source is set to the corresponding HDMI port holding the Fire TV Stick.

9. Check TV/Port Compatibility

The HDMI ports on your television set are rated to support specific resolutions and refresh rates. To use the Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Stick 4K, your TV’s HDMI must be capable of handling at least Full HD (1080p) or HD (720p) content at 50/60 Hz refresh rate. Many users with a Fire TV Stick struggled using it with their HD TVs until they switched to a different TV with a 1080p HDMI port.

This is prevalent in old television sets. Many new-generation TVs have HDMI ports that will recognize and work (without glitches) with all versions of the Fire TV Stick.

10. Overheating Fire TV Stick

Your Fire TV Stick is continuously connected to the charger and streaming videos whenever the TV is on. If you are living in a region where the average temperature is higher and the climate is warm, then it could overheat the streaming stick. In such cases, you will notice a black screen as well as glitches during general navigation in Fire OS.

You should unplug the Fire TV Stick and let it cool down.

11. Check Amazon Servers

The black screen issue on your Fire TV Stick might be due to problems at Amazon servers. No matter what trick you try, you won’t be able to bypass the black screen issue. You can check downdetector and confirm the issue. In such cases, you have no option but to wait for Amazon to fix the problem on their side.

12. Update Fire OS

Once you troubleshoot Amazon FireStick black screen, make sure to update the Fire OS to the latest version to avoid such glitches.

Step 1: Open FireStick Settings.

Step 2: Select My Fire TV.

Step 3: Click About.

Step 4: Update Fire OS from the following menu.

Enjoy a Glitch-Free Video Streaming Experience

No one likes a black screen on their streaming devices. It spoils the whole experience and makes you regret the cord-free setup. Using the tricks above, you can comfortably solve the black screen issues on your Fire TV Stick. Which tweak worked for you? Sound off in the comments section below.