7 Fixes if Amazon FireStick Keeps Losing Connection

Losing your connection when you’re trying to stream is up there with the worst feelings on Earth. But what can you do?

1. Clean the Device 

Before you do anything, if you notice that your Firestick keeps losing connection, make sure there is no debris. Take it out of the TV and give it a quick wipe down, check the port for debris, and plug it back in. 

2. Reset Your FireStick

By taking the FireStick off of the TV to clean it up, you are technically also resetting it. However, if you still notice a bad connection, you can restart it again.

You can do this in the menu of the FireStick or by pressing the select and play keys on your Firestick remote until the TV signals that the device is restarting.

Here are the steps to restart the FireStick via settings:

1. Go to Settings
2. Go to My Fire TV
3. Click on Restart

3. Check the WiFi

A spotty connection could mean that your WiFi is going in and out. First, double check that you’re connected. 

To check for this, follow these steps:

1. Go to the settings from the main menu.
2. Click on network.
3. Check and see if your network is connected to the Firestick.

Doing this should also give you some idea of how good your connection is. If it says “fair,” or “weak,” the strength could be your issue. 

Move Your Router Closer to the FireStick

Sometimes losing connection to the FireStick is all about a weak Wi-Fi signal. If your network isn’t showing on the device, you might need to move the router closer. You could also purchase an extenderto make the signal go further.

Reset Your Router

If your device is getting a signal from the router and you’re still losing connection, you might have to reset the router. First, double check your other devices to see if any of them are having issues as well. 

Resetting the router requires turning it off and unplugging it for one minute. After that, you can plug it back in and turn it back on.

Replace Your Ethernet Cord

Are your other devices having issues? If so, there’s a chance that your problem is your ethernet cord. It may have frayed or broken over time. You’ll need a special cable tester to check.

4. Check Internet Connection Speed

Sometimes losing connection isn’t about the signal strength, but your internet speed. You can check your internet speed with the Amazon FireStick by downloading the Silk browser app from the Amazon store. 

After installing:

• Open the app
• Select accept
• Enter fast.com to perform a speed test. 

5. Update the Amazon FireStick

If you’ve determined that the WiFi isn’t the problem, you should update the device. If the FireStick isn’t up to date, it will start to run into processing and connection problems. 

Follow these steps to update the device:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to My Fire TV
3. Click on About
4. Click on System Update

If the system is out of date, you can select the new update and install it. If updating your FireStick causes issues, something else could be wrong. 

6. Uninstall Unused Apps

Sometimes too many installed apps can slow your Firestick down and make it seem like your connection is bad. It causes buffering and lag, just like a bad connection would.  

Uninstalling the apps you don’t use will clear up space on your device. With less to process, it will take less time to load your shows!

7. Clear Out Your Cache

Your connection issues can also come from storing too much data in the device’s cache. A hefty  cache will cause buffering and lag, just like those apps you don’t use. 

To clear your cache:

1. Click on settings.
2. Go to Applications.
3. Go to Manage Installed Applications.
4. Click on any app available.
5. Click on Clear cache.

You will need to repeat these steps to clear the cache for every app on your FireStick. Beware that you might have to sign into each app again after, and your search history will be cleared.