How to Improve the Performance of Your Amazon Firestick

The Amazon Firestick is a fantastic piece of technology, but like any device, it can slow down over time.

Here are some simple ways to boost its speed and keep it running smoothly.

1. Restart Your Firestick Regularly

Rebooting clears temporary files and frees up memory.

• Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Restart.

2. Clear App Caches

Apps build up cached data that can slow performance.

• Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications.

• Choose an app and select Clear Cache.

  
  

  (Tip: Clear the cache for your most-used apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video.)

3. Uninstall Unused Apps

Unused apps can run in the background and slow down your Firestick.

• Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications.

• Select any apps you don’t use and choose Uninstall.

4. Turn Off Data Monitoring

Data monitoring uses system resources that could otherwise be spent on performance.

• Go to Settings > Preferences > Data Monitoring and switch it OFF.

5. Disable Automatic App Updates (Optional)

Automatic updates can cause slowdowns at inconvenient times.

• Go to Settings > Applications > Appstore > Automatic Updates and turn them OFF.

  
  

  (Note: You’ll need to update apps manually if you do this.)

6. Improve Your Wi-Fi Connection

A weak Wi-Fi connection can cause buffering and loading delays.

• Move your router closer to your Firestick.

• Use a Wi-Fi extender.

• Or connect via Ethernet using a Firestick Ethernet adapter for the fastest connection.

How to Check Your Firestick’s Wi-Fi Signal Strength

You can quickly see how strong your Firestick’s connection is:

• Go to Settings > Network.

• Select your connected Wi-Fi network.

• Look at the Signal Strength shown on the right-hand side.

  
  

  It will say something like Very Good, Good, Fair, or Weak.

Tip:

• Very Good or Good is ideal for smooth streaming.

• If you see Fair or Weak, move closer to the router, use an extender, or consider a wired connection.

7. Keep Your Firestick Software Updated

Updates can fix bugs and improve performance.

• Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for Updates.

8. Turn Off Unnecessary Features

Features like auto-playing videos and app notifications use up memory.

• Go to Settings > Preferences > Featured Content and turn off video and audio autoplay.

• Go to Settings > Preferences > Notification Settings and turn off app notifications.

9. Use a Powered USB Hub (Advanced Tip)

If you add extra storage or USB peripherals, using a powered USB hub can prevent system crashes and freezing.

10. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If nothing else works, a factory reset can give your Firestick a fresh start.

• Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Reset to Factory Defaults.

  
  

  (This will erase everything, so only do this if absolutely necessary.)

Thinking About Upgrading?

If your Firestick is still running slowly after following these tips, it might be time to upgrade.

Newer devices like the Amazon Fire TV Cube or Firestick 4K Max come with faster processors, more RAM, and improved Wi-Fi support, offering a much smoother and faster streaming experience.

Need help with your Firestick, Wi-Fi setup, or home tech?

Contact us today:

Phone: 01728 554994

Email: team@arsmartsystems.co.uk