FLAME TO PLEASE
Your Amazon Fire Stick is buffering for seven reasons – here is how you can fix them instantly
Watch the video above on how to improve your Fire Stick's Wi-Fi connection
IT CAN be overwhelming trying to think of the reasons why your Amazon Fire Stick might not be working properly.
But fortunately, we've laid them all out for you.
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It can really ruin the movie experience if you can barely get through a two-minute stretch without the dreaded loading symbol appearing.
Or worse yet, when the speech fails to match up with the action and it lands you in an even more grueling experience.
So, here's why your Amazon Fire Stick might be buffering:
- Outdated Fire Stick OS
- Slow internet connection
- Internet service provider throttling
- Modem far from FireStick
- Running low on RAM
- Running low on storage
- FireStick overheating
Restart the Fire
First, try restarting your Fire Stick.
Sometimes all a gadget needs is a manual restart.
Then make sure your Fire Stick has the latest firmware downloaded, and isn't running on an outdated operating system.
Boost Wi-Fi
Next, do what you can to improve your Wi-Fi connection.
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You can do this by making sure your router isn't near certain objects, and contacting your internet service provider.
If your Fire Stick is too far from your Wi-Fi router, your signal strength will be weak and will cause buffering issues.
Try moving the router closer to the Fire Stick, but don't put it directly behind the TV.
Alternatively, you can use an Ethernet cable for a secured internet connection.
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Free up space
Next, check your storage space in the settings.
Fire Stick's have 8GB of storage, but only around 5.5GB that can actually be used, which can be quickly eaten up by apps.
But you can actually use an old USB stick you have tucked away at home as an external storage drive - here's how.
Placement is key
The placement of your Fire Stick is also important.
If your TV is in an unventilated place, your Fire Stick could be overheating.
Make sure the Fire Stick and your telly have good airflow surrounding them.
Last resort
If after all of that you're still left with a buffering Fire Stick, try downloading a VPN, also known as a virtual private network.
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Your internet service provider might slow down your connection speed from time to time if they spot too many streaming activities - this is called throttling.
In this case, a VPN will mask your IP address to put a stop the so-called throttling - and buffering.
Get more out of your Amazon Fire Stick
Try some of these top tips to improve your Amazon Fire Stick instantly.
- Little-known free apps to watch live TV
- Free premium games you can play using your Prime subscription
- Trick to stop common lag issues
- The forgotten gadget that boosts your Stick's Wi-Fi connection
- Fire Stick mistake that could land you in trouble with the police
- Do I need a TV licence to use a Fire Stick?
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