When it comes to streaming videos and music, the Amazon Firestick is one of the most popular digital media players available. It’s small and compact, which means it’s easy to carry anywhere. Moreover, it is easy to set up and use, making it perfect for streaming high-quality video on your TV.
Despite their awesomeness, from time to time, Firesticks do experience some Internet connectivity issues. Imagine you’re sitting down one Saturday afternoon, just relaxing and about to watch your favorite TV show. However, your WiFi just seems to not be working. What’s supposed to be a lovely afternoon turns into immense frustration as you try to fix it.
Fortunately for you, Firestick WiFi not working can easily be resolved through troubleshooting. In this post we’re going to explore how you can fix WiFi problems should they arise so you can continue enjoying your favorite shows.
Firestick Not Connecting to WiFi
Firestick WiFi not working can be caused by a series of factors. To help rectify the problem, you can try out the following suggestions. It’s not a bad idea to work your way through the Firestick WiFi not working solutions in the list one by one until something works.
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Rebooting The Modem or Router
If you’ve confirmed that everything is fine and the your WiFi router and Firestick are, in fact, compatible with each other, a trick you should try (that almost always fixes Firestick WiFi not working problems) is restarting your router. Here’s how to do that:
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- Turn Router Off
You can make use of the power connector to kill your modem by simply unplugging the router. After you’ve unplugged the router, wait for 30 seconds before turning it back on. You can also unplug the adapter to turn off the device
- Turn Router Back On
After about 30 seconds, switch your router back on, then wait for it to re-establish a connection. Just keep in mind that you might have to wait for quite some time (give it about 3-4 minutes).
After the modem/router reconnects, you should then try to connect the Firestick to your WiFi. If you’re still having issues with Firestick WiFi not working, don’t lose hope. We’ve got more solutions to try.
Important Firestick Safety Info:
When you’ve resolved your Firestick WiFi not working issues and are ready to get back to streaming, it important that you’re browsing safely. Important steps you can take are to make sure that your WiFi router password is strong and that you’re using a safe, fast VPN.
There are already companies and government agencies collecting your browsing data, and it’s not as difficult as you’d think for hackers to do the same. You can make your browsing safe and anonymous through a VPN, which means you can be sure that no one is looking in on your activity.
As a bonus, there are tons of side benefits to using a VPN, like unlocking region restricted content on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. Watch anything from anywhere! Check out our how to install a VPN on anything guide for a little extra help on the technical end of things.
Notice: Hackers create fake WiFi hotspots to steal your passwords when you log in to public WiFi. Secure your data.
Forget and Reconnect to WiFi Network
If after you’ve restarted your router the problem persists, one useful trick is to forget your WiFi network and then try reconnecting with your Firestick. This process helps to refresh the WiFi connection.
To forget your home WiFi on your Firestick, here’s what you should do:
- Navigate to the Fire TV Stick Settings section then select Network. The network icon is represented as three horizontal curved lines.
- Next, move the cursor to the network that’s causing the problem then tap the menu button on the Firestick remote.
- Then press the Select button to forget the network. This automatically disconnects Firestick from your network and deletes the network from your Firestick database.
- Reconnect to your WiFi network and see if your Firestick WiFi not working problems have resolved
Reboot Your Firestick
If you’re certain that nothing is interfering with the WiFi signal, you might consider restarting your Firestick as some connectivity issues can be resolved by this (have you tried turning it off and turning it back on again?). You can reboot your Firestick either by using the remote shortcut or through a physical reboot. Here’s how to go about it using both methods of fixing Firestick WiFi not working.
Reboot via Remote Shortcut
Method 1:
Simultaneously tap and hold the Select button and Play/Pause button on your Firestick remote for about 5 seconds until the message ‘Your Amazon Fire TV is Powering Off’ appears on the screen.
After the device goes off, it will come back on within 4 seconds.
Method 2:
You can also restart your Firestick from the Settings Menu. To do that:
- Navigate to the Settings menu using your remote and select My Fire TV option
- Then select restart
- A message pops up asking you to confirm the action. You should then click on Restart to reboot the Firestick
The Firestick will automatically go off and come back on, hopefully having fixed any Firestick WiFi not working issues.
Physical Reboot
To physically reboot your Fire TV stick, you have to unplug the device and wait for about 15 seconds before plugging it back. Within a few seconds after connecting, your Firestick should be back online, and you (hopefully) shouldn’t be experiencing Firestick WiFi not working.
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Try Connecting Your Firestick to An HDMI Extender
Every version of Fire TV stick comes with an HDMI Extender because it helps connect the Firestick into the device. Moreover, it helps to boost remote performance and WiFi connectivity. That’s why Amazon recommends its use at all times for improved performance.
If you’re not using an HDMI extender with your Firestick and you have Firestick WiFi not working issues, you can try using one and reconnecting. Hopefully, it fixes your problems.
Restore Your Firestick To Factory Settings
If all else fails, restoring your Firestick to factory setting is typically the last resort. But before you proceed, you should note that this action will delete all downloaded content and data on the device. Moreover, you would have to set it up as if you’ve just bought a new one. We know this is a lot, but when all else fails, this is one of the most surefire ways to fix Firestick WiFi not working.
On the upside, restoring to factory settings solves a wide array of connectivity issues. Here’s one way to do that:
- Power on your TV and connect your Fire TV stick to it
- After Firestick starts running, use the remote to navigate to Settings at the top
- Then scroll to the right and select My Fire TV
- Scroll down and select Reset to Factory Defaults
- A dialog then appears asking you to confirm your action. Click on Reset to confirm it
The reset process automatically starts and typically takes between 5 to 8 minutes to complete. It usually fixes Firestick WiFi not working!
Important: Do not turn off your TV or remove Fire TV stick while it is resetting.
What Causes Firestick WiFi Not Working?
So went with solutions first, because a lot of y’all are busy people and need to get back to streaming free Firestick movies and shows or maybe watching Porn on Firestick (we’re not judging, we’re just saying). However, if you like knowing a little bit of the “why” along with your “how”, then this section is for you!
We’re going to go through some of the potential reasons why you might be running into Firestick WiFi not working issues. Check it out:
Firestick Failing To Connect To WiFi Router
When a Firestick fails to connect to the internet, it’s very common that the problem is caused by an error with the router setting and configuration. It may also be caused by a password error or by using outdated software. One good way to tell if your router might be the problem is to see if WiFi is working on other devices. If WiFi works on your phone (for example), it’s unlikely that your router is the issue.
If that sounds possible, here’s what you should do:
Check Your Router Limitations/Restrictions
If your Fire TV stick does not connect to a WiFi network, start by checking the router. The first step is to ensure that your WiFi router is functioning properly (is it plugged in, and do you see blinking lights?). Also, verify that your router doesn’t have any limitations based on settings that’s making it impossible for your Firestick to connect. Check to make sure that a DHCP isn’t disabled. If it is, you will have to assign a static IP to the Firestick.
Every router has a limit on the number of devices that can be connected. Check to see if it hasn’t been exceeded. If it has, it may be the reason you’re unable to connect your Firestick. And if that’s the case, you can disconnect another device to make room for your Firestick.
Finally, confirm from your router’s admin panel that Fire TV stick isn’t blocked or blacklisted. If it is, you should whitelist or unblock your Firestick. Thereafter, try reconnecting. It should work fine!
It’s worth noting that every router brand works a little differently, so you’ll need to look up instructions for your specific browser for more information on how to use this method to fix Firestick WiFi not working.
Hidden WiFi SSID
If your WiFi network is hidden, it may be the reason why you’re unable to connect to the WiFi. If that is the case, your WiFi network will not appear on the list of available networks on your Fire TV stick. To fix Firestick WiFi not working, you can either unhide the network or connect to the hidden network through the following steps:
- Go to the Fire TV stick Settings menu and select Menu
- Select ‘Join Other Network’
- Next, enter the SSID of your WiFi network and tap the Play/Pause button to proceed
- Select the appropriate network security type and tap the Play/Pause button to proceed
- Then enter the network’s password and tap the Play/Pause button to proceed
- Finally, ensure that all details are correct before tapping the Play/Pause button to connect to the hidden WiFi network
Wrong WiFi Password
Connectivity interruptions can occur when a wrong password is entered. In this case, you will see a password error displayed on the Fire TV menu.
Ensure that you’ve entered the right password, keeping in mind Fire TV Stick is sensitivity to special characters. If you’ve forgotten your password, you can easily retrieve it by checking the saved passwords on other devices.
Outdated Software Version
Completing the setup process is impossible if the Fire TV stick or wireless router has outdated software and can be the reason for Firestick WiFi not working. Check for updates on your router to ensure that all software is up-to-date.
Compatibility Issues
Certain specifications must be met before a connection is possible. For instance, Firestick can connect to WEP, WPA1-PSK encrypted, open, and even hidden networks. In terms of routers, it supports N, B, G routers on 2.4 GHz, and also AC, A, and N routers on 5 GHz.
That’s why it’s important to check to see if your devices and network are compatible with Firestick before purchasing it.
Conclusion
Trying one of these troubleshooting tips should help you fix any Firestick WiFi not working connectivity issues you’re facing. If it does, then congratulations! You can now sit back, relax, and enjoy for favorite TV shows.
These are just a few of the ways you can go about fixing Firestick WiFi not working. This is a common problem and there are some tried and true solutions, so hopefully one of these worked for you. With any luck you’ll be back to streaming in absolutely no time.
On the other hand, if you’ve tried all and even restored your Firestick to factory settings but your Firestick WiFi not working still, then you should contact Amazon Device Support or return your Firestick device. Let us know what worked for you in the comments!
