How to Fix It When a Fire Stick Overheats

Fire Stick devices are small and compact, which doesn’t leave much room for air to circulate inside. That can lead to heat building up inside the device, resulting in the Fire Stick overheating. To fix it when a Fire Stick overheats or to prevent one from overheating, you need to do everything you can to help keep it cool.

What Causes Fire Sticks to Overheat?

All electronics generate at least some heat when they're on. Now, typically isn't an issue, but too much heat can cause it to stop working correctly or shut down. The main reason Fire Stick devices overheat is they don't have any form of active cooling or even vents.

When a Fire Stick overheats, you’ll notice one or more of these symptoms:

• Fire Stick shuts down by itself.
• Fire Stick reboots spontaneously.
• Fire Stick can’t connect to Wi-Fi or has poor connectivity.
• Apps take a long time to open.
• Streams buffer more than usual.
• Menus freeze.

How Do I Stop My Fire Stick From Overheating?

When too much heat builds up inside a Fire Stick, it overheats. To stop or prevent it from overheating, you need to do everything you can to cool it down. If it still overheats, the Fire Stick may be working too hard due to issues with your installed apps.

Here’s how to stop a Fire Stick from overheating:

1. Unplug the Fire Stick and let it cool down. If your Fire Stick is malfunctioning, and you suspect it’s overheating, it’s essential to start by allowing it to cool off. Unplug it from your television and its USB power source, and place it in a well-ventilated area. After it has cooled down, you can plug it back in and proceed.
   

2. Try a different HDMI port. If your TV has HDMI ports in several locations, try moving the Fire Stick to another port. If there are ports on the side or front of the TV, the Fire Stick won’t get as hot in those locations.
   

3. Use the HDMI extender. Fire Sticks come with an HDMI extender designed to help in situations where there isn’t a lot of clearance around the HDMI ports on a television. It also allows you to position the Fire Stick a few inches away from the television, which can help with overheating problems.
   

4. Use a longer HDMI extender. If your television is inside an enclosure or against a wall, the Fire Stick may still get too hot even with the HDMI extender. In that case, a longer HDMI extender that allows you to position the Fire Stick away from the television may help.
   

5. Use a USB port on your TV. If your TV has powered USB ports designed to power devices like the Fire Stick, try using one of those instead of a USB power adapter. That will allow the Fire Stick to power down when the TV is on. When you use a USB power adapter, the Fire Stick remains on at all times, which can cause it to overheat over time.
   

   Not all TV USB ports can provide enough power to run your Fire Stick. Check with your TV manufacturer if you aren’t sure. Alternatively, you can unplug the Fire Stick power adapter when the device isn’t in use. Of course, unplugging the power adapter will power down the Fire Stick.

6. Block app notifications. Your Fire Stick may be overheating because it’s working too hard, and app notifications take up processing power. Navigate to Settings > Preferences > Notification Settings, and turn on Do Not Interrupt.

7. Disable the AutoPlay feature. It's another feature that may be overtaxing your Fire Stick. Navigate to Settings > Preferences > Featured Content, and switch off Allow Sound AutoPlay and Allow Video AutoPlay.
   

8. Clear the Fire Stick cache. Navigate to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > (App) > Clear Cache. Do this for each app you use a lot and each with a large cache.
   

9. Delete unused apps. If your Fire Stick storage is full or close to full, try uninstalling some apps you don’t use anymore.
   

10. Reset your Fire Stick. If nothing else has worked, perform a factory reset on your Fire Stick. It's the last fix you should try, as you will have to set up your Fire Stick and download everything again.
    

Can a Fire Stick Burn Out?

A Fire Stick can burn out if it gets too hot for too long, but it's not common. In most cases, an overheated Fire Stick will start working again if you allow it to cool down.

Should You Leave a Fire Stick Plugged In?

Your Fire Stick can remain plugged in all the time. You can unplug it and move it to another TV any time you like, but you shouldn’t unplug it if you don’t have a reason to. The HDMI plug on your Fire Stick can wear out from excessive use like any other plug. The HDMI port on your TV can also wear out from excessive use, so it’s best to leave the Fire Stick plugged in unless you need it somewhere else or you’re trying to fix an overheating problem.

Can I Leave My Fire Stick on All the Time?

It's OK to leave your Fire Stick on all the time. Fire Sticks don't have off switches, so the only way to turn them off is to disconnect them from power. You can accomplish that by unplugging the USB cable, connecting to a powered USB port on your TV that shuts off along with the TV or plugging a USB adapter into a smart plug that lets you turn the power on and off.

While it is acceptable to leave a Fire Stick on all the time under normal circumstances, it's a little different if you're having problems with overheating. If your Fire Stick overheats a lot, shutting it off when it isn't in use can help.