A Fire Stick plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, connects to Wi-Fi, and streams apps like Netflix to your TV.
How it works
A Fire TV Stick plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and connects to Wi-Fi. It streams video apps (Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube) through the internet.
Setup
- Plug into the HDMI port and power.
- Select the HDMI input on the TV.
- Pair the remote.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in to your Amazon account.
Needs
An HDMI TV and Wi-Fi. Speeds of 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K.
Remote
Alexa voice remote.
Models
Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick 4K, 4K Max.
Cost
About $30 to $60 plus streaming subscriptions.
Fire OS
It runs a Fire OS based on Android.
Hardware
Fire TV Stick plugs into the HDMI port of a TV and connects to Wi-Fi. It runs Fire OS, Amazon’s version of Android, and streams apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube and Hulu.
Models
- Fire TV Stick Lite: HD streaming, and a remote without TV controls.
- Fire TV Stick 4K: 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision, with Wi-Fi 6 on newer versions.
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max: faster processor and Wi-Fi 6E in recent versions.
- Fire TV Cube: hands free Alexa and a more powerful processor.
Setup
- Plug the stick into the TV and power it with the supplied adapter. Use the wall adapter instead of the TV’s USB port when possible.
- Select the HDMI input on the TV.
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Sign in with an Amazon account and download apps.
Internet speed
Amazon suggests at least 3 Mbps for SD and 5 Mbps for HD, with 25 Mbps or more for 4K.
Alexa voice remote
Press the microphone button and ask for shows, apps or weather. The remote also has power and volume controls on many models.
No cable needed
Free apps include Tubi, Pluto TV, YouTube and the Freevee service. Paid services require subscriptions.
Legality
Installing unofficial apps for pirated content is illegal in many countries and a risk for malware.
Troubleshooting
Restart the device by unplugging it for 30 seconds, check HDMI, update software in Settings, My Fire TV, About, and clear app cache for problem apps.
Hardware and streaming requirements
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is a small streaming device that plugs into an HDMI port and connects to the internet by Wi-Fi, running Fire OS, a version of Android. Models include the Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which support Full HD or 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision on higher models. Amazon recommends at least 3 Mbps for standard definition, 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K. The remote with Alexa lets you search by voice, and the stick needs power from a wall adapter, not usually the TV USB port, for stable performance.
Using it and troubleshooting
After plugging it in, select the HDMI input on the TV, connect to Wi-Fi, sign in with an Amazon account and download apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and YouTube. You do not need cable TV, though most apps need their own subscription. Streaming copyrighted shows through unauthorized apps is illegal piracy and can carry malware risks. If the stick is slow or freezes, restart it from Settings, unplug it for 60 seconds, move closer to the router or free storage by removing apps. A factory reset is available in Settings if problems persist.
Based on data from Amazon Fire TV Help
