Tired of your Amazon Firestick buffering? This detailed guide will show you how to Stop Buffering on Firestick for faster speeds and improved device performance.

The Amazon Firestick is the most popular streaming device on the market today due to its low price point, user-friendliness, ease of jailbreaking, and more. However, like any other streaming device, it can experience buffering issues that can make your viewing experience frustrating.

There are several ways to stop buffering on your Firestick or Fire TV device. This includes increasing your network speed, using an ethernet connection, updating software, using a fast VPN, and other solutions found in this article.

Before delving into the solutions, it’s essential to first identify the issues on your Firestick or Fire TV that are leading to buffering. This could be due to a poor Internet connection, ISP throttling, low storage, and other problems explained in more detail below.

TROYPOINT Tip: If you are facing buffering issues with Kodi, we have a separate guide on Kodi Buffering that offers fixes tailored for that application.

Why is My Firestick Buffering?

Understanding why your Amazon Firestick or Fire TV is buffering is crucial to resolving the issue. Some common reasons for buffering on Firestick or Fire TV include:

• Bad Connection: The main cause of Firestick buffering is usually a poor connection and slow Internet speed. Solutions for this are outlined below.
• Overheating Device: Continuous usage for long hours can cause the Firestick to overheat. Buffering is one of the resulting issues, along with connectivity loss, frequent restarting, lagging hardware, freezing menu, and melted casing.
• Outdated Software (OS): An outdated operating system on your Firestick can prevent it from fixing bugs that lead to buffering.
• Distance from Wi-Fi Router: Being out of range of your wireless network can result in poor signal strength from your modem router.
• Full Storage and Low RAM: With only 8 GB of internal storage, the Firestick and Fire TV can quickly run out of space, especially with multiple apps running in the background affecting the 1.5 GB RAM available.
• Other Hardware Problems: Issues with your modem router, ethernet cable, smart TV, or other devices used along with the Firestick or Fire TV can also contribute to buffering.
• Ads and Suggested Content: Constant ads and suggested content running in the background can slow down your device’s performance. Check our ad blocking tutorial for more information.
• Bad Links in Apps and Add-ons: Using free links within apps and add-ons can lead to buffering problems. Consider using Real-Debrid to eliminate these issues.

How to Stop Buffering on Your Firestick

Below, you will find over a dozen solutions to help prevent buffering on your Amazon Firestick or Fire TV. These tips are ranked from most to least effective, with each method capable of providing assistance.

We recommend bookmarking this page to stay updated on new methods, as it will be regularly updated with the introduction of new Firestick models.

1. Check Internet Speed

The initial step in resolving buffering is to test internet speed on your Firestick. Amazon’s built-in speed test or an app like Analiti Speed Test can be used for this purpose.

After installing Analiti Speed Test, select the Quick Test option on the left side of the screen and allow a minute or two for the Internet speeds to be tested.

Following the speed test, note your speeds and refer to the chart below. Speeds faster than 25 Mbps are more than sufficient for streaming Movies and TV Shows in 1080p HD or 720p HD quality.

2. Restart Your Firestick

Restarting or “rebooting” your Firestick is a common solution when encountering issues with buffering. A device restart will force close any running applications and rejuvenate the device completely.

Restarting is different from resetting your device, as a factory reset will erase all installed applications.

There are technically three ways to restart a Firestick, and we suggest viewing our guide below for further instructions.

How to Restart Your Firestick/Fire TV

3. Factory Reset Your Firestick

When you reset your Firestick to factory settings, it will return to the same state it was in when you first purchased it.

Resetting your device is often one of the most overlooked solutions to improve buffering and improve overall device performance.

Please keep in mind that when you perform a factory reset, you will be erasing everything on the system.

After your system reboots, you will need to reinstall your applications. For more step-by-step instructions, view our tutorial below.

How to Reset Your Firestick/Fire TV

4. Use Ethernet Connection

Many Firestick users often connect an Ethernet Adapter to their streaming device for a more reliable connection, faster download speeds, and ultimately reduce buffering.

We only suggest doing this if there is significant space between your router and Firestick causing poor download speeds.

Ethernet can often provide a more stable and reliable connection than using Wi-Fi.

If your residence doesn’t have Ethernet jacks on the wall, we suggest looking into a Powerline Adapter.

Refer to our tutorial below for more information on setting up an Ethernet adapter.

How to Set Up Firestick Ethernet Adapter

5. Update Firestick Software

Installing the latest software update on your Firestick or Fire TV will help you remove features that are buggy in the previous versions, prevent apps from crashing, and reduce buffering.

Ensuring your device is running the latest version of Fire OS will only improve performance.

If you are considering installing the latest software, we have created a guide below to assist you in navigating through the process:

How To Update Your Firestick/Fire TV

6. Restart Network Router

Another method to resolve wireless connection issues that may cause Firestick buffering is by restarting or rebooting your network router.

Give it at least 30 seconds before plugging your router back in to ensure the capacitors are fully trained and your device’s memory is cleared. This will reset all settings and provide a fresh start.

Consider upgrading your network router, especially if you are subscribed to a high-tier Internet package. We recommend the ASUS RT-AX86U Pro WiFi 6 Router at TROYPOINT.

7. Close Unwanted Background Apps

Unnecessary apps running in the background can often lead to buffering and consume memory. Utilizing a maintenance app like Fast Task Killer allows you to quickly close all unwanted apps running in the background on your streaming device.

If you prefer not to install Fast Task Killer, you can close unwanted apps through the Background Apps & Process List application.

8. Clear App Data & Cache

Installing more Firestick Apps leads to more files stored in the cache. Clearing app data and cache on your Firestick helps prevent the need to re-download the same content when you use the app again.

You can also delete the app’s data to erase all cache files and other data, such as user settings, documents, login information, and more. This is recommended if you wish to reset the app.

9. Use Real-Debrid

Real-Debrid is a premium service that can reduce buffering for streaming apps and Kodi add-ons offering on-demand content like movies and TV shows.

By avoiding public servers and the associated speed decrease due to high user traffic, you can experience improved server speed and reduced buffering on your Firestick through Real-Debrid. Essentially, Real-Debrid provides higher-quality streaming links compared to free options.

In Kodi to Stream Night of the Living Dead is considered one of the Best Public Domain Movies by TROYPOINT. A VPN may in fact increase your streaming speeds because many Internet providers impose throttling methods for various streaming apps and IPTV services. This makes sense as most ISPs are in the cable and VOD business and don’t want customers using VPNs to access outside content.

One of the most important features to look at when comparing VPN services is download/streaming speed. Surfshark is recognized as the best VPN for Firestick/Fire TV due to its blazing fast speeds, zero-log policy, security features, and much more. VPN speed is the most important feature since we are using it to stream large HD video files. If you already use a VPN, we suggest viewing our VPN Speed Guide for our speed test results and more information.

The price point is higher. However, if you’re looking for better processing power, more internal storage, gaming capabilities, and other advanced features, then a more powerful device may be your best bet. You can explore our list of Firestick Alternatives for more options.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the methods listed above should assist in stopping buffering on your Firestick or Fire TV. Feel free to visit our Firestick Tricks & Tips article for further guidance on enhancing your streaming experience.

If you are still encountering issues after trying these methods, we recommend contacting Amazon support or considering the purchase of a new streaming device.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Causes the Firestick to Buffer?

Buffering problems on your device can stem from various reasons. Issues like overheating devices, outdated OS, full storage, low RAM, hardware problems, and remote server issues can all contribute.

How Can You Stop Buffering on Firestick?

To eliminate buffering on your Firestick or Fire TV, follow the solutions provided in this guide. Some methods include device reset, ethernet adapter usage, fast VPN adoption, among others.

What is ISP Throttling?

ISP throttling occurs when your connection speed is intentionally slowed by your ISP due to excessive streaming activities. Using a reliable VPN service like Surfshark can be a practical solution.

Can Video Quality Contribute to Firestick Buffering?

Yes, higher video resolutions (4K, 1080p) demand increased bandwidth for smooth playback. This demand for more data bandwidth can impact playback quality and lead to buffering issues.

What is the Difference Between Clearing App Cache and Clearing App Data?

Clearing cache solely removes the cached files, while clearing data eliminates all cached files, user settings, documents, login information, and more.