Is your Firestick or Fire TV running slow and glitchy? Before you panic and factory reset the device, try restarting it first. A quick reboot can refresh your Firestick and solve many common issues in less than 30 seconds!
In this detailed guide, I‘ll provide step-by-step instructions on how to quickly and easily restart Firestick, Fire TV Cube, and all other Fire TV models using different methods.
You‘ll also learn:
- The benefits of periodically restarting your Firestick
- When you should restart vs reset your Fire TV
- What to expect after restarting the device
- Advanced troubleshooting tips
- Expert advice on optimizing Firestick performance
So read on to become a pro at rebooting your Firestick or Fire TV with just a remote and power cord!
Why Periodically Restarting Your Firestick is Important
With regular use over time, all technology devices accumulate small performance issues. Your Firestick is no different.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of restarting your Fire TV streaming stick/box:
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Frees Up Processor Resources: Background apps and processes end up taking up RAM and processor power. A restart closes them to free up resources.
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Clears Temporary Software Glitches: Small bugs that cause freezing or crashing apps can often be fixed with a reboot.
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Closes Unresponsive Background Apps: Apps running in the background that become unresponsive will be shut down.
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Frees Up Storage Space: Cache and unwanted data get cleared out, freeing up precious internal storage.
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Fixes Remote or WiFi Connectivity Issues: Any wireless connection problems will be reset.
According to a study by ReviewsFire, over 67% of Firestick issues can be resolved by simply restarting the device.
I recommend rebooting your Firestick or Fire TV at least once every 1-2 weeks depending on use. Don‘t wait until it‘s badly frozen!
Restarting vs Factory Resetting Firestick/Fire TV
Before I jump into the step-by-step restart instructions, it‘s important to understand the difference between restarting and factory resetting your Firestick:
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Restart: Quickly reboots the device to refresh it. Takes 30 seconds to 1 minute.
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Factory Reset: Completely erases all data/apps and restores device to original settings. Takes 15+ minutes.
Restarting your Firestick will NOT delete or remove any of your installed apps, logins, accounts, or personal data. It just reboots the device.
Resetting your device wipes it clean, forcing you to reinstall everything from scratch. Only do this if restarting did not resolve major issues.
Now let‘s go through the three quickest ways to restart your Fire TV.
Method 1: Unplug the Power Cord
The simplest way to force restart your Firestick is to physically unplug it:
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Locate the power cord that connects your Firestick/Fire TV to electricity.
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Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet or TV USB port.
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Keep it unplugged for 20-30 seconds. This gives the device time to fully shut down.
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Finally, plug the power cord back in. Your Firestick will automatically boot back up.
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Give it 1-2 minutes to fully restart and load the home screen interface.
Physically powering down the Firestick forces all components to shut off and restart cleanly. It‘s the best way to restart if your device is completely frozen.
This method works for all Fire TV models including the Firestick 4K, Fire TV Cube, and Fire TV Stick Lite. As long as you can access the power cord, you can reboot it.
Unplugging the Firestick power cable forces a hard restart.
Method 2: Use Remote Shortcut Buttons
Don‘t feel like getting up to unplug your Firestick? Use this simple shortcut directly through the remote instead:
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Press and hold the Play/Pause button and Select button at the same time for 10-15 seconds.
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Your Firestick will display "Your Fire TV is powering off…"
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Keep holding the buttons until the screen goes black and your device restarts.
The Play/Pause and Select button positions vary between Firestick remote models:
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On 3rd gen remotes – Play/Pause is at the bottom and Select is at the top.
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On Lite remotes – Play/Pause is on the right, Select is at the top.
This shortcut works to force restart all versions of Fire TV models. Once your device begins powering off, release the buttons and it‘ll handle the reboot automatically within 30-60 seconds.
Using remote shortcut buttons is the quickest way to restart your Firestick directly, without unplugging it.
Method 3: Restart Through Settings Menu
The third way to restart your Firestick is through the device settings menu. However, this method only works if the Firestick interface is still responding to remote inputs:
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From the Home screen, select the Settings icon (looks like a gear).
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Navigate to and select My Fire TV > Restart.
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Select Restart again on the confirmation message.
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The device will now power off and reboot itself in about 30-60 seconds.
For 2nd gen Fire TV and older models, you need to go to Settings > Device > Restart instead.
This method takes slightly longer than the remote shortcuts but still restarts the device in under a minute. It‘s handy if you‘re still able to navigate the menus and want to reboot from within the software interface.
What to Expect After Restarting Your Firestick
Once you restart your Firestick/Fire TV using any of the methods above, here‘s what happens:
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The device will power off and screen will go black for 30-60 seconds. Don‘t unplug it!
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You‘ll see the Fire TV logo appear as it reboots itself.
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Allow 1-2 minutes total for the home screen and apps to finish reloading.
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You may need to log back into apps like Netflix, Prime, Disney+, etc.
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Wired internet will reconnect automatically. For WiFi, enter password if prompted.
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Bluetooth devices like remote or headphones may need to be re-paired.
Within 2 minutes your Firestick will be completely refreshed! Navigate to some apps to check if any problems have been resolved.
Still Having Issues? Try Advanced Troubleshooting
A simple restart fixes most minor Firestick problems. But if issues persist, here are some things to try:
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Check physical connections like HDMI cable, power cord, and internet.
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Try manually pairing the remote again through Settings > Remotes.
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Check WiFi router and run internet speed test to confirm connectivity.
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Update Fire OS and app software through Settings > About > Check for Updates.
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Scan for malware or unwanted apps in Settings > Applications > Manage All Applications.
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As a last resort, factory reset the device to erase all content and reinstall fresh.
Restarting your device is an essential Firestick troubleshooting step before resetting or replacing it.
Optimize Firestick Performance
To avoid future issues and keep your Firestick running fast, I recommend:
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Closing background apps completely through Settings > Applications > Running
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Using a fast microSD card if your Firestick supports it
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Only installing trusted apps from the Amazon App Store
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Checking for and installing software updates regularly
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Keeping at least 25% storage free
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Using a VPN for Firestick for faster streaming
Periodically restarting every 1-2 weeks prevents gradual performance degradation over time. I suggest adding a calendar reminder!
FAQ About Restarting Fire TV Devices
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Does restarting delete everything on my Firestick?
No, restarting does not erase or remove any of your apps, logins, or personal data.
How long does it take to restart a Firestick?
The entire reboot process takes 1-2 minutes max, with only 30 seconds for the actual restart.
Can you restart a Firestick with Alexa?
No, you cannot use Alexa voice commands to restart a Fire TV device. You need to use one of the above methods.
Should I restart my Firestick regularly?
Yes, restarting every 1-2 weeks helps free up storage space, RAM, and processor resources to keep it running fast.
Why is my Firestick still slow after restarting?
If performance doesn‘t improve after a reboot, you may need to factory reset your device to fix underlying software issues.
My Firestick won‘t turn back on after restarting – help!
If your Firestick won‘t power back on, unplug the cord for 5 minutes before plugging back in. Also try new batteries in the remote.
And there you have it! Follow this simple guide to learn how to quickly restart your Firestick, Fire TV Cube, or any Fire TV model in under 30 seconds.
Taking a minute to periodically reboot your streaming device helps avoid many common problems and keep it running smoothly for reliable entertainment.
