by The Amazon Fire TV Stick, or simply the Firestick, is a streaming media player and micro console developed by Amazon. While streaming you might encounter a playback error on your firestick. In this article we’ll be figuring out why that happens and how to fix it.
Why does the playback error occur on Firestick?
There are a few reasons why your Amazon Firestick might be displaying playback errors. It could be due to a weak or intermittent Internet connection, an issue with the Fire Stick itself, or a problem with the content you’re trying to watch.
If you’re seeing errors when trying to stream content, the first thing you should do is check your Internet connection. If it’s weak or unreliable, that could be the cause of the problem. Even if your connection seems strong, there could be an issue with the Firestick itself. Try restarting it and see if that clears up the issue.
If you’re still seeing errors, the problem could be with the content you’re trying to watch. Sometimes, servers can get overloaded and cause errors. If that’s the case, try again later.
How to fix playback error on Firestick?
If you’re having trouble with playback error on your firestick, there are a few things you can try:
1. Restart your Firestick. This can often fix minor glitches and get things back up and running.
Assuming you have already set up your firestick and have a remote, here’s how to do it:
- Press and hold the Home button on your remote for 5 seconds.
- Select Settings from the menu that appears.
- Go to Device.
- Select About.
- Click Restart.
If you have not set up your firestick or do not have a remote:
- Plug your firestick into an HDMI port on your TV.
- Insert the batteries into your remote.
- Turn on your TV.
- Select the input that your firestick is plugged into.
- Press and hold the Home button on your remote for 5 seconds.
- Select Settings from the menu that appears.
- Select Device.
- Select About.
- Select Restart.
If you encounter the Firestick remote blinking orange problem, we also have an article on how to fix it: Fire Stick Remote Blinking Orange – How To Fix
2. Check your internet connection. A strong, consistent connection is key for smooth streaming.
To check your internet connection and make sure it is fast enough, you can use a speed test tool. There are many speed test tools available online, such as Speedtest.net and Fast.com. Visit one of these websites and click on the “Begin Test” button. The speed test will then run and measure the download and upload speeds of your internet connection.
According to Amazon, you will need a broadband connection with a minimum of 3 Mbps for SD (standard definition) streaming, and a minimum of 5 Mbps for HD video streaming.
3. Update your firestick. Keeping your software up to date can help fix bugs and improve performance.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do so:
- Start by going to the home screen of your Firestick.
- From there, go to the Settings menu.
- Scroll down to the Device section and select About.
- From there, select Check for System Updates.
- If there’s an update available, it will start downloading automatically.
- Once the update has been downloaded, select Install and Restart.
- That’s it! Your Amazon Firestick should now be updated.
4. Clear your firestick’s cache. Over time, your firestick can accumulate unnecessary files which can lead to playback issues. Clearing the cache can help fix this.
When you use apps on your Amazon Fire Stick, they save data in a temporary storage area called the cache. Over time, the cache can become full and cause the app to run slowly or crash. Clearing the cache can help to fix these problems.
To clear the cache on your Amazon Fire Stick, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications. Select the app you want to clear the cache for and press the Clear Cache button.
5. Factory reset your Firestick. If none of the above solutions work, a factory reset may be your best bet. This will erase all your data and start you from scratch, so be sure to back up anything you want to keep first.
To factory reset your Amazon Firestick, go to Settings > Device > Reset to Factory Defaults. You will be prompted to enter your Amazon account password. Once you have entered your password, your Amazon Firestick will begin the reset process. This process will take a few minutes to complete. Once your Amazon Firestick has been reset, all of your previously installed apps will be removed and you will need to set up your Amazon Firestick again.
Conclusion
If you have tried every step listed above, you should have successfully fixed the playback error on your Firestick. If not, try contacting customer support by clicking here.
