How to Fix FireStick / Fire TV Overheating Problem

This guide provides multiple solutions to prevent FireStick from overheating. These troubleshooting techniques are simple, and any layperson like me can follow them. The solutions work on FireStick, FireStick 4K, Fire TV Cube, and any other Amazon Fire TV device.

Not all FireStick devices would overheat. However, if you are here, yours probably did. You are not alone. I have come across numerous complaints on the internet. Therefore, I decided writing a guide would be a good idea.

If not addressed, overheating can cause permanent damage to the FireStick and impact its performance. It slows down navigation and causes more buffering, lags, and even connectivity issues.

Read: How to Install and Use Best VPN for FireStick

FireStick Overheating Solutions

I have put together some best practices that will likely fix the FireStick overheating issue. Keep reading!

1.  Use the HDMI Extender

Your FireStick comes with an HDMI extender packed in the box. It is there for a purpose. It would be a great idea to use the HDMI extender to plug your FireStick into your TV.

Without the extender, your Firestick sticks too close to the TV, which blocks the airflow. Your TV also generates heat, which further prevents the FireStick from cooling down and even contributes to overheating.

An HDMI extender will help create some distance between the two, making the FireStick more exposed to airflow. This, in turn, will help greatly prevent the FireStick from getting overheated.

2. Insert FireStick in the side panel of the TV

This is another important thing to keep in mind. Most TVs come with multiple HDMI inputs (at least two). You will find inputs in the back and on the side of the TV.

You may plug your FireStick in the back panel, but it will be too crammed and less exposed to airflow. On the other hand, the side panels are more exposed, and hence, there is more airflow.

Even if you use the HDMI extender, it is short enough to keep your FireStick hidden behind the TV. The neat and uncluttered look will not be ruined.

3. Clear unnecessary cache for heavy apps

When you run an app on FireStick, it creates a cache on the device’s storage. The bigger the app, the larger the cache size. Even though this cache is stored temporarily, it eats up your limited storage space.

Streaming apps like Kodi tend to create bigger caches than other apps. It would be a good idea to periodically clear the cache.

To clear the cache, follow the steps below:

1. Select Settings from the FireStick home window.

2. Click Applications.

3. Click Manage Installed Applications.

4. Click the desired app (say NBC).

5. Click Clear Cache.

 Note: DO NOT click Clear Data unless you want to reset the app to default settings

4. Force Close apps to keep them from running in the background

Sometimes, the app may keep running in the background even when you have closed it. For instance, when the app freezes or gets stuck, we usually press the Home key on the remote to go back to the FireStick interface because the app would not respond to the back button. In this case, the app is likely still running in the background.

The apps running in the background consume the device resources, resulting in overheating. Thankfully, you can close them forcefully. Here are the steps:

1. Open Settings from the FireStick home screen.

2. Click Applications.

3. Click Manage installed applications.

4. Click the app you wish to terminate.

5. Click Force Stop next.

5. Unplug your FireStick to refresh everything

Clearing the cache and force closing the app helps prevent FireStick overheating issues. However, you must do that individually for each app. There is a chance you may have multiple apps running in the background with plenty of cache files.

One way is to clear each app’s cache and force-stop it individually. This will take a lot of time, though. The other option is to power down your FireStick.

Since there is no built-in option to shut down your FireStick, you must do it manually.

Unplug the device from the power source. Keep it unplugged for a few minutes until your FireStick cools down. Now, plug the device back in.

This will terminate all the apps running in the background and clear any cache.

6. Uninstall any apps you don’t need or use

One of the biggest drawbacks of FireStick devices is their extremely limited storage. Both FireStick and FireStick 4K come with 8GB of space. Given the size of apps and files, this kind of storage is likely to get filled up quickly.

When the device runs out of space, it must work harder, which can result in overheating. Therefore, it is recommended that you delete any apps you no longer need or use.

Uninstall FireStick apps: Method 1

– Select Settings on the FireStick home screen.

– Open Applications.

– Click Manage installed applications.

– Click the app you wish to uninstall.

– Click Uninstall.

– Click Uninstall again when prompted.

Uninstall FireStick apps: Method 2

– Go to the far right and click See All.

– Use the navigation buttons on your remote to select the app you wish to uninstall.

– Press the menu key on the remote (3 lines) to bring up the popup menu in the bottom right corner. Click Uninstall.

– Click OK when prompted.

7. Delete APK files after installing third-party apps

To sideload the third-party apps (such as Cinema HD, Tea TV, Mobdro, etc.), you need to download their APK files to your FireStick device storage. Once the app is installed, the APK files are no longer required. However, they are not deleted automatically. You must delete them manually to clear up space and prevent FireStick from overheating.

If you use a downloader to sideload apps, it gives you the option to delete the APK file. Here is what you can do:

– Once the app is installed, click Done (DO NOT click Open).

– Click Delete.

– Click Delete again to delete the APK file of the app you installed.

If you use any other tool to sideload apps on FireStick (such as ES File Explorer or FileLinked), you may also use ES File Explorer to delete the APK files. Here is how:

Install ES File Explorer from the Amazon Store (select the lens icon in the top-left corner to search for the app).

Open ES File Explorer. Click Local > Home (the second one without the home icon) in the left menu or Internal Storage around the top.

– On the right, click the folder where the APK files are saved. Usually, the APK files can be found in the Download folder.

– Highlight the APK you wish to delete.

Long-press the Select button on your FireStick remote until the desired APK file is selected. Once it is selected, you will see a small, circular checkmark on the file.

– Click Delete on the bottom menu bar.

– Uncheck. Move to the recycle bin and click OK.

8. Reset FireStick if nothing else works

If nothing else seems to work, the only DIY troubleshooting left to do is reset your FireStick. Resetting will restore your device to its factory defaults, remove all the apps you have installed, and wipe out all the custom settings. In other words, you will need to configure your FireStick from scratch, like you just took it out of the box.

Here is how you can reset FireStick:

– Open Settings from the home window.

– Go to My Fire TV.

– Scroll down and click Reset to Factory Defaults.

– Click Reset again when prompted.

Wrapping Up

FireStick has been designed to be heat tolerant. I have used various versions of this gadget for several years, and overheating has been rare. However, we cannot deny that it does happen. When your FireStick overheats, its performance takes a nosedive. I have followed some best practices to keep my FireStick from overheating. I am confident that the above FireStick overheating solutions will also work for you. Please feel free to share your experience via the comments section below.

Related:

• How to Install Fast Task Killer on FireStick
• How to fix FireStick remote issues
• How to restart FireStick
• How to Fix Kodi Buffering issues

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