How to Watch FireStick on a Laptop (Working 2025)

In this article, I will show you how to watch FireStick on your laptop so you can enjoy your favorite content on the go. The instructions I will show here also work with the FireStick 4K, FireStick Lite, New FireStick 4K, New FireStick 4K Max, and the new FireStick 4K Max.

Amazon’s FireStick has revolutionized streaming. The nifty device is one of the easiest ways to watch movies, TV shows, documentaries, and other content.

However, its usefulness extends beyond streaming video-on-demand and live content. With the FireStick, users can also conduct Zoom videos and browse the Internet.

Several other advantages sell the FireStick, making it a popular choice among cord cutters, such as its portability and ease of use. However, some FireStick users wonder if they can stream their favorite content on the go when they don’t have access to a TV. Can you watch a FireStick on a laptop, perhaps?

Read: How to Install and Use Best VPN for FireStick

Can You Watch a FireStick on a Laptop?

The short answer is yes: FireStick users can use the streaming device to watch content on a laptop. However, it’s not a simple plug-and-play process.

A major factor prevents you from using Firestick on the laptop. Most TVs and computer monitors come with HDMI input ports, which import video into the device and let you watch your FireStick on a TV.

Laptops also have HDMI ports; unfortunately, they usually have HDMI output ports that allow them to mirror or cast content to a TV or external monitor via HDMI.

However, Firesticks can only be plugged directly into an HDMI input port, so we need a solution for that problem.

Note: Before we get to the solutions, I want to point out the difference between watching your FireStick on your laptop and mirroring your computer to your FireStick. If you wish to view your laptop screen on your FireStick, you can easily mirror your computer to your FireStick without any special equipment.

If you’re still determined to view your FireStick on your laptop, it’s probably because you want to use your FireStick but can’t access a compatible TV. But regardless of your reasons, read on to see the solutions.

Ways to Watch FireStick on a Laptop

Full disclosure: there is no quick and easy fix to this issue. The methods I will highlight are a little complicated (or expensive).

That said, let’s get down to it.

1. Get a Video Capture Device

First, we’ll discuss how to watch your FireStick on a laptop using a video capture device. Also called a capture card, this gadget is used with a computer to capture the displayed content and encode it for playback. Video game streamers frequently use it.

A video capture device can record audiovisual signals from the FireStick and transmit them to your laptop. It converts the signals into a format your laptop can understand, negating the need for an HDMI port. Video capture devices have USB, PCIe, USB-C, or Thunderbolt 3 connections.

The BASERY Video Capture Card is a great budget option for watching your FireStick on your laptop.

Note: Another complication may come with using a capture card to watch your FireStick on a laptop. The FireStick uses the HDCP, or High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection, protocol. This is an anti-piracy tool that prevents digital content from being copied. Most video capture devices do not work with HDCP. You may need to use an HDMI switch to bypass the encryption protocol that powers HDCP. An HDMI switch allows only the standard HDMI signal to go through. But first, you should use just a video capture card in case an HDMI switch is unnecessary.

The BASERY Video Capture Card requires specific software before you can properly set up your FireStick. OBS Studio is free, open-source software that does the job perfectly. It is multi-platform and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux laptops.

Here’s a quick but excellent video tutorial on setting up your FireStick with the BASERY Video Capture Card and OBS Studio:

Believe it or not, this is the better of the two options for viewing your FireStick on a laptop. Let’s check out the next option.

2. Get a Laptop With an HDMI Input Port

We have already established that most laptops only have an HDMI output port. This is different from the port on FireStick devices, which is an HDMI input port. As a result, it’s impossible to directly connect them and watch content from your FireStick on your laptop.

Having said that, some laptops do have HDMI input ports. They include a selection of Clevo and Alienware laptops:

• Alienware M17x R4
• Alienware M17xR3
• Alienware M18x
• Alienware M17xR4
• Alienware 17 R1
• Alienware M18xR2
• Clevo X8100
• Clevo X7200

This method has a few disadvantages. These are all gaming laptops, so they may not be the right fit for every FireStick user. Gaming laptops are also heavy and not ideal for carrying on the go.

Furthermore, very few, if any, of these laptops are still currently available on the market. Some Alienware laptops are over a decade old, meaning their hardware and software are outdated. On the other hand, Clevo does not even sell directly to end-users but instead to resellers, distributors, and computer builders.

I do not recommend this method, as it is not worth the trouble and expense.

Wrapping Up

In this article, I showed you two different methods for watching your FireStick on your laptop. Both methods work for any FireStick and have their complications. That said, buying a video capture card is more convenient and affordable. What worked for you? Please let me know in the comments section below!

Related:

• How to Cast to FireStick from Android, iPhone, PC, & Mac
• How to Fix Amazon FireStick Not Recognized by TV
• FireStick Not Working? Common Problems & Solutions
• How to Fix FireStick Connected with Problems

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