A Fire TV is a television; a Fire Stick is a separate device you plug into it

A Fire TV is a smart television made by Amazon that has streaming built in. A Fire Stick is a small device you plug into the HDMI port of any television to add streaming. You do not need a Fire Stick if you already own a Fire TV, because the Fire TV already has all the streaming software inside it. If you own a regular television from another brand, you can plug a Fire Stick into it to get the same streaming features.

Think of it this way: a Fire TV is like a car with a built-in navigation system. A Fire Stick is like a portable GPS you can plug into any car. If your car already has navigation, you do not need the GPS. If your car does not have it, the GPS adds the feature.

Key Takeaways

  • Fire TV televisions have Amazon's streaming software already installed, so they work without any additional device.
  • A Fire Stick adds streaming to a regular television by connecting to its HDMI port.
  • You cannot use a Fire Stick with a Fire TV because the Fire TV already has the same software built in.
  • If you own a Fire TV and want to use a Fire Stick on a different television in your home, you can move the Fire Stick to that other TV.

What a Fire TV includes that a Fire Stick does not

A Fire TV is a complete television set. It has a screen, speakers, a tuner for over-the-air channels, and all the streaming apps built into the system. When you turn it on, you see the Fire TV interface when ready without plugging anything in. You control it with the remote that comes with the television.

A Fire Stick is only the streaming part. It is a small rectangular device about the size of a thumb drive. It has no screen of its own. You plug it into an HDMI port on the back or side of any television, and it sends the picture and sound to that television. The Fire Stick needs its own power cable, which you plug into an outlet or into a USB port on the television if the TV has one.

When you might want a Fire Stick even if you have a Fire TV

If you own a Fire TV in your living room but have a regular television in your bedroom, kitchen, or another room, you can buy a Fire Stick to use on that other television. Each Fire Stick is a separate device, so you can move it from room to room, or you can buy multiple Fire Sticks to leave one plugged into each television.

Some people also use a Fire Stick on a Fire TV if the Fire TV's built-in streaming software stops working or becomes very slow. Plugging in a Fire Stick gives you a fresh streaming device without replacing the entire television. However, this is uncommon—most Fire TV owners never need to do this.

How to tell whether your television is a Fire TV

If you bought the television from Amazon or if the box says "Fire TV" on it, you own a Fire TV. When you turn it on, the first screen you see will say "Amazon Fire TV" or show the Fire TV home screen with rows of apps and shows.

If you bought the television from a store like Best Buy, Walmart, or a local electronics shop, and the box does not say "Fire TV," then you own a regular television. That television will show its own brand name (Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, and so on) when you turn it on. If you want to stream from that television, you would need to plug in a Fire Stick or another streaming device.

Fire TV models that come with Fire Stick features built in

Amazon makes Fire TV televisions in different sizes and price ranges. All of them have the same streaming software inside, so none of them need a Fire Stick. The difference between models is usually the screen size, the picture quality, and the price—not whether they have streaming.

Some Fire TV models are made by other manufacturers like Insignia or Toshiba but sold under the Fire TV brand because they have Amazon's software installed. These also do not need a Fire Stick. If you are shopping for a television and you see "Fire TV" in the name or description, that television already has streaming built in.

What happens if you try to plug a Fire Stick into a Fire TV

Technically, you can plug a Fire Stick into the HDMI port of a Fire TV, and it will work. The picture will appear on the screen. However, there is no reason to do this. You would be using two devices to do the job of one, and you would have to switch between remotes or manage two separate accounts. The Fire TV's built-in streaming is identical to what the Fire Stick provides, so you are not gaining anything.

If you have a Fire Stick you are not using and a Fire TV you want to use it with, it is better to move the Fire Stick to a different television in your home where it will actually be needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Fire Stick on a Fire TV if the Fire TV is broken?

Yes. If the Fire TV's built-in streaming stops working but the television itself still turns on and displays a picture, plugging in a Fire Stick will let you stream again. You would use the Fire Stick's remote instead of the TV's remote for streaming. However, if the television's HDMI ports are not working, the Fire Stick will not help.

Do I need to buy a Fire Stick if I already have a Fire TV?

No, not for the Fire TV itself. You only need a Fire Stick if you want to add streaming to a different television that does not already have it built in. Each Fire Stick is a separate purchase and works independently.

What if I have a Fire TV but want to use a different streaming service?

Fire TVs have the Amazon Appstore built in, which includes most major streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and others. You do not need a Fire Stick to use these apps. If there is a specific app the Fire TV does not support, a Fire Stick would not solve that problem either, since it uses the same app store.

Can I move a Fire Stick between different televisions?

Yes. You can unplug a Fire Stick from one television and plug it into another television's HDMI port. It will work on any television with an available HDMI port. Your apps and account information stay with the Fire Stick, so you pick up where you left off.