Press the power button on the remote to start your Fire Stick

The power button is at the top of your Fire Stick remote — it's a circular button with a power symbol (a circle with a line at the top). Press it once and hold for about two seconds. The Fire Stick will boot up, and you'll see the Amazon logo appear on your TV screen within 10 to 15 seconds.

If nothing happens when you press the power button, check that your Fire Stick is plugged into power. The device needs to be connected to a power outlet or powered USB port on your TV. Look for a small light on the Fire Stick itself — it should turn on when power reaches the device. If you don't see a light, try a different outlet or USB port.

The remote also controls your TV's power in many cases. If your TV doesn't turn on automatically when you power on the Fire Stick, you may need to turn on your TV separately using its own remote or power button.

Key Takeaways

  • The power button is the circular symbol at the top of your Fire Stick remote — press and hold it for two seconds to turn on the device.
  • Your Fire Stick must be plugged into power before it will respond to the remote, so check the power cable and outlet first if nothing happens.
  • The Fire Stick takes 10 to 15 seconds to fully boot up after you press the power button, so wait before pressing again.
  • Your TV may need to be turned on separately if it doesn't power on automatically when the Fire Stick starts.
  • A small light on the Fire Stick itself will glow when the device has power, which tells you the hardware is receiving electricity.

Check that your Fire Stick is plugged in correctly

Fire Sticks require a constant power connection to work. The device comes with a power cable and a small power adapter. Plug the adapter into a wall outlet, then connect the cable to the port on the back or side of your Fire Stick (depending on which model you have). Make sure the connection is snug — a loose cable won't deliver power.

Some people plug the Fire Stick into a USB port on the back of their TV instead of using the wall outlet. This works if your TV's USB port provides enough power, but it's less reliable. If you're using a TV USB port and the Fire Stick won't turn on, switch to plugging the power adapter into a wall outlet instead.

Wait for the Fire Stick to fully boot up

After you press the power button, the Fire Stick needs time to start. You'll see the Amazon logo on your screen first, then the device will load its software. This entire process takes about 10 to 15 seconds. During this time, don't press the power button again — the device is working, even though nothing is happening on screen yet.

If the screen stays black for more than 30 seconds after you press power, unplug the Fire Stick from power, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Then press the power button again. This resets the device and often fixes startup problems.

Make sure your TV is set to the correct input

Even if your Fire Stick turns on, you won't see anything if your TV is displaying the wrong input. Your TV has multiple inputs (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.), and the Fire Stick is plugged into one of them. Use your TV remote to switch to the input where your Fire Stick is connected.

If you're not sure which input your Fire Stick uses, check the HDMI cable. It plugs into one of the HDMI ports on the back of your TV — that port number is your input. For example, if the cable goes into the port labeled "HDMI 2," press the Input or Source button on your TV remote and select HDMI 2.

Troubleshoot if the remote isn't responding

If you press the power button and nothing happens, the remote batteries may be dead. Open the battery compartment on the back of the remote and replace the two AA batteries. Make sure the batteries are inserted with the correct polarity — the + and − symbols inside the compartment show which way they go.

If you've replaced the batteries and the remote still doesn't work, the remote may need to be paired with your Fire Stick again. Hold down the Home button (the house icon in the center of the remote) for 10 seconds. This re-pairs the remote to the Fire Stick. If that doesn't work, you may need a replacement remote.

Use your phone as a remote if the physical remote fails

If your Fire Stick remote stops working, you can control your Fire Stick with your phone instead. read the Amazon Fire TV app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iOS). Open the app, select your Fire Stick from the list of devices, and you'll see a virtual remote on your phone screen. You can use this to turn on your Fire Stick and navigate menus.

Your phone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire Stick for this to work. Once the app is open and connected, the phone remote works just like the physical remote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Fire Stick not turning on even though it's plugged in?

Check that the power outlet works by plugging in another device, like a lamp. If the outlet is dead, try a different one. If the outlet works but your Fire Stick still won't turn on, unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and press the power button again. This soft reset often fixes startup issues.

Can I turn on my Fire Stick without the remote?

No — the Fire Stick has no physical power button on the device itself. You must use either the physical remote or the Amazon Fire TV app on your phone. If both are unavailable, you can unplug and replug the power cable, which will restart the device automatically.

How long does it take for a Fire Stick to turn on?

The Fire Stick takes 10 to 15 seconds from the moment you press the power button until the home screen appears. If it takes longer than 30 seconds, the device may be frozen and needs a restart.

Does my TV turn on automatically when I turn on the Fire Stick?

Some TVs do, but not all. It depends on your TV model and whether HDMI-CEC (a feature that lets devices communicate through HDMI) is turned on. Check your TV's settings menu if you want to enable this feature. Otherwise, you'll need to turn on your TV separately.

What if my Fire Stick turns on but the screen is black?

Make sure your TV is set to the correct HDMI input where your Fire Stick is plugged in. Use your TV remote to switch inputs. If the screen is still black after switching inputs, unplug the Fire Stick for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and press the power button again.