Press the power button on your remote or the device itself

Your Fire Stick turns on by pressing the power button on the included remote control. The power button is at the top of the remote, marked with a circle and a line. Hold it for one to two seconds — you do not need to hold it longer. The LED light on the front of the Fire Stick will turn white or blue within a few seconds, and the Amazon logo will appear on your TV screen.

If your remote batteries are dead or missing, you can also press the power button directly on the Fire Stick device itself. This button is small and recessed on the back or side of the device, depending on your model. You will need a pen or paperclip to reach it. Press and hold for three seconds. The device will power up the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the power button on your remote (top of the remote, marked with a circle) for one to two seconds to turn on the Fire Stick.
  • The LED light on the Fire Stick will turn white or blue, and the Amazon logo will appear on your TV within seconds of pressing power.
  • If your remote has no batteries, use a pen to press the recessed power button on the back or side of the Fire Stick device itself.
  • Your Fire Stick will take 30 to 60 seconds to fully load and display the home screen after the logo appears.

Wait for the home screen to load completely

After you press the power button, the Amazon logo will display first. This is normal. The Fire Stick is loading its software. Wait 30 to 60 seconds for the full home screen to appear. Do not press any buttons during this time — it can interrupt the startup process.

Once the home screen loads, you will see rows of apps and content recommendations. Your Fire Stick is now ready to use. If the screen stays on the Amazon logo for more than two minutes, unplug the device from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and try again.

Check that your TV is on the correct input

If you press the power button but see a black screen or "no signal" message on your TV, your Fire Stick is likely on, but your TV is not set to the right input. Fire Sticks do not control which input your TV displays — you must switch the input manually using your TV remote.

Look for a button on your TV remote labeled "Input," "Source," or "HDMI." Press it and select the HDMI port where your Fire Stick is plugged in. The port number is usually printed on the HDMI cable or on the back of your Fire Stick. Once you switch to the correct input, you should see the Amazon logo and then the home screen.

Restart the Fire Stick if it will not turn on

If pressing the power button does not turn on your Fire Stick after 10 seconds, check that the power cable is firmly plugged into both the device and the wall outlet or power strip. The cable should click into place. If it is loose, push it in until you hear or feel it seat.

If the cable is plugged in but the device still will not turn on, unplug it from power for 30 seconds. This clears the device memory. Plug it back in and wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again. If the LED light still does not turn on, the power adapter may be faulty — contact Amazon support for a replacement.

Use voice commands to turn on your Fire Stick

If you have an Alexa remote (the remote with a microphone button), you can say "Alexa, turn on the TV" or "Alexa, power on" to turn on your Fire Stick without pressing the power button. The remote must have batteries and be paired to your Fire Stick for voice commands to work.

Voice commands are useful if you cannot find the remote or if the power button is stuck. However, the device must have power running to it — voice commands cannot turn on a Fire Stick that is unplugged from the wall.

Understand what happens when your Fire Stick is in standby mode

Fire Sticks do not fully power off when you press the power button. Instead, they enter standby mode, which means the device is still drawing a small amount of power but the screen is dark. This is by design. Standby mode lets the Fire Stick stay ready to turn on quickly and receive software updates.

If you want to completely power off your Fire Stick to save electricity, unplug the power cable from the wall. The device will shut down when ready. When you plug it back in and press the power button, it will go through the full startup sequence again, which takes 30 to 60 seconds.

Troubleshoot if the remote does not respond

If you press the power button on the remote but 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 just replaced the batteries and the remote still does not work, the remote may have lost its pairing with the Fire Stick. Unplug the Fire Stick from power for 30 seconds. Plug it back in. While the device is starting up, hold the Home button on the remote (the button with a house icon) for 10 seconds. This re-pairs the remote. Then try the power button again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Fire Stick take so long to turn on?

Fire Sticks take 30 to 60 seconds to load because they are checking for software updates and loading your account information. This is normal. If startup takes longer than two minutes, the device may be overheating or the power supply may be weak. Make sure the Fire Stick has air around it and is not covered by blankets or other objects.

Can I turn on my Fire Stick from my phone?

No, you cannot turn on a Fire Stick from your phone if it is in standby or powered off. However, if the Fire Stick is already on, you can use the Alexa app on your phone to control it like a remote. To turn it on from off, you must use the physical remote or press the power button on the device itself.

What if my Fire Stick is plugged in but the light does not turn on?

Check that the power cable is fully inserted into both the Fire Stick and the wall outlet. If it is, try a different outlet to rule out a bad power source. If the LED still does not light up, the power adapter may be broken. Unplug it and contact Amazon for a replacement adapter.

Does turning on my Fire Stick turn on my TV automatically?

No. Turning on your Fire Stick does not turn on your TV. You must turn on your TV separately using your TV remote. Once both are on, make sure your TV is set to the HDMI input where the Fire Stick is connected so you can see the picture.

Is it bad to leave my Fire Stick on all the time?

Leaving your Fire Stick in standby mode is safe and normal — most people do this. However, if you want to save power, you can unplug it from the wall when you are not using it. There is no harm in unplugging and replugging the device; it will straightforward take 30 to 60 seconds to start up the next time you turn it on.