Press the Power Button to Wake Your Fire Stick

The power button on your Fire Stick remote is the circular button at the very top. Press it once to turn on your Fire Stick if it is off, or to wake it from sleep mode. The LED light on the front of your Fire Stick device will turn on, and the Amazon home screen will appear on your TV within a few seconds.

If nothing happens when you press the power button, check that your Fire Stick is plugged into power and that your TV is turned on and set to the correct input. The remote needs a clear line of sight to the Fire Stick — do not point it through walls or large objects.

Key Takeaways

  • The power button is the round button at the top of your Fire Stick remote; press it once to turn on the device or wake it from sleep.
  • Your Fire Stick will light up and show the Amazon home screen within a few seconds of pressing power.
  • If the remote does not work, make sure the Fire Stick is plugged in, your TV is on the right input, and the remote has fresh batteries.
  • You can also wake a sleeping Fire Stick by pressing any button on the remote, not just the power button.
  • The remote should point directly at the Fire Stick without obstacles between them for the signal to reach the device.

Check Your Remote Batteries First

A Fire Stick remote that does not respond usually has dead or dying batteries. The remote uses two AA batteries. Open the battery compartment on the back of the remote by sliding the cover down, and replace both batteries with fresh ones. Use alkaline batteries for best results.

After you insert new batteries, aim the remote at your Fire Stick and press the power button again. If your Fire Stick turns on, the old batteries were the problem. If it still does not respond, move on to checking your TV and power connection.

Make Sure Your Fire Stick Is Plugged In

Your Fire Stick needs power to turn on. Check that the USB cable is firmly plugged into the back of the Fire Stick device and that the other end is connected to a power outlet or to the USB port on your TV. Some TVs do not provide enough power through their USB ports — if your Fire Stick is plugged into your TV and will not turn on, try plugging it into a wall outlet instead using the power adapter that came in the box.

Look for a small LED light on the front of the Fire Stick. If you see no light at all, even when you press the power button, the device is not receiving power. Unplug the cable, wait ten seconds, and plug it back in firmly. The LED should light up within a few seconds.

Set Your TV to the Correct Input

Your Fire Stick will not appear on your TV screen unless your TV is set to the right input or HDMI port. Most Fire Sticks plug into an HDMI port on the back or side of your TV. Use your TV remote to switch to the input where your Fire Stick is connected — this is often labeled HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or HDMI 3.

If you are not sure which port your Fire Stick is using, look at the back of your TV and count the HDMI ports from left to right, then try each input on your TV remote until you see the Amazon home screen. Once you find the right input, your TV will remember it and return to that input the next time you turn on your Fire Stick.

Point the Remote Directly at the Fire Stick

The Fire Stick remote uses infrared signals, which means it needs a direct line of sight to the device. Point the remote at the front of your Fire Stick, not at your TV or at an angle. Do not hold the remote behind your back, under a pillow, or through a wall — the signal will not reach the device.

If you are sitting far from your Fire Stick or if there are large objects between you and the device, move closer or remove the obstacle. Infrared signals bounce off some surfaces like mirrors and glass, but they work best with a clear, straight path from the remote to the Fire Stick.

Restart Your Fire Stick If It Is Stuck

If your Fire Stick is plugged in and powered on but the screen is frozen or not responding to the remote, restart the device. Unplug the power cable from the back of the Fire Stick, wait at least 30 seconds, and plug it back in. The device will restart and show the Amazon logo, then load the home screen.

A restart usually fixes problems where the Fire Stick is on but frozen or slow to respond. This is different from pressing the power button — a full restart clears the device's memory and can solve issues that the power button alone cannot fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn on my Fire Stick without the remote?

Yes. You can use the Fire Stick mobile app on your phone or tablet to turn on the device if you have the same Wi-Fi network. You can also press the power button on the Fire Stick device itself if you can reach it, though the remote is the intended way to control it from your couch.

Why does my remote work sometimes but not other times?

This usually means your batteries are dying. Replace both AA batteries with fresh ones. If the problem continues, check that nothing is blocking the path between the remote and the Fire Stick, and make sure you are pointing the remote directly at the device rather than at your TV.

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

A Fire Stick that is already plugged in and in sleep mode will wake up in one to three seconds when you press the power button. If you unplugged it completely, it will take 10 to 20 seconds to fully start up and show the home screen.

What if my Fire Stick turns on but my TV does not show anything?

Your TV is on the wrong input. Use your TV remote to switch to the HDMI port where your Fire Stick is plugged in. If you are not sure which port, try each HDMI input until you see the Amazon home screen appear.