9 Ways To Fix Amazon Fire Stick Not Recognized By TV Problem

If you are looking for a reliable home entertainment streaming device that grants you access to thousands of channels, Alexa skills, and apps, Amazon Fire Stick suits your need.  This is particularly true if you can fix an unresponsive Fire TV Stick at home. Since you may be struggling to do this, I conducted in-depth research on this subject to make your life easy.

How can I fix Amazon Fire TV Stick not recognized by TV problem?  You should troubleshoot by resetting your devices, changing your power source, trying alternative HDMI ports, using an HDMI extender, and checking your TV/port compatibility. If all that fails, verify the suitability of your input sources.

You can fix this common problem with ease if you learn to troubleshoot like a pro. Read on to find out how to do this and much more. Check out some of the Best Fire Stick Bundles on Amazon now!

Why This Happens

App Related Errors

While the Amazon Fire TV Stick is quite useful, it is highly prone to app errors. These errors can cause different problems, including stopping the device from being responsive.

However, many of them are easy to resolve, as we shall see shortly.

Problems with the Power Connection

The Amazon Fire Stick requires a steady supply of 1A power. So, if the power cord or power plugs are defective or inefficient, you are highly likely going to experience this problem. You can experience the same problem if the electric socket is not functional or you use a USB port to charge the device.

Poor Quality HDMI Cable

Contrary to popular opinion, you can’t rely on any cable you find out there and expect to establish a stable connection. Your cable should be authenticated and designed for your streaming device.

Sometimes, an Amazon Fire TV Stick will not serve your interests if the cable has been used for a long period due to tear and wear.

Not Properly Plugged In

If your Amazon fire stick is not properly fitted on the TV’s HDMI port, it won’t be responsive. Sometimes, changing the port may not solve this problem. These are the moments you need a special extender.

Incorrect Setting of Input Sources

The TV’s active input source should be set to the corresponding HDMI port that holds the Fire TV Stick.

For example, if you set the TV’s source to HDMI 2 but connect the streaming device to HDMI 1 pr 3, your television won’t recognize it.

TV/Port Incompatibility

Your TV’s HDMI ports are designed to support specific resolutions as well as refresh rates. So, in case you are using Fire Stick 4K or Fire Stick, the TV won’t recognize it if its HDMI is not capable of handling at least HD (720p) or Full HD (1080p) at a 60/50 Hz refresh rate.

How To Fix It

Now that you know what can hinder your TV from recognizing your Amazon Fire Stick, you can easily fix the problem if you follow basic instructions. Here is what you should do to fix the hitch:

1. Change Power Source/ Power Outlet

As we have indicated, your Fire TV Stick consumes a lot of electric energy. If you can’t find the best way to meet the need, the television might not recognize it. To resolve that, you should do the following:

  • Ensure you plug the device into a functional electric socket (not the USB port). This port can’t supply 1A power.
  • Find out whether the power outlet/extension is working as required and consider changing it. Also, be sure the cable’s micro-USB end is well fitted into the device.

2. Try Alternate HDMI Port

If the device remains unresponsive after troubleshooting the accessories and power source, check whether it is completely fitted into the television’s HDMI port. If that is not enough, you should try switching the device to another port.

Of course, this last point only applies if your TV has multiple HDMI ports (some don’t).

3. Use HDMI Extender

According to Amazon, the bundled HDMI extender is suitable for enhancing remote performance, Wi-Fi connectivity and properly fitting the Fire Stick into the television’s HDMI port.

So, if you can’t fix the Fire TV Stick properly, this is the extender that we briefly mentioned above. It will serve the purpose.

4. Check Input Sources

This is another issue that should only concern you if your TV set has multiple HDMI ports.

Ensure you set the active input source to the corresponding port, and that’s all you need to solve. For example, if you’ve set the television’s active input source to HDMI 2, connect your Fire TV Stick to HDM1 2.

5. Check TV/Port Compatibility

You need to confirm whether you are using the Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Stick 4K, if necessary. They determine the screen resolution that suits your TV.  For a Fire TV Stick, you should switch to a TV with a 1080p HDMI port.

Nonetheless, if you have a new-generation TV, it should not be a problem. These TV sets come with HDMI ports that are compatible with all versions of the Fire TV Stick.

  • Remember to check the manufacturer’s website or user instruction manual to find out your TV’s supported resolutions and refresh rates.
  • Alternatively, search the television’s specifications online.

6. Restart your Fire Stick

This is also one of the best ways to fix temporal system errors and configuration problems. There are 2 ways to restart the device in our situation. These are:

  • Disconnect the Fire Stick power cord from the power outlet or the device’s back. Plug it back in after 60 seconds.
  • Long press the Select and Play/Pause buttons concurrently for at least 5 seconds.

7. Power Reset your TV

Let’s try one of the easiest and most effective techniques when it comes to troubleshooting your Fire Stick. Follow these simple steps below:

  • Keep your TV on and then unplug it from the wall.
  • Hold the power button on your remote for 30 seconds.
  • Plug your TV back in and turn it back on.
  • Go to the Fire Stick input channel, it should be working now.

8. Fix the Power Port

In this step, you will need to inspect the power port on your Fire Stick. There is a metal plate around the port and a black charging element inside. If this element is touching the metal plate, your device won’t connect properly.

All you need to do is to take a pin or a kitchen knife and very gently move that black element up so it doesn’t touch the metal plate. 

Fix Amazon Fire Stick Not Recognized By TV

9. Reset Fire Stick/TV to Factory Settings

If serious errors and configuration issues are responsible for the issue, you should factory reset it. Here are the steps you should follow if you can get access to the Settings:

  1. On your Fire TV, go to Settings(hold down the Home key on the remote or go to the home screen’s top to find this).
  2. Select My Fire TV(If you have an older Fire Stick, you see it labeled Device or System).
  3. Select Reset to Factory Defaults(when asked for your PIN, enter it).
  4. Click Reset.

You can do the same for your TV as well. Simply go to your TV’s setting and find the factory reset option.

When I Plug in My Fire Stick Nothing Happens

As we have seen, there are many cause reasons nothing happens when you plug your Fire Stick TV into your TV. However, most of the time, app-related errors and wrong settings are the main causes of the problem.

You can solve these issues by restarting your Amazon Fire Stick. If this fails, you can then troubleshoot by following the steps we have discussed above. That should work unless the device has a technical hitch that requires the attention of a trained technician.

How to Restart Your Amazon Fire Stick

Many people will tell you that all you need to do to restart your Amazon Fire TV Stick is to pull off the power cord and then plug it back in. That may help you in isolated cases. To successfully restart the device, you should follow these steps:

  1. Set your TV set OFF
  2. Remove the Fire TV Stick from the TV’s HDMI port
  3. Unplug the device’s power cord
  4. Wait for not less than between 5-to-10 minutes
  5. Replug the power cord to the Fire TV Stick
  6. Wait for at least 5 minutes
  7. Set the TV set ON
  8. Reconnect the device with the HDMI port
  9. Press any button on the device’s remote
  10. Execute the commands, waiting for some seconds after any input

Why Won’t My Samsung TV Recognize My Fire Stick?

Before we go further, it’s essential to note that Samsung TVs are compatible with the Amazon Fire TV Stick. So, you should be able to use the device without any problem to access HBO, Netflix, and thousands of other channels on the TV.

If your Samsung TV is not compatible with your Fire Stick, it could be a small problem. In most cases, the same issues we have discussed above might be responsible.

Some of the most common causes to look out for in this case are:

  • Problems with the socket, power cable, or any other power source
  • HDMI cable not properly connected or in default
  • The device improperly connected to your Samsung TV
  • The TV’s display resolution is inaccurate

In short, you should use the troubleshooting techniques we have seen above to resolve the trouble, and you should be able to do so in no time. Check out some of the Best Fire Stick Bundles on Amazon now!

Conclusion

If your TV won’t recognize the Amazon Fire Stick, you can fix it with a few quick solutions. In particular, ensure you establish a stable connection with your power source and your HDMI port and cable are in good working condition.

Also, properly reconnect your Fire Stick and ensure you choose the correct resolution for the monitor. With these tips and the simple ones we have already discussed here, you can plug your Fire TV stick into your Samsung TV whenever you want and get the best experience.