To factory reset your Firestick, open Settings > My Fire TV > Reset to Factory Defaults and choose to continue on the TV screen. You can also hold Back and the right side of the navigation circle together for 10 seconds to open the reset prompt. A factory reset removes your account information and downloaded content.
The short version
- Use Settings > My Fire TV > Reset to Factory Defaults when the menus work.
- Hold Back and the right side of the navigation circle for 10 seconds to reach the reset prompt.
- Choose to continue or cancel promptly. An unanswered prompt allows the reset to start automatically.
- The Fire TV app can replace your controller when your phone and Stick share the same Wi-Fi network.
- For a frozen screen, connection problem or broken app, try the matching fix before erasing everything.
| Method | What it does | Time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings reset | Starts a full device erase | Under a minute to start | Menus respond |
| Remote shortcut | Opens the erase prompt | 10 seconds to open | You cannot reach Settings |
| Phone controller | Reaches the same reset menu | A few minutes to connect | Your physical remote is unavailable |
| Restart | Restarts the Stick | A few minutes | The screen or an app freezes |
| Reconnect Wi-Fi | Rebuilds the network connection | A few minutes | The Stick cannot connect |
| Clear app cache and data | Targets one installed app | Under a minute | One app stops working |
The times estimate how long the controls take to use, rather than the whole erase or setup process. Choose the method that matches your goal: erase the Stick, restart it, reconnect it or reset one app.
Factory reset your Firestick through Settings
Before erasing the Stick, save any content you need wherever a backup is possible. Have your Amazon and app sign-in details available, along with the Wi-Fi name and password for setup afterward.
On the New Fire TV Experience, press Menu or select the menu icon at the side of the screen, then open Settings. You can also ask Alexa, "Go to Settings," to open that menu. On the older home screen, open Settings from the Fire TV menu.
Select My Fire TV, then choose Reset to Factory Defaults. If your device shows Device & Software instead, open that tile to find the reset control. Choose to continue or cancel on the TV screen; leaving the choice unanswered lets the device reset automatically after several more seconds.
After the reset, follow the on-screen remote pairing instructions and complete setup again. If you also need to configure a compatible remote's TV power and volume buttons, follow the steps to set up your Fire TV Stick remote to control your TV.
Open the reset prompt with your remote
Use the remote shortcut when you want a factory reset but cannot navigate to its menu. If you have connected expandable storage, safely eject it before proceeding.
Press and hold Back and the right side of the navigation circle together for 10 seconds. Watch the television for the reset choice and choose whether to continue or cancel. Do not leave the prompt unattended if you are still deciding, because the automatic reset can begin without another button press.
Use your phone to reach the reset menu
Download the Amazon Fire TV app on your phone and connect the phone to the same Wi-Fi network as the Stick. Open the app and sign in to your Amazon account. Select the remote icon, choose Set Up New Fire TV and follow the on-screen pairing prompt.
Use the app's navigation controls to open Settings > My Fire TV > Reset to Factory Defaults on your television. Choose to continue or cancel at the reset prompt, just as you would with the physical remote. This method uses your phone to operate the Stick's existing menu.
If the Stick is no longer connected to that Wi-Fi network, restore its connection before depending on the phone controller. Keep a working compatible remote available for the pairing instructions after the erase. Do not assume that the phone app will handle every part of setup afterward.
Restart a frozen Firestick before erasing it
If your goal is to get a frozen screen or stalled app responding again, try a restart before a factory reset. With working menus, open Settings > My Fire TV > Restart. Choose Restart, rather than the nearby factory reset option.
If the screen is frozen and your remote works, hold Select and Play/Pause together for about five seconds. If it remains frozen, disconnect the Stick's power for 60 seconds, then reconnect. Once it responds, check the problem again before moving on to an erase.
Reconnect Wi-Fi without a factory reset
For a connection problem, open Settings > Network with a working controller. Select Wi-Fi, turn it off and turn it back on. Check the connection again before forgetting the saved network.
If the connection still fails, find your network name under Network. Press Menu, then Select or OK to forget it. Reconnect to the network and enter its Wi-Fi password again, so have that password ready before removing the saved connection.
If you still cannot connect, disconnect your modem and router from power for one minute. Reconnect the modem first and wait for its lights to come on and for it to connect to the internet. Then reconnect the router and wait for its lights and internet connection before checking the Stick again.
Try these connection fixes before using the full device reset for a Wi-Fi problem. If you are controlling the Stick through your phone, remember that the app requires both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. Use a physical controller while restoring that connection.
Clear the cache and data for one app
When one app crashes, fails to open or stops responding, target that app before resetting the whole Stick. Open Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications and select the affected app. Choose Clear Cache first, then check whether the app works.
If the problem continues, return to the same app settings and choose Clear Data. Clearing the app's cache and data resets the app without deleting it. Treat this as a separate action from a device factory reset, which removes account information and downloaded content across the Stick.
These controls can also help with low storage messages. If the app still fails afterward, try restarting the Stick before a full reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the phone app handle setup after a factory reset?
Keep a compatible remote ready for the on-screen pairing instructions after the erase. If it will not connect, follow the steps for a Fire TV remote that will not pair after a factory reset. The phone app controls a Fire TV on the same Wi-Fi network. Do not depend on it for every setup step.
Does deregistering a Fire TV Stick erase it?
Deregistering disconnects the Stick from your Amazon account, content and services. Use a factory reset to erase account information and downloaded content. To deregister, sign in on Amazon's website and open Devices, choose your Fire TV and select Deregister.
Is resetting the remote the same as resetting the Fire TV Stick?
A remote reset troubleshoots the controller; the Stick's factory reset erases device content. Choose the remote reset procedure for your controller. The Basic Edition Remote and first-generation Alexa Voice Remote have separate procedures from most Fire TV remotes.
Does an Amazon Fire TV Stick have a reset-button recovery method?
Use Settings or the Back and Right shortcut for the Stick. Recovery steps involving a physical TV power button apply to Fire TV Smart TVs. Use the procedure for your device.
What happens if I do not answer the reset prompt?
The device starts resetting automatically after several more seconds without a choice. Choose to cancel promptly if you do not want to erase it.
What does a factory reset remove?
It removes account information and downloaded content across the device's apps. Save anything you need wherever a backup is possible, and make sure you can sign back in.