Your Fire TV Stick has stopped responding, and getting to the menus is a struggle. You can restart it through Settings, with a remote shortcut, or by disconnecting power. Start with whichever method matches what still works.
Restart through Settings when menus still work
A Fire TV Stick that isn't responding normally is a reason to restart it, and the menu method works as long as you can still navigate.
These steps apply to Stick interfaces that show My Fire TV. Amazon's Fire TV settings guide names the same tile My Fire TV or Device & Software depending on the device, so if your Stick shows Device & Software, choose it in place of My Fire TV and then select Restart. Amazon's general restart instructions do not specify individual Stick models or a minimum firmware requirement for this menu method.
Open Settings on your Fire TV Stick.
Choose My Fire TV.
Select Restart.
Follow any on-screen confirmation to complete the restart.
If the screen is frozen, use the remote shortcut
Can't get to Settings? Use this shortcut with a compatible paired remote that has both Select and Play/Pause buttons.
Hold Select, the button in the center of the navigation ring, and Play/Pause together for about five seconds to force a restart.
Amazon supports this shortcut for frozen or unresponsive Fire TV devices.
The shortcut remains in Amazon's current troubleshooting instructions, although Amazon does not provide a model-by-model Vega compatibility list. It requires a compatible remote containing both buttons.
Disconnect power when the controls do nothing
No working remote or menus? Disconnecting power restarts both Fire OS and Vega OS Sticks without a network connection.
Unplug the Stick's power cord or power adapter.
Wait three seconds.
Reconnect the power cord or adapter. That's Amazon's general restart procedure.
If the screen stays frozen or unresponsive, try the longer power cycle: disconnect the power cord again, wait 60 seconds, then reconnect it.
The longer wait comes from Amazon's troubleshooting instructions for frozen or unresponsive devices. It uses the same power-disconnection method, with a longer pause before reconnecting.
Use your phone when the remote is missing
Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV Stick. The Stick must still be responsive and reachable over Wi-Fi.
If you need the companion app on Android, install Amazon Fire TV by Amazon Mobile LLC from Google Play. On Apple devices, use the Amazon Fire TV listing from AMZN Mobile LLC in the App Store.
The current Apple listing requires iOS 15.1 or later, or iPadOS 15.1 or later. Use that store requirement when checking whether your Apple device can run the app.
Open the Amazon Fire TV app on your phone.
Sign in to the app.
Select the remote icon to begin pairing.
Choose Set Up New Fire TV.
Complete the pairing prompts.
Use the app's navigation controls to open Settings on your television.
Choose My Fire TV.
Select Restart.
Follow any on-screen confirmation.
Treat your phone as the remote here: the restart option is in the television's menus.
Reboot eligible devices from your Amazon account
This gives you a website restart option for registered devices whose Device Health information includes remote reboot.
Open Manage Your Content and Devices on Amazon's website.
Choose Devices.
Select your Fire TV device.
Open its Device Details or Device Health information.
Use the available remote reboot action. Amazon does not specify its exact button label or publish a complete list of supported Stick models.
Amazon also does not publish a firmware or region eligibility list for this option. Its availability depends on whether your registered device's Device Health information exposes remote reboot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is restarting a Fire TV Stick the same as a factory reset?
No. A factory reset is a different operation. Clearing app data, deregistering the device, resetting the remote, and putting the Stick to sleep are also not substitutes for an ordinary restart.
Can I ask Alexa to restart my Fire TV Stick?
Amazon's Fire TV restart instructions use Settings, the Select and Play/Pause remote shortcut, or unplugging the power, not a voice command. “Alexa, restart” means returning to the beginning of media.
Why do some instructions say Device & Software instead of My Fire TV?
Amazon's Fire TV Smart TV restart path is Settings > Device & Software > Restart. Amazon's restart instructions for Fire TV devices use Settings > My Fire TV > Restart. Amazon's Fire TV settings guide names that tile My Fire TV or Device & Software depending on the device, so if your Stick shows Device & Software instead, open it and select Restart.
