Buffering or Lag (Quick Restart Fix)

Resolve buffering, freezing, or lag by restarting your Firestick and power connection correctly.

Quick fix: buffering or lag

If channels or movies keep buffering, or the app feels slow, a quick restart fixes most issues.

⏱️

This takes about 2 to 5 minutes.

Before you start

  • If you are streaming over Wi‑Fi, move closer to your router if possible.
  • If you are using a VPN, try pausing it briefly to test if the connection improves.

Step 1

Quick restart your Firestick

  1. Hold Select and Play/Pause for 5 seconds.
  1. Wait for the Firestick to restart.

Step 2

Unplug and replug power (recommended)

  1. Unplug the power cable from the Firestick.
  1. Wait 20 to 30 seconds.
  1. Plug it back in and let it fully load.
⚠️

Unplug from the power cable, not the HDMI port.

Step 3

Restart your router (only if needed)

If buffering happens on multiple apps, restart your router:

  1. Unplug router power.
  1. Wait 30 seconds.
  1. Plug it back in.
  1. Wait until the internet is back online.

If it is still buffering

Try these in order:

When to contact support

If you have tried the steps above and buffering continues, send us:

  • A screenshot of your speed test results
  • What device you are using (e.g. Firestick 4K Max)
  • Whether you are using a VPN

If you follow the steps above and it is still buffering, jump to the checks listed in If it is still buffering.

Was this guide helpful?
😞
😐
🤩