Fire Stick not showing up on HDMI? Solve with these 4 steps

It's a quiet evening, and you're looking forward to streaming a new movie with your family. You plug in the Amazon® Fire TV Stick to the TV and turn it on, but something's wrong. The Fire Stick is not showing up on HDMI. How can you fix that?

Asurion Experts resolve challenging tech issues every day. Whether we're explaining how to fix an Amazon Fire Stick remote that won't work or how to connect your Fire Stick to a laptop, we have the answers you're looking for. Here's what to do if your TV isn't recognizing your Fire Stick.

Check the HDMI port and connection

Not sure why your Amazon Fire Stick won't turn on? It may not be connected to the HDMI port. Remove it from the TV and verify it's fully inserted into the USB adapter provided by Amazon. Then, re-insert it into the HDMI port and see if it works. 

If that doesn't fix the problem, try inserting the Fire TV Stick into another HDMI slot on your TV. Most TVs have several. There may be an issue with the slot you're using.

Power cycle the Fire Stick and TV

Restarting the Fire Stick clears out system bugs that cause HDMI recognition issues. 

To perform a restart, press and hold the Select and Pause/Play buttons on the Fire TV Stick remote until the device shuts down. The Fire TV Stick will restart. If your TV recognizes the HDMI connection, you'll see the Amazon Fire TV logo on your screen. 

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Check the TV's input source

Most smart TVs have multiple input sources, including USB, HDMI, and coaxial cables. It's possible the TV settings may be on the wrong input source, preventing it from recognizing the Fire TV Stick through the HDMI port you're using.

To verify the TV is set to the correct input source, use the TV's remote (not the Fire Stick remote) to access the input settings. The process varies from one TV to another, but most remotes have a Source or Input button you can push. 

When you're in the TV's source menu, confirm it's set to the HDMI port the Fire Stick is inserted into. If there are multiple HDMI ports, look for an identifying label next to the one you're using. It may be HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or something else. Checking the label lets you confirm that you selected the right port.

Reset Fire Stick to factory settings

A factory reset of the Fire Stick restores the device to its out-of-the-box settings. It removes all the data saved on the device and disconnects it from your Amazon account. You can reassociate the device with your Amazon profile afterward.

Use the Fire Stick's remote to perform the factory reset. Press and hold the Right and Back buttons simultaneously for at least 10 seconds. Once done, you'll see on-screen prompts to set up the Fire Stick if the TV recognizes the device. 

Use the Fire Stick with another TV

If none of the troubleshooting options resolve the Fire Stick and TV HDMI issue, there may be a fault in one of the devices. To find out if it's a Fire Stick or a TV problem, insert the Fire Stick into the HDMI port of another compatible smart TV. Make sure the TV's input source corresponds with the HDMI port. 

If the second TV recognizes the Fire Stick, there may be a problem with the other TV's HDMI port. If it doesn't, the Fire Stick may need to be replaced.