Live NetTV v5.0Your Fire TV Stick turns on, maybe shows the Fire TV logo, and then the screen goes black. Sometimes you can still hear sound. It looks serious, but in most cases the stick is fine: the TV is on the wrong input, the HDMI connection has dropped, or the stick is sending a picture format your TV cannot display. Work through the fixes below in order and stop when the picture comes back.
Which black screen do you have?
| What you see | Most likely cause | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Black from the start, no logo | Wrong TV input, power or HDMI connection | Fixes 1–3 |
| Logo appears, then black | Resolution or HDCP handshake the TV rejects | Fixes 4–6 |
| Black screen but you hear sound | Unsupported resolution or refresh rate | Fix 5 |
| Black only in one app | That app's data or 4K/HDR setting | Fix 7 |
| Black through a soundbar or AV receiver | Receiver on the wrong input or not passing 4K | Fix 3 |
Fix 1: Check the TV input
Press the Input or Source button on your TV remote and choose the HDMI port the Firestick is plugged into (the number is printed next to the port). TVs with several HDMI ports make it easy to sit on HDMI 2 while the stick is on HDMI 1.
Fix 2: Restart the Firestick properly
Unplug the power cable from the Firestick (not just the TV), wait 60 seconds, and plug it back in. If the screen comes back, you can also restart from the remote next time by holding Select and Play/Pause together for about five seconds.
Use the power adapter and USB cable that came with the stick. Powering it from the TV's USB port often does not supply enough current, which can cause a black screen or a boot loop.
Fix 3: Reseat or replace the HDMI connection
- Unplug the stick from the HDMI port and plug it back in firmly. Try a different HDMI port on the TV.
- Remove any HDMI extender, switch or hub and plug the stick straight into the TV. If it works, the extra hardware was the problem.
- For 4K, use a High-Speed (or Premium High-Speed) HDMI extender or cable.
- If the stick goes through a soundbar or AV receiver, make sure that device is on the right input, or test the stick plugged directly into the TV.
Fix 4: Turn HDMI-CEC off and on
If you can see anything at all, go to Settings › Display & Sounds › HDMI CEC Device Control, turn it off, then on again. CEC lets the TV and stick control each other, and a stuck CEC handshake can leave the screen black after the logo.
Fix 5: Reset the resolution with Up + Rewind
This is the fix for a black screen with sound, or a black screen right after the logo. It happens when the stick is set to a resolution or refresh rate your TV does not accept.
- On the Fire TV remote, press and hold Up and Rewind together for about five seconds.
- The stick starts cycling through its display resolutions, showing each for a few seconds.
- When a picture appears, select Use Current Resolution to keep it.
Afterwards, go to Settings › Display & Sounds › Display and leave Video Resolution on Auto.
Fix 6: Turn off Match Original Frame Rate and HDR
Some TVs go black whenever the stick switches frame rate or into HDR. In Settings › Display & Sounds › Display, try turning off Match Original Frame Rate and setting Dynamic Range Settings to Adaptive rather than Always HDR. If the black screen stops, your TV or cable struggles with those modes.
Fix 7: If only one app goes black
Go to Settings › Applications › Manage Installed Applications, choose the app, and select Force Stop, then Clear Cache. If that does not help, Clear Data (you will need to sign in again) or uninstall and reinstall it from the Appstore. Our guide to clearing cache and freeing storage covers this in detail.
Fix 8: Check for overheating and updates
A stick that is very hot behind the TV can shut its picture off. Use the HDMI extender that came in the box so the stick hangs away from the TV, then let it cool for a few minutes. Once it is working, check Settings › My Fire TV › About › Check for Updates.
Fix 9: Factory reset (last resort)
If nothing else works and the stick still boots, reset it to factory settings: hold Back and Right on the navigation ring for about ten seconds, then confirm. This erases your apps and settings. See how to factory reset a Firestick for every method. If the screen stays black on another TV with a different cable and power adapter, the stick itself has likely failed.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Firestick go black after the logo?
Usually because it switches to a resolution, refresh rate or HDR mode your TV or HDMI chain will not accept. Hold Up and Rewind for five seconds to cycle resolutions, then keep the one that shows a picture.
Why is my Firestick screen black but I can hear sound?
The stick is working but the picture format is wrong for your TV. Use the Up + Rewind resolution reset, then turn off Match Original Frame Rate if it happens again.
Can a bad power adapter cause a black screen?
Yes. The TV's USB port often cannot power a Firestick reliably. Use the adapter and cable from the box.
Is a short black screen when a 4K film starts normal?
Yes. Amazon notes the screen can flicker or go black for a few seconds when 4K playback starts or stops.
How do I know if my Firestick is broken?
Try it on a different TV with a different HDMI port, cable and the original power adapter. If it still shows nothing and the light on the stick does not come on, the hardware has likely failed.