ESPN App Not Working on Firestick? Here’s How to Fix!

Are you interested to know why the ESPN app not working on Firestick? We have the exact steps you’re looking for to fix it!

Your ESPN app may not load its videos or not launch altogether. If this is your experience, there’s bound to be something wrong on the software or account side.

You want to check your Firestick’s settings or find out if there’s an issue with your ESPN account.

To fix the ESPN app not working on your Firestick, the first thing you want to do is clear the app cache and data. Reinstalling the app also helps to refresh the files on your Firestick. Re-authorizing it on your Firestick should get your account to recognize the device you want to run it on.

Let’s learn about the different sources of this particular issue so we can move to the complete troubleshooting guide and fix it once and for all.

Why ESPN App on Firestick Not Working

There are several reasons why your ESPN app will stop working on your Firestick.

It’s recommended that you check your connectivity and the status of your ESPN account.

Your Firestick’s software also can cause issues since the files can be prone to bugs and glitches.

Here are the problems that you are going to encounter when you can’t load the ESPN app:

1. Slow Internet Connection

Since you’re going to be streaming, slow internet can cause the app to stop working. You want to make sure you have the speed to watch your favorite sports content without disruption.

2. ESPN App not Activated

The ESPN app needs to be activated and your Firestick authorized to run it. Circumstances can happen that can deactivate your account.

3. Outdated Software

Running on obsolete software can cause issues with your device and its apps. Incompatibilities can occur between your system and apps, which can cause malfunctions.

4. Minor Bugs And Glitches

Even though these are temporary, they can cause major issues like apps not being able to run or load content.

Here are the top issues that can directly affect the ESPN app on your Firestick.

We can now proceed to the troubleshooting steps so you can resolve this issue as quickly as possible!

Fixing the ESPN App Not Working on Firestick

Now that you have a good understanding of what causes this particular error, you can now start fixing it.

Before you do anything, we recommend rebooting your Firestick. Unplug its power cord for five seconds, and plug it back in again.

Doing this should give you an idea of what you’re dealing with.

If it resolves the issue, you’re going to save a ton of time. However, if it fails, you can continue with these steps:

Solution #1: Force Close the ESPN App

Force closing apps on your Firestick offers a lot of benefits. It frees up memory, which means deleting possibly corrupt files preventing the ESPN app from running.

Force closing apps also improve the overall performance of your Firestick, so it’s a troubleshooting step that needs to be in your arsenal.

Here’s how to force close the ESPN app:

1. Go to your Firestick Settings.
2. Select Application,
3. Click on Manage Installed Applications.
4. Choose the ESPN app from the list.
5. Select Force Close to stop the app.

Note: We recommend force closing your currently running apps and then restarting your Firestick for best results.

Solution #2: Clear the ESPN App Cache and Data

There are instances when corrupt files are not just isolated to your Firestick’s memory. Once these are committed to storage, restarting your device will not resolve the issue.

If this is your current experience, you will need to clear the app caches and data.

Here’s how to clear them for your ESPN app on the Firestick:

1. Open your Firestick’s Settings.
2. Go to Applications.
3. Select Manage Installed Applications.
4. Choose the ESPN app.
5. Click on Clear Cache, then Clear Data.

Note: Make sure that you clear the cache and data for your most-used apps on a weekly basis to prevent issues from popping up.

Solution #3: Update or Reinstall the ESPN App

If none of the steps has helped you so far, you will want to update or reinstall the ESPN app on your Firestick.

You want to try updating it and see if the latest version will resolve any issues it has with your Firestick. If it doesn’t, reinstalling it should do the trick as it will refresh the app, including its settings.

Here’s how to update your ESPN app:

1. Choose the Apps tab from the home screen.
2. Find the ESPN app from the list.
3. Press the Menu button on your remote.
4. Click the More info button.
5. Press the Update button if it’s available.

Pro Tip: If not, we recommend reinstalling the app by selecting Delete and installing it again via the Firestick App store.

Solution #4: Update Your Firestick Software

If you’ve reached this point, the issue is likely with the FireOS. Incompatibilities with the older version could cause your ESPN app not to work on your Firestick.

The quickest way to resolve this would be to update your Firestick’s software.

Here’s how to update the software on your Firestick:

1. Go to your Firestick’s Settings.
2. Select My Fire TV, then About.
3. Scroll down to click on Check for Updates.
4. Wait for it to get the latest updates.
5. Select the Install Update button to start the process.

Note: Don’t turn off the power to your Firestick while it’s updating. Doing this can potentially brick your device.

Solution #5: Re-Authorize ESPN On Your Firestick

Some apps like ESPN require authentication before you can use them. Your current authentication may have expired, and ESPN requires you to do it again.

Bugs and glitches can occur that did not prompt this when you opened it, so you’ll have to do it manually.

Before going through the steps to authorize your device to run the ESPN app, you want clear its cache and data.

This will ensure that the app will ask you to go through the process instead of bypassing this step.

Here’s how to reauthenticate your ESPN account with your Firestick:

1. Log in to the ESPN app on your Firestick.
2. It will show you an activation code.
3. Visit espn.com/activate on a different device.
4. Enter the activation code found on your TV screen.
5. Select Continue to link your device to your account successfully.

Note: Make sure to have your laptop or phone ready to activate the app quickly. You’ll need to request a new activation code if it expires.

If none of these steps resolve your issue, you can always contact ESPN or Amazon support for additional assistance.

There could be an issue with your ESPN account that’s preventing the app from running properly on your streaming device.

Read Next: DIRECTV Stream App Not Working on Firestick?

Bottom Line

You can start the process now that you know how to fix your ESPN app not working on Firestick.

The full fix guide is straightforward. You don’t need any technical expertise to perform these steps as long as you follow them carefully.