Looking how to fix firestick keeps going black? You have found the right post! The black screen issue with the Firestick is well-known for quite some time now and luckily there is more than one solution.
Regardless of the cause, we will cover everything you should know and by the end of the post, your Firestick should not be going black anymore.
Your firestick could be going black if the HDMI cable isn’t plugged properly into the corresponding port. A great solution is to use an HDMI extender for instance, which we will talk more about further in the post.
In addition, make sure that the firmware is up to date and there was not severe physical or water damage to the hardware.
Having in mind all that let’s find out why the back screen issue is happening.
Why Is Firestick Flashing Black Screen?
There are a few general causes for this issue and most of them will require you to perform a troubleshooting method.
Power Issues
Sometimes firesticks might go black due to a bad power source. As you probably know, bad power flow could cause severe issues and even a short-circuit sometimes might wipe your TV or firestick’s functionality at all.
Overheating
Another thing that could cause black screen issues with your firestick is overheating.
Especially during the summer season, sometimes the inside of your Firestick could get hot enough to damage itself, especially if the room temperature is really high.
The best thing you can do is make sure that the stick is not exposed to direct sunlight.
Wiring Problem
Faulty cables, connectors, ports, and especially HDMIs could significantly impact your TV and Firestick’s functionality if they aren’t working correctly.
We’ll explain how they should all be connected so we can exclude this possibility later.
Outdated Firmware
One of the most common reasons for a black screen on a Firestick is outdated firmware.
In that regard, we will explain how to check and possibly install the latest OS for your Firestick, which has a high chance to resolve the black screen issue.
Hardware Problem
This is probably the one cause that you really don’t want to experience. If there is an issue with your Firestick hardware, it would be really difficult to identify and solve at home.
However, we can get as close as possible, and hopefully, the issue will not be found within the Firestick hardware.
How To Fix Firestick Keeps Going Black?
After going through all of the possible causes for this malfunction, we figured it is finally time to face the issue with these guidelines.
You should be aware that sometimes similar issues indicate irreversible hardware damage and seeking further assistance might be the only way.
But in case this isn’t the issue, let’s begin with some easy-to-apply methods to resolve your Firestick’s issue.
Method #1 Power Cycle Firestick
As your first solution, we have decided to position the most successful and universal method first.
This approach is a combination of a restart and power disengage that will reboot and refresh all services.
Sometimes the issue could be just temporary and with a power cycle, you should be able to resolve the issue. In that regard, you will learn how to power cycle both your TV and firestick.
How To Power Cycle Firestick?
- Click the select button and play button simultaneously.
- Hold them for about 5 seconds before releasing pressure.
- Doing that should immediately turn off the Fire TV Stick and restart it.
How To Power Cycle TV?
After restarting your Fire TV remote, it would also be appropriate to do the same thing with your TV.
This is why we have also included steps that will firmly power cycle your TV in case there are any power issues with your device.
- Turn off your TV and unplug the power cable.
- Let your TV be unconnected for about 5 minutes.
- After waiting for the appointed period of time, plug the power cable in.
- Start the TV and Firestick to see if the issue is still there.
Method #2 Update Fire OS
You may occasionally encounter black screen issues if your Fire OS isn’t up to date.
This is why our next method is specifically related to checking if your firmware is all updated and has implemented its latest bug fixes.
To check if there are any Fire OS updates available, simply go to Settings > My Fire TV and enter the About tab. From there you should be able to locate a feature labeled Check For Updates.
After clicking on it, you would probably have to wait for a while until any new firmware is discovered.
Then you will be provided with the opportunity to download and install it right away (recommended).
Pro Tip:
The update might take up to 15 minutes and your TV will restart more than once. Be patient for the best results and don’t turn off your TV during the update process.
Method #3 Check Internet Connection
If your Firestick keeps going black even after applying the previous methods, it is now time to pay attention to the network.
Your screen might be going black because the media you’re watching might be buffering, which is caused by your network.
First, ensure that your network is working correctly. You can verify this by trying to visit a webpage through another device connected to the same network as your firestick.
If the issue is only with your Firestick, then the problem might require more drastic measures.
In case you identify an issue with your network, here is how to fix it:
- Power cycle your router.
- Change WiFi password.
- Disconnect other devices.
- Change WiFi channel.
- Use (direct) ethernet cable connection.
If your network is currently problematic and you’re still not sure if the issue is related to it you can share a hotspot from your mobile and test your firestick.
If the black screen issue appears even when the stick is connected to a different network, just use our next method.
Read Next: How to Setup Firestick Without Remote?
Method #4 Check Wiring
If your HDMI cable disconnects, for instance, you will be immediately faced with a black screen and the only way to fix it is to either replace or fix the HDMI cable.
This is why your next step would be to verify all cable connections throughout your TV and Firestick.
The recommendation here is to disconnect all cables and re-connect everything from scratch and also switch cable sides and input ports (if possible).
If you have another proven-to-work HDMI cable in your household, do not hesitate to hook it up and test.
Method #5 Test Firestick On Another TV
As a last resort, you can test your Firestick on another TV and check if the black screen appears.
If it does it means that the issue is with the Firestick, but if the back screen does not appear that could only mean an issue with the previous TV.
If this is the case, here is what you can do:
- Update the TV Firmware.
- Perform a TV power cycle.
- Call TV customer service.
Firestick Is Flashing Black Screen Issue Still There…
If nothing has helped in your favor so far, we are sad to inform you that the issue might be harder to solve than we thought.
Reaching so far into the post probably means that the issue might be hardware-related and the only outcome available for your situation would be seeking further assistance.
If your warranty is still active, don’t hesitate to contact your manufacturers and demand a repair.
But before that, you must be sure that this malfunction isn’t a consequence of any formal damage. Otherwise, you won’t be granted a legitimate repair and you should seek local tech services.
Read Next: How to Fix Firestick Remote Volume?
Bottom Line
Now that you know why Firestick flashing black screen, it should be easier to troubleshoot the issue even for non-techy people.
If the issue is hardware-related and the damage is irreversible, at least you know what to do next.
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.