Why Did My Firestick Reset Itself? – Complete Fix Guide

If you are wondering, “Why did my Firestick reset itself?” you’ve landed on the right page. We will help you understand the causes and present you with surefire solutions.

Many users claim they see a countdown on their screens that says, "Resetting to factory defaults in 3, 2, 1."

The Amazon Fire TV device then won’t pair with any remote.

If your Firestick resets itself, stick with us. We have a complete fix guide for you!

To clear the “Why did my Firestick reset itself” issue, first, make sure your device is plugged into a wall outlet. Then, check if it has enough storage space. Finally, update your Firestick. You may be dealing with software bugs and glitches.

Why Did My Firestick Factory Reset Itself

Once you figure out the possible cause of the issue, you can determine the best course of action to resolve it.

When your Firestick resets itself to factory settings, most likely, the problem is on your end.

You may be using a broken micro USB cord or a faulty cable. Your device may be rejecting the cable.

Other possible reasons include:

1. Power Issues

Your HDMI is loose and needs to be tightened. Your Firestick isn’t fully charged, or there’s a power outage in your area.

2. Not Enough Storage Space

It’s simple. Your device’s storage is full, and your Firestick can’t optimize it anymore.

3. Software Bugs and Glitches

You missed some important updates that can fix bugs and glitches and add new features that can improve performance.

4. Hardware Malfunction

The problem is with the Amazon Fire TV device itself, and all you can do is replace the defective unit.

Now you know why your Firestick resets itself. Let’s proceed to the solutions you can successfully perform on your own.

How to Stop Amazon Fire Stick Reset Itself

There are many ways to stop your Amazon Firestick from resetting itself.

But before proceeding to more elaborate solutions, we suggest starting with the simplest yet effective power cycle.

Power cycling your Amazon Fire TV device is easy. Simply unplug your Firestick and let it rest for a few minutes. Then, plug your device back in. See if this fixes the issue.

If rebooting your Firestick doesn’t work, move on to our surefire troubleshooting steps.

P.S. It helps that you already know the answer to “Why did my Firestick reset itself,” so you can save time and effort. 

Solution #1: Plug Your Firestick Into the Wall Outlet

If the main culprit your Firestick keeps resetting itself is inadequate power, plug it into a wall outlet.

Likely, your TV does not supply enough power to run the Amazon device on its own.

The Firestick requires 5v @1000 mA to function. HDMI ports, however, can only deliver 55mA of power.

Therefore, using the AC adapter that ships with the device ensure it runs smoothly.

1. Plug your Firestick into the back of your TV.
2. Plug one end of the cable into the side of your Firestick.
3. Connect the other end to the power outlet.

Note: Don’t use power strips or surge protectors. They are only adding more cables to your setup and can be a fire hazard.

Solution #2: Turn Off the HDMI-CEC Setting

HDMI-CEC is an Amazon Firestick feature that allows you to control your home entertainment devices through HDMI.

It turns out that it can cause your device to reset itself. Since it is enabled by default, you’ll want to turn this feature off to fix the issue.

Turning this feature off is easy.

Just follow the steps below:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap System.
3. Select Device Control.
4. Tick off HDMI-CEC device control.

Note: When you power the Firestick on, the screen will stay dark. Don’t worry. Simply press a button on the remote to start.

Solution #3: Clear the App Cache and Storage

Now, if the reason your Firestick resets itself is not enough storage space, we recommend you clear up your app cache and RAM.

So, before things get out of hand, free up some space on your Firestick.

1. From the home screen, go to Settings.
2. Select Applications, then Manage Installed Applications.
3. Select the app you want to clear.
4. Tap Clear Cache and then Clear Data.
5. Repeat the process to clear the cache and data for your most-used apps.

If this isn’t enough, uninstall some apps you don’t use.

1. From the home screen, go to Settings.
2. Select Applications, then Manage Installed Applications.
3. Select Force Stop, then Clear Cache and Clear Data.
4. Select Uninstall to remove the app from your Firestick.
5. Repeat the process for all apps you no longer wish to use.

Note: Cleaning app caches and storage ensures your apps operate properly, and it fixes not only the reset issue but also lags, stuttering, and glitches.

Solution #4: Remove Unwanted Files

Users often forget to delete the APK files after installing third-party apps.

After months and months, the number could pile up and take up a good chunk of your storage space.

Since APKs do not serve any purpose, you should definitely remove them.

Here’s how:

1. From the home screen, go to the Find menu.
2. Select Search to open the virtual keyboard.
3. Type File Explorer and select it when you see it.
4. Click on the File Explorer app with a blue background.
5. Tap Get or Download to install the app.

Once you have installed the app, launch it and find the Downloader folder. Select a file you want to remove and tap Delete.   

Note: Keep deleting the APK files that are taking up your storage space.

Solution #5: Update Your Firestick

If you have missed some important updates, bugs and glitches may be causing the issue. To fix it, be sure to update your Firestick.

Here’s how you can do this.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select My Fire TV.
3. Tap About.
4. Hit Check for a system update.

Solution #6: Reset Your Firestick Using Your Remote

If none of the above solutions works, it is time to reset your Firestick using your remote.

It is much easier than unplugging the power cord and provides better results.

Here’s how you can use your remote to soft reset your Firestick:

1. Long press the Play and Select buttons simultaneously.
2. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the soft reset.

If a soft reset doesn’t work, try a hard reset.

Here’s how to do this:

1. Long press the Select, Right, Back, and Reverse buttons simultaneously.
2. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the hard reset.

Note: Replace the old batteries of your Fire TV remote with fresh, brand new ones to ensure it is working.

If you still haven’t cleared your Why did my Firestick reset itself issue after trying all solutions, the problem may be with the hardware.

In this case, contact Amazon Customer support for a replacement.

Read Next: Firestick Format Not Supported?

Bottom Line

Now you know the answer to why did my firestick reset itself and the steps you can take to solve it.

We recommend you start with a simple power cycle. If this doesn’t work, work your way through other solutions based on the cause of your problem.

Our solutions do not require technical experience. You can easily do them on your own.

If the issue persists, reach out to Amazon Customer Support for further assistance.