15 Firestick Tricks & Tips That Will Blow Your Mind! (2026 Secrets)

This article will provide you with a list of useful Firestick Tricks & Tips you can adjust to improve your device’s performance.

If you are a Firestick/Fire TV owner, you know the power and abilities these devices provide.

Most Firestick users “unlock” the device to install 3rd party apps not available in the Amazon App Store. Users can also stream high-definition movies/shows, play games, and much more.

However, there are also some hidden tips & tricks you can use to improve your streaming experience. The list below has some awesome suggestions that all Fire TV owners can use to get the most out of their devices.

Many of these are simple instructions that can be done within the Device Settings or from the home screen.

Currently, the most popular Fire TV model is the Amazon Firestick 4K. However, Amazon’s newer Fire TV devices including the Firestick Max, Fire TV Stick Lite, and 3rd Gen Fire TV Stick are quickly gaining popularity.

The following list was last updated on Sun, Jun, 14, 2026

Firestick Tricks & Tips in 2026

All items on the list below work perfectly on this device and most Firestick/Fire TV models are available today.

1. Sideloading Apps

Those who have used the Firestick/Fire TV for a while now have likely figured out the device’s side-loading capabilities.

Because this device runs the Android operating system, you can side-load applications not found within the Amazon App Store.

Side-loading Streaming APKs are one of the most popular uses among those with Firesticks/Fire TVs.

Some of the most popular side-loaded apps include Kodi, MX Player, Stremio, Unlinked, Aptoide, Cinema HD, and many others.

In order to side-load these apps, you must use a tool called Downloader.

Refer to our popular guide below for more information on side-loading.

How to Side-Load Apps on Firestick

2. Speed up Your Firestick/Fire TV

Download speeds and buffering are common concerns among Firestick/Fire TV users. There are several ways to increase Firestick speed and reduce buffering.

The first step is to always Test Internet Speed on your Firestick to analyze what types of speeds you are getting.

Some methods for increasing Firestick speed include the following:

• Connecting an Ethernet Adapter
• Using Real-Debrid within apps and addons
• Adjusting VPN Protocols
• Upgrading your internet package

3.  Install a Browser on Your Firestick

This is one Firestick Trick that is often overlooked yet it provides hundreds of additional streaming options.

Using a browser on your Firestick allows you to access streams from free websites that offer live sports, movies, TV shows, documentaries, and more.

To install a browser on your Firestick, Click Find, search for Silk Browser, and install the application.

You can now open your favorite websites directly on your television through your Firestick!

Better yet, you can stream live sports, movies, and TV shows for free from these popular Websites.

Best Free Sports Streaming Sites

Best Free Movie Streaming Sites

4. Increase Storage on Firestick with USB Flash Drive

Expanding storage is one of the more useful Firestick tricks. One of the biggest complaints regarding the Amazon Firestick is the lack of internal storage.

Luckily, users can purchase an OTG Cable and use any USB Flash Drive to expand the device storage.

This hack will allow you to install applications onto the external USB Drive.

Click below for a complete instructional guide with a video that will show you how to Expand your Firestick’s Internal Storage.

How to Expand Fire TV Stick 4K Storage

Note: Prior to using a USB Drive with any Fire TV/Android device, you should make sure that it’s properly formatted as FAT32.

5. Using External Video Players

Unlike some other streaming devices, the Amazon Firestick/Fire TV allows the use of external video players within applications.

The most popular external video players include MX Player and VLC Media Player.

Using external video players will often help eliminate buffering and improve the overall user experience.

Most free streaming apps such as Cinema HD allow you to change the video player being used with the application.

Best Video Players for Firestick/Fire TV

6. Fire TV Remote App

Many Firestick owners express issues with the remote Amazon provides with this device. This includes not syncing, battery failure, and more.

Fortunately, there is an app users can install on their mobile device that works exactly like the Amazon remote control.

This is available on all iOS devices including iPhone/iPad, Android, and Fire tablets.

One of the best features of the app is the ability to use your phone’s keyboard to type which is much faster than the on-screen method.

The guide below will show you how to install the Firestick Remote app, sync your remote, and much more.

Firestick/Fire TV Remote Resource Page

Firestick Remote Alternatives

New: How to Control Firestick/Fire TV via Remote Access

7. Cast to Firestick from Android/iPhone/iPad

Casting is one of the most popular Firestick Tricks on this list.

One of the best unknown features of the Firestick is its ability to allow mirroring from a separate device.

This will allow you to cast anything on your mobile screen directly to the TV in a matter of seconds.

To do so, it will require the installation of a separate app that is available for free in the Amazon App Store.

Once installed, you will be able to cast, record, and more, directly from your phone or tablet.

How To Cast to Firestick/Fire TV

8. Put Firestick to Sleep

If you don’t want to completely power off your Firestick, you can put it to sleep.

Amazon Fire TV devices have a set timer built into them. However, you can also enable the Sleep function manually by holding down the Home button and selecting Sleep.

While this may seem like a simple feature, many do not know it exists! Use the guide below for more information:

How To Turn Off Firestick/Fire TV

9.  Restart Firestick

If you would like to power off your Firestick completely, simply hold down on the Select button and Play/Pause button at the same time for approximately five seconds.

If your device is having issues and turning off your Firestick/Fire TV doesn’t help, we suggest trying a factory reset.

How to Restart Firestick
How to Factory Reset Firestick

10. Block Ads & Updates on Firestick

Another popular complaint among Firestick users is the annoying ads and updates on Fire TV devices.

Especially now with Amazon forcing software updates and not allowing for the use of custom launchers like Wolf Launcher.

We suggest viewing our detailed tutorials below for blocking ads and updates on the Firestick/Fire TV.

How to Block Updates on Firestick/Fire TV

How to Block Ads on Firestick/Fire TV

11. Screen Magnifier

For those of us whose eyesight isn’t great, Amazon provides a Screen Magnifier that will zoom in on a focused item.

This is a great tool to view pictures and content clearer and more focused. To enable Screen Magnifier, use the following steps:

From the home screen, Open Settings>select Accessibility>choose Screen Magnifier

This will enable Screen Magnifier for use. To navigate the device with Screen Magnifier on, the following options are provided:

12. Clear App Cache/Data

If you find an application is not working properly and want a quick fix, oftentimes a simple clear cache/data will do it.

This is a great way to reset the application you are trying to use and begin with a fresh start.

To clear Data, use the following instructions:

From the home screen, Open Settings>select Applications>choose to Manage Installed Applications>choose your preferred App>click Clear Data>click Clear Data again

13. Enjoy Personal Photos as device Screensaver

If you are tired of the same Amazon screensavers displaying on your device while resting, there is another option.

You can easily set up your Firestick or Fire TV to display personal photos instead.

To do so, you must first download the Amazon Photos app to your Android or iOS device.

Your photos will then sync across all Amazon devices including Firestick and Fire TV. Once installed, you can change the settings to display these photos:

From the home screen, Open Settings> select Display & Sounds>select Screensaver>choose Current Screensaver>select Your Photos (or another album)

You can also install custom launchers like the Wolf Launcher for customized wallpapers as your background!

14. Enable Bluetooth Device

For many, the provided Amazon remote is just not enough when it comes to navigation within the Firestick.

Luckily, there is a setting within Fire TVs to sync all your favorite Bluetooth accessories to the device.

This includes items such as headphones, keyboard remotes, gaming controllers, and more.

To sync a Bluetooth device to your Firestick/Fire TV, use the steps below:

From the home screen, Open Settings>select Controllers & Bluetooth Devices>choose Other Bluetooth Devices>click Add Bluetooth Devices

Once discovered, you can now select your Bluetooth device for use.

15. Enable System X-Ray

This secret Firestick Trick will allow you to see first-hand how your system is operating.

To turn this on, press and hold the Select button for a second; then (still holding down Select), press the Down button too. Hold both buttons for about 3-4 seconds.

Then release both buttons and press the remote’s Menu button. (If this doesn’t work, try holding Select and Down simultaneously instead of staggered.)

This fancy tool allows you to monitor how much RAM Memory is being used and provide information on your network connection.

To turn this off, just repeat the steps above that you used to enable it and then turn off System X-Ray.

Final Words from Troy

Overall, these Firestick tricks and tips should help you get the most out of this powerful streaming device.

Try some of these Firestick Tricks & Tips out today if you own a Fire TV device!