27 Best Amazon FireStick Hacks in 2024

Have you recently purchased an Amazon FireStick device and been using it without tweaking any of its settings? If so, you are only scratching the surface of what this small device has to offer.

The FireStick is not your cookie-cutter streaming device. It is capable of taking your viewing and user experience to the next level, only if you know how to make the most of its hidden or lesser-known features.

Following are some of the best Amazon FireStick hacks that you need to try:

Hack #1 Watch YouTube Without Ads on FireStick

Tired of those pesky ads interrupting your viewing experience on YouTube? Well, not anymore. With SmartTubeNext, you can enjoy YouTube videos without any ads.

SmartTubeNext also lets you customize the video player, create playlists, and cast ad-free videos from your phone to the FireStick.

Read More: Install SmartTubeNext on FireStick.

How to Watch YouTube Without Ads on FireStick

Hack #2 Hide Your IP Address for Safe and Private Browsing/Streaming

Your IP address reveals your virtual whereabouts. If you do not want to reveal your online footprint, you must use a VPN. We highly recommend using a VPN while streaming content from third-party free streaming apps.

Since these APKs may not have the right to show free movies or TV shows in your country, a good VPN such as ExpressVPN will ensure no one can detect your streaming activities, which will save you from any legal troubles. Learn for what reasons you need a VPN for a Fire TV Stick before making a decision.

Here is the step-by-step process to install and use ExpressVPN on Fire TV Stick:

Click the “Find” option on your FireStick home screen.
Select the “Search” icon.
Type “ExpressVPN” and find the app from the list.
Press the “Download” button.
Once installed, open the app.
Enter Username and Password.
Connect to any country’s server.
Now you can stream everything privately.

Best VPNs for FireStick for Secure Streaming

Try ExpressVPN

Hack #3 Use Mobile as Remote on Your FireStick Through Amazon Fire TV

You no longer need to juggle multiple remotes or struggle with an on-screen keyboard on your FireStick. Now you can easily turn your smartphone or tablet into a user-friendly FireStick remote, thanks to the Amazon Fire TV app.

The Amazon Fire TV app is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Open “Play Store/App Store” on your phone.
Search for “Amazon Fire TV”.
Click “Download”.
Once installed, open the app.
You will see your FireStick device name on the app. Tap it.
Now a four-digit code will pop up on your FireStick screen.
Enter this code in your Amazon Fire TV app.

Hack #4 Download Third-Party Apps Using the Downloader App

Downloader App lets you jailbreak a FireStick, enabling you to install third-party apps that are not available on the Amazon App Store.

Many people assume that downloading the Downloader app and jailbreaking it is a difficult process, which is why they buy expensive jailbroken FireSticks.

But that is not the case. You will be done with the entire process in 2 minutes by following the steps mentioned below:

Click the “Find” option on your FireStick home screen.
Type “Downloader” in the search bar.
Select the “Downloader” app from the results.
Press “Download”.
Once downloaded, click “Open”.

Now that you have downloaded the “Downloader”, it is time to jailbreak it.

Select “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Click “My Fire TV”.
Tap “About”.
Click “Fire TV Lite/Max” (or whatever your variant may be) quickly 7 times or until you see “No need, you are already a developer”
Now you will see “Developer Options” under the “About” tab; click on it.
Select “Install Unknown Apps”.
Select the “Downloader” app.
Click to turn it “ON”.

Pro Tip: Get the Best Downloader Codes for watching Movies, Sports, Live TV, etc.

Hack #5 Watch Free Movies and TV Shows on FireStick

One of the most notable uses of FireStick is to access free movies and TV shows through various apps. However, not all these apps are available on Amazon App Store, so you need to sideload them.

Though there are many best FireStick APKs to watch free movies, the following steps will focus on how you can install BeeTV on FireStick:

Open the “Downloader” app.
Enter the BeeTV Downloader code 915757 in the search box and click GO.
Scroll down and click “Download BeeTV APK”.
Once the downloading ends, click “Install”.
After the installation ends, tap “Done”.
Select “Delete”.
Click “Delete” again for confirmation.

You have successfully installed the BeeTV APK on your FireStick.

Since BeeTV fetches links from unknown sources that might be banned in your country, be sure to connect ExpressVPN on FireStick before launching the BeeTV app to ensure secure streaming.

Hack #6 Browse the Internet on Your Firestick

While FireStick does not have a built-in web browser like traditional browsers on computers or smartphones, you can still browse the internet to check websites, access social media platforms, and even shop online.

Click the “Find” icon on the home page.
Type “Silk Browser” in the search bar
Select “Amazon Silk” from the list. Click “Download”.
Once downloaded, open the app.
You will see a bar right on top of the screen where you can search for anything.

Pro Tip: Get the best Firestick browsers

Hack #7 Mirror Your Android/IOS Phone And Windows/Mac Computer On Firestick

Mirroring your Android, iOS phone, Windows, or Mac computer, onto your Firestick can be a game-changer. It is one of those Amazon Fire Stick hacks that you need to try.

Be it work presentations, gaming, or sharing content, mirroring onto the FireStick expands the possibilities of what you can do with your TV.

Long press the “Home” button on the FireStick remote.
Select the “Mirroring” icon.
Now find the “Screencast” option on your phone and connect to your FireStick.
If there is no in-build “screencast” feature in your phone, download any screencast app and connect it to the FireStick.
To mirror Windows Computer on FireStick, select the “Mirroring” icon on your FireStick.
Click the “Bottom Right” corner on your Windows computer.
Select the “Connect” icon from the list.
choose your Fire TV Stick from the options

Hack #8 Add an external drive e.g., a USB or Hard Drive to Increase Storage on FireStick

Though the FireStick has only one power plug, you can connect a cable or adapter to be able to add a USB or hard drive.

By doing so, you can expand FireStick’s storage capacity and also easily access the files stored on USB, hard drive, and even SC card.

Hack #9 Manually Offload Apps to Save Space on FireStick

Amazon has recently launched the “Offloading” feature for Fire TV devices. It automatically offloads apps if they have not been used for 60 days and there is less than 800MB of storage left in your FireStick device.

However, you can also manually offload apps in your Fire TV Stick following the steps below:

Long press the “Home” button on the FireStick remote and navigate to apps.
Choose an app that you installed from the official Amazon App Store.
Click the “three-bar button” on your FireStick and select “Offload“.

Hack #10 Restart FireStick to Improve Its Performance

Just like other devices, FireStick can also experience performance issues such as freezing or slow responses. Restarting can often resolve these problems.

Press the “Select” and “Play/Pause” buttons together for 10 seconds to restart your FireStick.

Read more on this: How to Restart Your Fire TV Stick

Hack #11 Turning Off FireStick Without Turning Off TV

When restarting a Firestick from a completely powered-off state, it typically takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes for the device to fully boot up.

On the other hand, waking up a Firestick from sleep mode usually takes just a few seconds – often less than 5 seconds – for the device to become responsive.

So if you want to save time, you should put your FireStick on sleep mode instead of turning it off.

Here is how you can activate the sleep mode on FireStick:

Press the “Home” button on your FireStick remote for 5-8 seconds.
A menu will pop up on your screen. Select “Sleep”.

Read more on this: How to Turn Off Firestick

Hack #12 Close the Apps You Are Not Using

People usually click the “Back” or “Home” button on their FireStick remote presuming it will close the app. However, pressing these buttons leaves them running in the background, which dents your FireStick’s performance.

If you want to close the apps properly, follow these steps:

Click the “Find” icon on the home page.
Type “Background Apps and Process List” in the search box.
Select the “Background Apps and Process List” app from the list and click “Download”.
Once downloaded, launch the app.
You will see all the apps that you have left open in your FireStick.
Now you can close one or multiple apps easily by pressing “Force Stop”.

Read more on this: How to Close Background Apps on Firestick

Hack #13 How to Change Date and Time on FireStick

The incorrect date and time on FireStick could sometimes lead to issues regarding content accessibility, especially when it happens to be time-restricted or region-specific.

That is why you must know how to change the date and time in FireStick.

Select “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Click on “Preferences”.
Select “Time Zone”.
Select your region and it will automatically adjust to your current time and date.

Read more on this: How to Change Time on Fire TV Stick

Hack #14 How to Turn OFF the Clicking Sound on the Fire TV Stick

While some people like the traditional clicking sound on FireStick, for others, it could be an unnecessary distraction.

If you belong to the latter category, you can easily get rid of this sound for a quieter navigation experience.

Select “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Click on “Display and Sound”.
Select “Audio”.
“Turn OFF” Navigation Sounds.

Hack #15 How to Use a Bluetooth Device e.g., Keyboard & Mouse/Speaker on FireStick

Bluetooth connectivity allows you to use compatible devices such as headphones, game controllers, and keyboards without the constraints of wires.

That way, you will have a clutter-free setup, which will let you position yourself comfortably without being tethered to your FireStick.

Pro Tip: Get the Best Bluetooth Mouse for Fire TV Stick

Select “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Go to “Controllers and Bluetooth Devices”.
Click on “Other Bluetooth Devices”
Add your device.

Hack #16 Check How Much Storage You Have Left on FireStick

Imagine installing a new app on your FireStick, only to be greeted by a frustrating message that highlights you have insufficient storage. It could be quite annoying.

But the good news is that you can keep an eye on the remaining storage space on your FireStick with a few simple steps below:

Select “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Click on “My Fire TV”.
Select “About”.
Head to “Storage”
On the right, you shall see the “remaining” and “consumed” storage space.

Hack #17 Use Magnifier to Enlarge Pictures or Words

With a magnifier, you can zoom in on specific sections to get a clearer view. So whether you are browsing through text-heavy content or analyzing intricate parts of an image, having a magnifier by your side could come in handy.

Select “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Go to “Accessibility”.
“Turn ON” Screen Magnifier.
You will see a menu with instructions on how to Zoom in and zoom out the contents.

Hack #18 Check for Updates on FireStick

Amazon frequently rolls out new updates to fix bugs and protect FireStick devices from other vulnerabilities. Missing out on these updates means you might fall short of performance or security.

Take the following steps to ensure your FireStick device stays up to date.

Click “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Navigate to “My Fire TV”.
Select “About”.
Click on “Check For Updates”.
If you see ”Your Fire TV is up to date” then you do not need to update your device.

Hack #19 Check If Your Firestick Remote Batteries are Dying

Timely battery replacement ensures smooth functionality for your FireStick remote’s responsiveness. Moreover, avoiding prolonged use with low batteries prevents potential damage to the remote’s internal components.

Wondering how to determine the health of your existing batteries? Read on:

Click “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Click on “Controllers and Bluetooth Devices”.
Now select “Amazon Fire TV Remotes”.
If you see “OK” under the “Battery” tab, this means your batteries are fine.

Hack #20 Prevent Amazon from Tracking Your Browsing Activities

All the FireStick devices track your browsing activities by default. If you do not want Amazon to keep an eye on what you do online, you can manually turn off the tracking.

Go to “Settings” from the top right corner of the FireStick home screen.
Click on “Preferences”.
Select “Privacy Settings”.
“Turn OFF” 3 settings i.e.

Device Usage Data

2. Collect App Usage Data

3. Interest-based Ads

Hack #21 Stop Auto-Play Amazon Prime Videos on Fire TV Stick Home

Disabling the auto-play feature lets you browse without videos unexpectedly popping up. This simple adjustment makes for a more controlled and optimal viewing experience.

Select “Settings” from the top right corner of your FireStick home screen.
Click on “Preferences”.
Select “Featured Content”.
“Turn OFF” Allow Video Autoplay and Allow Audio Autoplay.

Hack #22 Use External Video Player

External video players provide more advanced playback settings. Among other things, they allow you to adjust subtitles, aspect ratio, and playback speed on FireStick.

Pro Tip: Get the best External Video player Apps on Firestick

Though the FireStick supports several external players, we are choosing the VLC player as an example:

Click the “Find” option on your FireStick home screen.
Type “VLC Player” in the search bar.
Select the “VLC Player” app from the results.
Press “Download”.

Hack #23 Enable Parental Controls

Activating Parental Controls is a great way to ensure the responsible use of the FireStick in the family. By enabling this feature, you will be able to PIN-protect purchases, app launches, and content on Amazon Prime Video.

Go to “Settings” from the top right corner of the FireStick home screen.
Click on “Preferences”.
Select “Parental Controls”.
Create a PIN code.
Re-enter PIN code for confirmation

Hack #24 Hide Unwanted Apps From the Home Screen

If you are like most FireStick users, your home screen would be cluttered with apps you rarely use. Hiding these unwanted apps can streamline your experience and maintain a clean interface.

Select an app from the Home Page.
Click the “Menu” button on your FireStick remote.
Choose “Hide From Your Apps”.

Hack #25 Change Video Resolution

Have you ever settled in to watch your favorite show on FireStick, only to find the video quality is not quite up to the mark; it is either too pixelated or consuming too much data due to a higher resolution.

With FireStick, you can change the video resolution and pick the one that goes best with you!

Go to “Settings” from your FireStick home screen.
Tap “Display & Sounds”
Click “Display”.
Click “Video Resolution”
Choose a suitable resolution from the list.

Hack #26 Adjust the Display Size

When you set up Amazon FireStick on your TV, it usually adjusts to the size of the screen by default. But in rare cases, the parts of the screen are cut off and the picture does not fit properly.

If you are facing this issue, you can perform this Firestick trick by optimizing the display size with the steps below:

Go to “Settings” from your FireStick home screen.
Click “Display & Sounds”.
Choose “Display”.
Navigate to “Calibrate Display”.
Now use “Up” and “Down” on your FireStick remote to adjust the display size.

Hack #27 Change Default Language on FireStick

FireStick supports multiple languages. So if you ever feel like changing your language on FireStick, you do so quite easily.

Go to “Settings” from your FireStick home screen.
Choose “Preferences”
Select “Language” and choose your desired language.

Conclusion

The Amazon FireStick is an excellent device to access a multitude of entertainment options. However, it is surprising how many of its features often go unnoticed or underutilized.

By incorporating these 27 Firestick hacks into your usage, you will come to terms with a whole new level of convenience, customization, and efficiency of the Fire TV Stick!