Amazon Firestick - like wading through treacle

50Twuncle

My Firestick (an basic 2017 model) running Fire (Android) 5.1 - has recently slowed down to a crawl

I have FACTORY RESET it - and have removed all unwanted/unnecesary apps - with no change in speed

It takes 3 minutes to display any video but once running it is OK - I am connected to a 70Mbps signal

Its been fully updated

It used to be much MUCH faster

Is there a reason for this change ?

inspectorperez

Just wondering if it could have been "throttled" by your ISP?

Are you using a VPN?

I know my neighbour sometimes experiences this if he has been streaming from an "unofficial" source without VPN protection and that is his explanation.

Also, have you cleared the cache on retained apps?

JJ_Egan

As above known problem on non legal services .

Also try moving it away from the TV via an extension.

70 meg at the firestick ??

mobileron

Get the 4k version,the firestick,its much better.

50Twuncle

inspectorperez said:

Just wondering if it could have been "throttled" by your ISP?

Are you using a VPN?

I know my neighbour sometimes experiences this if he has been streaming from an "unofficial" source without VPN protection and that is his explanation.

Also, have you cleared the cache on retained apps?

No VPN

I have deleted any unwanted apps /utilities - leaving just Amazon and a few other unremoveable apps

And yes - I have cleared the cache - I reset it (twice now) and that makes absolutely zero difference - it is incredibly "laggy" taking ages to react to any button presses (new batteries fitted to remote as well)

50Twuncle

mobileron said:

Get the 4k version,the firestick,its much better.

We just use it for "free" trials of prime - currently in the middle of a free month - so buying a replacement would be a little pointless

50Twuncle

JJ_Egan said:

As above known problem on non legal services .

Also try moving it away from the TV via an extension.

70 meg at the firestick ??

70 meg, yes Not far off - its only 6 feet away from the router - through a solid brick wall

So you reckon that the firestick can't cope with the connection speed ?

JJ_Egan

No its interference from the stick being to close to the TV electrics or so says one of the IPTV tech gurus .

Tips for Firestick Users

Keep up with maintenance on a FS as the ram memory is very limited. Go to settings, manage installed apps and clear the cache on ALL apps, and delete any apps you dont use. Then reboot.
 
Keep at least 2.5gb of storage space on it. Force stop all the apps you are not using>go to setting to preference and click on privacy setting and make sure those are turned off> then go to data notification and make sure that is off. Power  cycle your device and router.

To keep a good amount of storage on your Firestick do the following:

From the home screen scroll to settings>display and sounds>screensaver>scroll down to start time and change it to never.

You can also try the HW setting. 

You may also want to consider an hdmi extender.  Sticks  are so close to the tv that the tv can often interfere with the wifi performance. Another option is to look at an ethernet connector for the stick.

More tips:

https://troypoint.com/how-to-stop-buffering-on-firestick/

https://troypoint.com/how-to-speed-up-firestick/

50Twuncle

I think that Amazon are doing this on purpose to try to get owners of original firesticks to buy a replacement

I have uninstalled all the unnecessary apps but Alexa will not uninstall - yet is incompatible with the HW

It didn't used to install itself !

I will try an HDMI extender - I have a 2 foot one...

mobileron

Terrible company Amazon,Jaguar did same to me a few years ago,i had to buy 3 different ones.
Get onto you tube and learn how to do it properly,firestick is not plug and play,three years is a long time with software  upgrades etc. Buy a 4k one and relax.

Neil_Jones

Well all I have to say I have a 2nd generation Firestick that I bought in 2017, and I have no issues with mine.  Are you running it off the USB port of the TV or the power supply?

There are reports that these do slow down, and its usually caused by the ADB and/or developer options being on in the settings and something else on the network scanning for it. The other solution may be that there is only a finite amount of space on the devices and if you sideload a load of apps, like most technological things, performance begins to decline the fuller this space gets.  Or it may just be getting too hot, and throttles itself accordingly.  Running off USB from the TV seems problematic too.

There are reports on Reddit that the 4k stick has become laggy too, so there may be a software issue somewhere on the platform.

mobileron said:

Terrible company Amazon,Jaguar did same to me a few years ago,i had to buy 3 different ones.
Get onto you tube and learn how to do it properly,firestick is not plug and play,three years is a long time with software  upgrades etc. Buy a 4k one and relax.

I fail to see your argument between a £40 Firestick and a Jaguar car.