Wi-Fi answers
Amazon Fire TV Stick — wi-fi keeps dropping
Why does my Amazon Fire TV Stick keeps dropping?
The short answer
Constant buffering or "home is currently unavailable" in the evening. On the WiFiXpert Compatibility Index the Amazon Fire TV Stick scores 72/100, and its weakest check is "Easy to fix when it goes wrong" — which is exactly where this problem comes from. Restarting fixes most of it, once someone finds the setting.
We publish what breaks with each router and mesh system, and the setting that fixes it.
| Check | Verdict | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Works on 2.4 GHz | Good | 13/14 |
| Works on 5 GHz | Supported | 13/14 |
| Modern Wi-Fi security | Good | 10/12 |
| Happy on mesh Wi-Fi | Good | 12/16 |
| Works on a guest network | Poor | 5/8 |
| Survives a plug-in extender | Usually fine | 6/8 |
| Doesn't depend on chatty discovery | Some dependency | 8/16 |
| Easy to fix when it goes wrong | Medium | 5/12 |
The short answer
- Constant buffering or "home is currently unavailable" in the evening.
What our compatibility data shows
- Works on 2.4 GHz: Good
- Works on 5 GHz: Supported
- Modern Wi-Fi security: Good
- Happy on mesh Wi-Fi: Good
- Works on a guest network: Poor
- Survives a plug-in extender: Usually fine
- Doesn't depend on chatty discovery: Some dependency
- Easy to fix when it goes wrong: Medium
Free fixes, in order
- Use the HDMI extension cable in the box so the stick isn't buried behind the screen.
- Check the signal strength in the stick's own network settings.
- Move the router higher and away from the TV's metal back.
Before you spend anything
- A mesh box in the living room only if the signal reading stays weak with the extension cable fitted.
People also ask
- Does the Amazon Fire TV Stick work on mesh Wi-Fi?
- Can I put the Amazon Fire TV Stick on a guest network?
- Does the Amazon Fire TV Stick need 2.4 GHz?
- Which router works best with the Amazon Fire TV Stick?
If you do end up spending money
Only after the free fixes. Nobody pays to appear here, and no shop link changes anything we say.
- Router or mesh known to suit this device
- A single wired connection to the device