Fire TV Stick for Advanced Users: 7 Tricks You Can Try Right Now

For the first week after buying a Fire TV Stick, just watching Prime Video and Netflix is plenty of fun. But after using it for a while, you start thinking things like “it’s getting a bit sluggish” or “couldn’t I make better use of these remote buttons?”. Actually, I was one of those people, and before I knew it, fiddling with the settings screen had become my weekend hobby (lol).

This time, for people who already know the basic operations, I’ve put together “what comes after that”. Setting aside talk of the new model, these are ways to make the Fire TV Stick you already have a bit more convenient, starting today.

1. Swap out the remote’s “app buttons” entirely

You can actually change the order of the apps lined up on the home screen easily with a long press. But even more convenient are the four quick buttons at the bottom of the remote. Go from the settings menu to “Remotes & Bluetooth Devices” → “Remote settings” and you can change what the app buttons are assigned to. I’ve changed mine to “YouTube”, “Kodi”, “Disney+” and “DAZN”. Just cutting out one tap quietly removes daily stress.

2. Enable ADB and touch the “hidden settings”

The Fire TV Stick’s true power starts when you open Developer Options. Under “Settings” → “My Fire TV” → “About this device”, press “Build” seven times in a row and developer options appear. From there, turn on ADB debugging, and you can connect with adb connect from a PC or phone on the same Wi-Fi.

This greatly broadens what you can do. For example, disabling unnecessary preinstalled apps, locking the screen refresh rate or monitoring CPU load. If you’re comfortable with the terminal, this really is “the gateway to advanced use”.

3. “Clean” the cache and storage regularly

Even the 4K models have limited storage. If you keep installing and deleting apps, the cache builds up little by little and things get sluggish. My habit is to clear each app’s cache once a month from “Settings” → “Applications” → “Installed applications”. At the same time I check the free space on the “Storage” screen. Treat dropping below 1GB as a warning sign.

4. If you install Kodi, start with “add-ons” rather than a “build”

Many people run Kodi on the Fire TV Stick, but I don’t recommend installing a flashy build straight away. It becomes a cause of sluggishness. It’s more stable to first install only the add-ons you need individually from the official repository and grow it to match your viewing style. If you’re not used to using the remote, customizing the “remote mode” in Kodi’s settings makes a world of difference in comfort.

5. Master the voice remote’s “hidden commands”

Pressing the Alexa button and saying “open ○○” is the basic, but you can actually give much more detailed instructions. For example, “turn the volume up 10%”, “go to sleep in 30 minutes” or “search YouTube for ○○”. The “sleep timer” in particular is quietly handy; set it before you nod off and the next morning’s electricity bill will be a little kinder (lol).

6. “Deliberately” lower the display settings

This may be controversial, but if you lock the Fire TV Stick’s display setting to “1080p”, leaving the upscaling to the TV can sometimes feel smoother even on a 4K TV. It’s an effective measure especially with older 4K models or when your Wi-Fi isn’t that fast. The setting is in “Settings” → “Display” → “Video Resolution”. Try adjusting it while taking your internet speed into account.

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7. Make your “phone” the spare remote

This is more insurance than a trick, but installing the Fire TV app on your phone is a real lifesaver when the remote’s batteries die or it goes missing. As long as it’s connected to the same Wi-Fi, the app works as a remote just like that. I once dropped the remote into a gap in the sofa and spent 20 minutes looking for it, so I want to shout this one from the rooftops (lol).

Less a summary, more a final word

The Fire TV Stick isn’t a “buy it and you’re done” device; it’s a gadget that transforms depending on how you set it up and tinker with it. The seven tricks I’ve introduced can all be tried starting today without any special equipment. You don’t need to do them all. Start with assigning the remote buttons or clearing the cache. That small change will make your daily viewing time just a little more comfortable.