If you own an Amazon Fire TV Stick of any kind (HD, 4K, etc), you know that its default method of connecting to your network is via Wi-Fi. This is mostly because it doesn’t have an Ethernet port anywhere on it. It just has a micro-USB port for power and its HDMI connection for your TV. However, what if your Wi-Fi isn’t fast enough or isn’t strong enough for the installed location?
Thankfully, it is possible to connect the Fire TV Stick products to Ethernet (if you have an Ethernet source nearby). The method is actually quite easy to do as all it requires is replacing the micro-USB cable with an adapter with Ethernet built-in. It actually supports Ethernet the exact same way Google’s Chromecast products do.
In fact, if you have a wall adapter from a Chromecast kicking around that has an Ethernet port, it will work with the Fire TV Stick’s USB cable. Simply replace the Fire TV Stick’s OEM wall adapter with it and you are good to go.
If you do not have one of those kicking around, you can buy an inexpensive adapter online like this one. It replaces the normal USB cable and breaks into two directions. One leading to an Ethernet adapter and the other running to the Fire TV Stick’s wall adapter. Simply plug your Ethernet into the adapter and the signal travels down the same line as the power coming from the wall. That’s it! Your Amazon Fire TV Stick is officially wired to your network.
We threw one of these cables onto a Fire TV Stick 4K and as you can see from the screenshot (below), it shows as being connected via Ethernet. So the capability is built into the Fire TV Sticks. They simply just don’t come with the proper wall adapter to make it happen. It’s all about that up-sale!
Note/Update (12/2022): It appears that some users have experienced the loss of this feature due to a software update that might have either broken or removed it. However, at the moment, we have been unable to reproduce this. All devices we have on site show as running Fire OS 6.2.9.4 with no further updates available–and all show as perfectly connected via Ethernet.
9 Comments
New to fire stick. Do I need to purchase anything else to connect to internet
Sure the issues are not with the non Bluetooth remote which uses its own WiFi connection. Suspect if you change to a Bluetooth remote the issue would go away.
It’s not that simple. Firestick has a software problem that they are not acknowledging. The “turn off wifi” menu option comes and goes at random. Even when the menu option is present, the stick often will not recognize the ethernet connection.
Agreed Don. Amazon caused the problem with a software update. All 3 of my 4k sticks around the house will only offer wifi options. Prior to the update all 3 worked perfectly with ethernet / home plugs. Frustrating as I get buffering with wifi!!!
I have been trying to connect my firestick to ethernet but it keeps coming up Wifi- I have unplugged and changed cable waited a while and plug back in- still picking up wifi instead of the ethernet. How can I connect it to the Ethernet.
I have the same issue. What did you do?
I have been trying to connect my firestick to ethernet but it keeps coming up Wifi- I have went in and marked forget wifi then unplug wait a while and plug back in- still picking up wifi instead of the ethernet. What am I doing wrong?
Have an older stick with the Ethernet adapter… it works perfectly just need to update with a new Gen 3 4 k stick otherwise it’s fine
Hey, thanks a lot for this. You really helped make this a possibility for me. I have terrible wifi and Ethernet is so much better. Its been working great!!