What Is the Best Wi-Fi Router for Your Fire TV Stick?
2 min read
Published · Updated
Short answer
A Fire TV Stick needs 5 to 15 Mbps but a steady signal. Fire TV 4K Max models support Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. Fix placement and band before buying a new router.
In this article (5 sections)
The best router for a Fire TV Stick is one with a strong signal where the TV is, not necessarily the newest or most expensive. The stick only needs 5 Mbps for 1080p and 15 Mbps for 4K, according to Netflix. What it needs is a steady Wi-Fi link, ideally on 5 GHz, and a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E router helps if your stick supports it.
What your Fire TV Stick supports
| Model | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd gen, 2023) | Wi-Fi 6E, tri-band (2.4, 5 and 6 GHz) |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st gen, 2021) | Wi-Fi 6, dual-band |
| Fire TV Stick 4K | Wi-Fi 6, dual-band on newer revisions |
Per Amazon's product copy, you need a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E router to use those features, and the stick still works on older routers. Check your exact model on Amazon's page, since revisions differ.
What to look for in a router
- Signal at the TV. Placement matters more than the model. Test where the stick sits.
- Wi-Fi 6 or newer for busy homes. A Wi-Fi 6E router with a 6 GHz band is useful only if your stick supports 6 GHz, and 6 GHz has the shortest range.
- 5 GHz band that the stick can join. If the stick will not connect, try a different 5 GHz channel and use WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode, as some Fire TV models have trouble with certain router settings.
- Enough capacity for other devices. Many devices streaming at once need a better router than one TV does.
- Mesh if the TV is far from the router. See the mesh guide.
Before buying a new router
- Move the router closer or higher, or move the stick's TV input if you can.
- Use the 5 GHz network on the stick.
- Pause other downloads and streams and test again.
- Use Ethernet if the TV can be wired. Amazon sells an Ethernet adapter for Fire TV devices.
Check your connection at the TV with a phone speed test beside it, or with the one below if your TV has a browser:
If buffering persists, read why video keeps buffering, and how to increase your Wi-Fi range for weak signal.
Router models
Router models change quickly and prices vary, so look for current Wi-Fi 6 or 6E models from reputable makers and read recent reviews. The TP-Link Archer AXE75 is an example of a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router that would suit a 4K Max (2nd gen); it may have been replaced by newer models by the time you read this.
