This guide will discuss possible ways to add more storage to Firestick devices. We will need to expand Firestick memory, and this tutorial will discuss these in detail.
Follow these step-by-step guides for Firestick devices, including the FireStick 4K, FireStick 4K Max, and FireStick Lite models.
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What Is a Fire TV Stick, and Why Is More Storage Needed?
Firestick is one of the revolutionary devices in the field of streaming. The device is tiny and easy to carry with you; it comes with only two ports [ a micro USB and an HDMI port ] while buying a Firestick will have an HDMI extender, a power adapter, a USB cable, and a remote control.
But in this streaming era, day by day, a lot of new applications are coming, and we must try them; this is the point when we are a little annoyed that our Firestick device has low storage.
Since the device came with little but no more than 8GB of storage [except FireStick 4K 3rd Gen with 16 GB of storage], from this tiny storage, 3 GB of the storage is dedicated to the pre-installed applications and operating system.
The end user gets only 5 GB of storage to install their favorite applications and add-ons, which is why the Firestick owner ran out of storage.
Low storage has that issue, but you will also have other problems like buffering, flexing, and black screen, making your Firestick apps crash repeatedly. We can clean up and delete some non-used apps, but this approach is not ideal because sometimes we are forced to delete the most essential app files or media.
The only option remains to expand your memory with a Firestick, which is super easy for Firestick owners who have their device complete and do not want to delete a single app, media, or file. We can extend firestick storage up to 128 GB.
Follow these steps to add more storage to your Firestick device.
Preparatory Steps Before Expanding FireStick Storage
Before proceeding with expanding Firestick memory, you must ensure our device is complete with installing external storage for Firestick and other factors.
So follow these guides.
What do we need to expand firestick storage?
Before expanding our Firestick storage, we must have up-to-date devices with at least an operating system of seven or higher. We cannot increase our Firestick storage if our Firestick device is an OS 7 device below.
As we have checked, and we have a Firestick device with Os 7 OR Higher, we need a USB 3.0 FLUSH DRIVE With at least 4 GB of memory space up to 128 GB [according to Amazon official sources]. You don’t need to format the USB using a new USB flash drive. Firestick will do it for us.
We need a micro USB OTG Y cable that will help us connect our Firestick to USB.
Our Firestick device is compatible with expansion memory, so we have a flush USB drive with 3.0 and an OTG Y cable. We are now ready to add memory to Firestick.
How to Add Internal Storage to Fire Stick
First, we must update our Firestick device to the latest version. Check your Firestick device. If it is already the newest version, you can skip this step.
1. Switch on your Firestick device check, check your internet connections, and click settings on your Firestick home screen.
2. Select my Fire TV from the option.
3. Click on about now.
4. Click on the device and check the installed version on the right side corner, and you will have your Firestik OS under the software version. If your Firestick is not updated to the latest version, update to the latest version
5. Now click on update or install the updates, and we now have the latest version on our Firestick
Note: Turn off the power or disconnect your device during this process; after successfully installing your Firestick, it will restart automatically.
Connect the USB to the Firestick
Connect the Firestick with the USB Flash drive and follow these options carefully
1. First, connect the male micro–USB end of the Y-OTG cable to the power port of your FireStick.
2. Now plug the FireStick’s power adapter into the female micro–USB port on the Y-OTG cable.
Attach your USB flash drive to the USB port on the Y-OTG cable
Now go to the Firestick setting and select my Fire TV.
1. From many options on your screen, you will have a USB drive among them. Click on that.
2. Select the format Internal storage.
3. Now, the Firestick device will format your USB and wait for the completion.
4. Once the formatting is complete, a pop-up will open, and OK will be on your screen. Click on it.
That’s all. Congrats!! You have successfully expanded your memory with a flashlight.
How to Move Apps to the External Storage
Before moving apps to external storage on the Firestick we just installed, we need to confirm that the USB Drive has been completely formatted and is ready to accept the apps from Firestick. Follow these steps to check whether the USB drive has been completely formatted. Move to Settings > My Fire TV > USB Drive. If you see the option Format to External Storage, your USB drive is ready to be formatted and used.
Steps to move apps to external storage
1. Move to the home screen of the Firestick, click on settings, and click on the application.
2. Select manage installed applications.
3. All the installed applications will be listed. Move over the app you want to move to the USB and open it.
4. Click on Move to USB Storage.
5. Wait for the app to move completely.
That’s all. We have successfully expanded Firestick memory and moved the app to external storage.
What to Do if Adding Storage Isn’t Working on Firestick
While sometimes adding storage will not work on Firestick devices, to fix these issues, follow these guides
1. Check if your USB drive is compatible.
2. Try to restart your Firestick device.
3. Make sure the USB drive is fully formatted.
4. Try checking with a different USB port.
5. If needed, try to reset the Firestick factory reset, but first, you should reach out to Amazon support before resetting the factory settings.
Wrapping Up
Adding extra external storage to your FireStick device is a game-changer that enhances its functionality and user experience. It allows you to install more apps, download larger files, and ensure smoother performance without storage limitations. This is especially beneficial for users who enjoy streaming content or using resource-intensive apps on their devices.
Following the steps given in this guide, you can quickly expand your FireStick’s storage and unlock its full potential. If you encounter any challenges, the troubleshooting section will help you resolve common issues.
We’d love to hear about your experiences!
Did you successfully add storage to your FireStick? Do you have any tips or questions? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below—we’re here to help!
