Web Browsers for Fire Sticks 101

Do you ever wish you could browse the web on your Fire Stick? 

Using a web browser on your TV can be useful if you’re trying to visit specific streaming sites that aren’t available in your Fire Stick’s Appstore. It’s also a great way to play browser games on the big screen, especially if you have company over. 

But, can you even browse the web on a Fire Stick? If so, how? 

What should you check if your Fire Stick’s browser isn’t working?

Keep reading to find out! 

Can You Browse the Web on a Fire Stick?

Yes, you can browse the web on a Fire Stick.

Browsing the web on a Fire Stick may look a little different than on a laptop, but it’s just as easy. 

You can use browsers on your Fire Stick to open streaming sites, use search engines, and open links from Whatsapp, Skype, and other communication platforms. 

You can use the on-screen keyboard to type into the browser or attach a wireless keyboard via Bluetooth or a USB dongle. 

How To Install a Web Browser on a Fire Stick?

Follow the steps below to install Amazon Silk and other browsers on a Fire Stick. 

Fire Stick’s natively supported browser is Silk, which was developed by Amazon. However, there is a way to sideload other browser apps on your Fire Stick using the Downloader app. 

Let’s learn how! 

How to Download Silk on a Fire Stick 

Last update on 2023-05-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.

Since the Silk browser is natively supported by Fire Stick, it’s easy to download from your device’s Appstore. 

Step 1: Open the Home Page. 

Step 2: Click on the Appstore application. Or you can go to Find, then click on Search. Both options will bring you to your Fire Stick’s Appstore where you can search for apps. 

Step 3: Search for Browser or Silk in the Appstore’s search tool. 

Step 4: Click on Amazon Silk in the results. The app’s icon says Internet on it with Amazon’s signature smile below it. 

Step 5: Select Download to install the app on your Fire Stick device. 

Step 6: Once downloaded, open it and start surfing the web! 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to download the Amazon silk browser on a Fire Stick. 

How to Download Other Browsers on a Fire Stick 

While you can simply download Silk from your Fire Stick’s Appstore, other browsers require a different process to be installed. 

Since these browsers are not natively supported by Fire TV, you will need to sideload them following the steps below. 

Step 1: Go to the Settings.

Step 2: Click on My Fire TV. 

Step 3: Head to Developer Options. 

Step 4: Turn Apps from Unknown Sources on. 

Step 5: Next, go back to the Home Page and click on Appstore. 

Step 6: Search for Downloader and install it on your device. Click OK in the confirmation pop-up. 

Step 7: Enter the URL of the website with your preferred browser’s download link. 

Step 8: Install the browser on your Fire Stick. 

Note: Please only download browsers from reputable sources to avoid installing illegal files or malware. 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to sideload browser apps on your Fire Stick. 

3 Good Fire Stick Browsers 

There are tons of browsers on the market, so selecting the right one for your Fire Stick can be difficult. 

Here are our top three Fire Stick browser recommendations. 

Silk

Silk is Amazon’s browser. It’s easy to download from the Appstore and simple to navigate. 

Chrome

Chrome is another safe browser option. It’s fast and familiar, so you don’t have to worry about learning the ins and outs of a new browser. 

Firefox

Last, but not least, is Firefox. This popular browser used to be available in Fire Stick’s Appstore, but it was taken down on the 30th of April, 2021. Now it must be sideloaded onto your device via the Downloader app. 

What To Check When a Browser Is Not Working on a Fire Stick?

Follow our tips to fix your glitching Fire Stick browser! 

Is your browser glitching or not opening links? 

Don’t worry. You haven’t incorrectly installed the browser. 

Glitching browsers are usually easy to fix, follow our solutions below to find out how! 

Weak Internet Connection

Though it may seem obvious, the first thing you should check is your internet connection. 

Head to Network under Settings. Notice how strong the network you’re connected to is from how many lit-up Wi-Fi bands there are.

If you’re using Wi-Fi, head over to your router and check its strength from the LED indicator lights. Try rebooting your Wi-Fi router if the signal is weak. 

You can also try connecting your router to your Fire Stick with an Ethernet cable and an Ethernet adapter, such as the Amazon Ethernet Adapter for Amazon Fire TV Devices  

You can also connect it to your smartphone’s mobile hotspot if you’re consistently experiencing problems with your Wi-Fi router.

The App Must Be Reinstalled 

Something may have gone wrong while you were installing the application, so you may need to reinstall it.

Go to the Settings. Click on Applications, then Manage Installed Applications. 

Here, find your browser app. Select it and click on Uninstall. 

Once it’s been uninstalled, reinstall it. Ensure your internet is strong during this process. 

See the video below explaining how to uninstall and then reinstall Fire Stick apps from the Appstore. 

The Cache is Full

Browsers handle a lot of data, so it’s not uncommon for their cached data to quickly add up. This extra storage could not only be slowing down your browser but also make your Fire Stick lag. 

Depending on how often you use your Fire Stick’s browser, we’d recommend clearing the cache once a month. Don’t worry, this won’t clear any of your data. 

Go to Settings, Applications, and Manage Installed Applications. 

Click on your browser from the list of apps. 

The last option in the list will be to Clear the Cache. Select it. 

Do this one monthly or whenever you notice your browser isn’t working correctly. 

The Website is Not Compatible with Your Browser

Are you trying to visit a niche website but not having much luck? If so, the website may be incompatible with your browser. 

Try opening the same website on your phone or laptop and confirm that your internet connection is stable. 

If it works on other devices and your network connection is strong, then the website might not be compatible with the Fire Stick’s browser app. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done in this situation. If you must display this website on your TV, we recommend mirroring your phone’s screen to your Fire Stick instead. 

The Browser has Pending Updates

Browsers frequently receive new updates, so if your browser app is unusually slow, you may need to update it. 

The option to update your browser can be found by going to Settings, Applications, then Manage Installed Applications.

Click on your browser’s name and look for the Update option.

Install any updates and check for them regularly.

Your Fire Stick has Pending Updates

If your browser isn’t the only app on your Fire Stick that’s been acting funky, you may need to update your Fire Stick. 

This will help your Fire Stick to run smoothly. 

Click on Device & Software in the Settings. Go to About. 

Click on Check for Updates. 

Download any updates. After they’re downloaded (which could take a while), go back to About and click on Install Updates. 

Once installed your Fire Stick may reboot. 

Watch the short video below to see how to update your Fire Stick in a few clicks. 

The Browser is not Compatible with Your Fire Stick 

You may have downloaded a browser that’s not compatible with your Fire Stick. This is especially likely if you sideloaded the app via the Downloader app. 

The best solution here is to uninstall the app and install another browser. If you’re having difficulty sideloading a browser, we strongly recommend simply using Amazon’s Silk browser. 

It’s compatible with all Fire Stick versions and the Fire Cube, so you know it will work well on your device. 

Tips for Using a Browser on a Fire Stick

Follow these tips to have a seamless Fire Stick browsing experience. 

You’ve installed your browser and it’s working well. But, there are a few things you should keep your eye out for to make sure you’re safely and efficiently browsing the internet on your Fire Stick. 

Let’s learn about them.

Install the Mouse Toggle App

Navigating non-native browsers (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, etc.) with the standard Fire Stick remote can be tedious. 

Luckily, you can install the Mouse Toggle app, which will display a cursor in your browser and allow you to navigate the app by simply moving your remote around in front of your TV. 

This app must be sideloaded, and you will have to install different applications depending on if you have a Fire Stick or a Fire Stick 4K. 

This process can be a little lengthy, however, the video below walks you through each step and even has all of the necessary download links in the video description. 

Get a Wireless Keyboard

Using your Fire Stick’s on-screen keyboard can be tedious, especially if you’re tying stuff into a browser. 

So, it’s a good idea to get a keyboard.

Wireless Keyboard

You can buy a wireless keyboard and touchpad that connects to your Fire Stick via a small USB dongle. Note that you must buy a USB adapter, like the ANDTOBO 2-in-1 Micro USB OTG Adapter . 

Plug the adapter in your Fire Stick’s Micro USB port, then connect it to power with a Micro USB cable. Now, plug your USB dongle into the adapter’s USB port. 

Since this adapter only has one USB port, we recommend buying a keyboard with a touchpad that only requires one dongle, like the Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard

Watch the video below demonstrating how to connect a wireless keyboard to a Fire Stick using its USB dongle and a USB adapter. 

Bluetooth Keyboard

Alternatively, you can also use a Bluetooth keyboard, like the Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard .

When paired with a Bluetooth mouse, such as the Logitech M535 Bluetooth Mouse , the keyboard allows you to navigate your Fire Stick like you would a monitor 

You can connect your Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to your Fire Stick in its Bluetooth settings.

Watch the video below demonstrating how to connect your Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to your Fire Stick, and how to use them to navigate the Silk browser app. 

Only Visit Secure Sites 

Please avoid navigating to unsafe websites, especially if they contain numerous pop-ups, which can be difficult to close on a Fire Stick browser. 

These websites, like illegal streaming sites, often contain malware that could infect your Fire Stick and TV. 

If your TV has a camera, there’s also the possibility that a hacker could take control of your TV and secretly watch you. They may also be able to hear you through your remote’s microphone. 

Note: An easy way to ensure that a site is secured is by seeing if there’s a small lock icon next to the URL or checking if the URL starts with HTTPS. 

However, it’s always the safest option to only use the streaming apps available in your Fire Stick’s Appstore. 

Download a VPN App

You use a VPN on your laptop and phone, so don’t forget to install one on your Fire Stick! 

If you do make the unfortunate decision to visit unsafe sites, a VPN will help keep your online activity safe. 

It also allows you to bypass geo-blockers, which is especially helpful if you’re traveling. 

You can find several VPNs, both free and paid, in your Fire Stick’s Appstore. 

For safety, we recommend only downloading VPNs from the Appstore, instead of sideloading them. 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to download and use a VPN on your Fire Stick. 

Bookmark Sites on the Silk Browser

Repeatedly searching for your favorite websites in your browser can be annoying. So, we recommend getting the Bookmarker 1 app .

This app allows you to bookmark pages from your Silk browser so you can open them without typing in their URLs. 

Do you visit Facebook on your Fire TV every day? Bookmark it! 

It’s easy to use and a game changer for anyone who frequently uses their Fire Stick’s browsers. 

To see how to install and use the Bookmarker app, watch the video below. 

Wrapping Things Up 

You can absolutely browse the web on your Fire Stick! 

It won’t be exactly the same as opening web pages on your laptop, but it’s a great way to visit safe streaming websites that aren’t in the Fire TV Appstore and display websites for all to see.

The only browser that Fire Stick natively supports is Silk, but you can sideload Chrome and Firefox if desired. 

Remember to only visit safe websites and get a good VPN from the Appstore. 

Now, you’re ready to use your TV like a big monitor! 

What’s your experience browsing the web on a Fire Stick? What’s your favorite Fire Stick browser? 

Let us know in the comments below!