Fire Stick Insufficient USB Power Detected? Know How to Fix

With a Fire Stick insufficient USB power detected issue, you need to understand the cause of the problem so you can apply the necessary solutions.

You need to plug your device into a power source for a smooth experience.

The Amazon Fire Stick has strict power requirements of 5 volts @ 1,000 milliamps. If underpowered, the insufficient power detected issue would appear. The error will also arise if you have a defective USB power cable. In such cases, you may need to change the connection.

Amazon does not recommend you plug in your Fire Stick to your TV for power as this may cause some issues.

You need to connect the provided power adapter to a power outlet for your device to function.

What Causes Fire Stick Insufficient USB Power Detected

There are three main reasons you are getting an insufficient USB power detected an error with your Amazon Fire Stick.

The most common is inadequate power requirements, which you can solve by directly connecting your device to a power outlet.

Fire Stick Power Requirements

Your Amazon Fire Stick requires 5v @1000 mA of power, making powering your device through a power outlet the ideal method.

Once powered, you can then plug your Fire Stick into your TV’s HDMI port.

Do not directly plug it into your TV for power as it may not be able to power your device effectively fully and may even cause some issues.

Underpowered USB Port

TVs have USB ports on their backs, but you can’t plug in your Fire Stick to it for power.

All Amazon Fire TV Stick models require at least 1A of power. If you plug them in your TV’s USB port, you will likely see an error code suggesting that you plug in your device to a power outlet.

Defective USB Power Cable

If you have always plugged in your Amazon Fire Stick to the power outlet, but you recently got “Check your USB power cable if the insufficient USB power detected error”, check your USB power cable.

In this case, don’t bother repairing it as it can cause deadly electrical fires in your home. Instead, replace your USB power cable and see if the problem resolves.

If not in use, you don’t need to unplug your Amazon Fire Stick.

You can simply shut it off by tapping the home button twice and selecting Sleep. Tapping any button on your remote will wake up your device again.

How to Fix Fire Stick Insufficient USB Power Detected

In order to operate, you need to plug in your Amazon Fire Stick to a power source.

You can do this by plugging your device into your TV’s USB port or directly into a power outlet. But, Amazon does not recommend the former as it cannot fully power your device effectively.

Solution #1: Try Using a Different USB Power Cable

If you are dealing with a defective USB power cable, we recommend you use a different one.

Any micro USB cable will work, but TVs only output about 500ma. On the other hand, Fire TV Stick requires at least 1A of power.

Note: You can connect your Fire Stick to your TV using a USB port, but it may not effectively power your device, causing the Fire Stick message insufficient USB power detected error.

Solution #2: Plug It Into a Different USB Port On Your TV

If insufficient USB power is detected, try plugging your device into a different USB port on your TV.

But, you will need a special USB to micro-USB cable.

Here’s how to power your Fire Stick with the USB port on your TV:

1. Plug the Fire Stick adapter into the two prong female adapter.
2. Plug the Fire Stick cable into the USB adapter.
3. Then, plug it into the Fire Stick.

Note: You can use your USB power cable to run off your device. However, this can have its complications, like your device turning off along with your Xbox.

Solution #3: Plug It Into a USB Port of a Different Device

Another way to solve the problem is hunting for the USB port of a different device.

Because of all the other devices hooked up to your TV, you will run out of USB ports to plug in your Fire Stick.

Fortunately, other equipments like modern-day game consoles have USB ports of their own. Their USB ports may even have more power than your TV.

1. Plug the Fire Stick’s power adapter into an electric outlet, and connect one end of the USB cable to the power adapter.

2. Plug the other end of the USB cable into your Fire TV Stick, then plug the Fire Stick into the USB port of your device.

Note: Make sure that the USB port you plug it in is still powered even when the device is off.

Solution #4: Plug Your Fire Stick into a Wall Socket

Since most TVs do not provide the required amount of power of an Amazon Fire Stick, it is best to plug your device into a wall socket.

This method also ensures that your Fire Stick will operate optimally. 

1. Plug the Fire Stick cable into the USB power adapter.
2. Plug it into the Fire Stick.
3. Now, plug the TV power cable back into the wall socket.

Note: You can use a longer HDMI cable or USB cable if necessary.

Solution #5: Update Your Fire Stick Software

Software updates automatically download and install to your Fire Stick.

But, you can also manually check for updates to make sure your device is running the latest software version.

1. Go to Menu and select Settings > Device > About.
2. Click Check for System Update. If an update is available, it will start downloading automatically.
3. After the download is complete, select Install System Update to install the update immediately.
4. Restart your device.

Note: Make sure your Fire TV Stick is connected to a stable Internet connection before you start the update.

Solution #6: Update the Firmware Of Your TV

If the above solutions do not work, your TV may be running an outdated version. In this case, you need to perform a software update on your TV.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Customer Support, Setup, or Product Support.
3. Click Software Update.
4. Select Network. Skip this step if it’s unavailable.
5. Click Yes or OK to install the update.

Note: Updating your TV to the latest software allows you to access the newest and fix specific problems.

The Amazon Fire Stick needs to be plugged into a power source to function. If insufficient USB power is detected, you should connect your device to a power outlet through a USB cable. Your Fire Stick requires 5 volts @ 1,000 milliamps of power to perform at its best.

Read Next: How to Factory Reset Firestick without Remote?

Last Thoughts

If you see the Fire Stick insufficient USB power detected error message, your Fire Stick may not be receiving the required amount of energy to operate optimally.

You can perform the above solutions on your own to fix the issue.

If you feel this post is useful, but you have another issue with your Fire Stick setup, you can find the answers you are looking for in our blog.