'This is a disaster' warns Amazon Fire Stick user of common mistake

AMAZON Fire Stick owners have been urged to check their TV to ensure they don't make a mistake that could break the gadget.

A popular “cable tidying hack” that went viral on TikTok could result in the Fire Stick not getting enough power to turn on properly.

The 'hack' involved people plugging their Amazon gadgets into the back of their TV with a hidden USB port, rather than into a wall socket.

This meant that customers could avoid having an extra wire leading to the mains.

It also freed up electrical outlet space for those living in older properties with fewer electrical outlets.

Although a Fire Stick can only be powered by the TV – because the television is already connected to the mains – it occasionally does not get enough power to turn on.

This is because the Fire Stick does not receive power when the TV is turned off.

Often USB ports on TVs don't have much amperage.

If either of these occur during an 'update', the code is corrupted and your Fire Stick is 'bricked' (temporarily or permanently) or has a boot loop.

Reddit user

This means that the Fire Stick has to restart every time it is turned on, which can take a very long time.

Or the gadget can get stuck on the boot logo, in a scenario called “boot-loop.”

“There are still many FireStick owners who insist on using their TV's USB port to power their sticks (especially for 'wall-mounted' TVs where they don't want the power cord to be visible) wrote one tech-savvy Fire Stick owner Reddit.

“And those ports are often UNDERPOWERED or providing NO POWER when the TV is turned off.

“This is a disaster!”

Permanent damage

A Fire Stick can suffer permanent damage if it tries to update itself while underpowered or without power, the Reddit user warned.

“If either of these occur during an 'update', the code is corrupted and your Fire Stick is 'bricked' (temporarily or permanently) or has a boot loop.

“This can still happen with a Fire Stick powered through the adapter plug, but only if the internet connection is lost briefly during an update.

“But you've eliminated the low/no power problem.”