One limitation of the Amazon Firestick is storage. A typical Fire TV Stick comes with 8GB of storage of which about 5GB only is usable. As you install apps or download files such as videos and photos from your computer or the internet to the Fire TV Stick, this storage quickly fills up.
Since you can’t upgrade the Firestick’s built-in storage, your only option is to simply add external storage. Now the Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick 3, Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick 4K Max and newer models feature full support for USB drives.
You can add more storage to your firestick using a USB flash disk or portable hard drive. For optimum performance, Amazon recommends your USB drive be USB 3.0 and no larger than 128 GB in size.
To set up your USB drive with your Firestick, you’ll need an OTG cable. That’s because the Amazon Firestick has NO USB port. An OTG cable enables you to connect USB external storage to your FireStick by adding a USB-A interface.
I got myself this AuviPal OTG cable for about $7 from Amazon. There are several fire stick otg adapters on Amazon and other online retail stores all under $15.
To connect a USB drive to your Firestick using an OTG cable;
- Connect your USB drive to the standard USB end of the cable.
- Connect the male micro USB end of the OTG cable to the firestick.
- Connect the firestick to your TV’s HDMI port.
- Now Power the firestick on by connecting the female end of the micro USB cable to a standard 10W wall charger similar to what you use to charge your phone.
Once your USB drive is connected to your firestick, there are two ways Fire TV sticks can use external storage;
- As internal storage and
- As external storage.
When used as external storage, the USB drive can only be used to store and read data such as movies, files, music etc. You can build a local media library using a USB drive and watch your movies or listen to music offline this way. However, you can’t install Apps when the USB drive is used as external storage.
Related post: How to manage storage space on Fire TV and fix critically low on storage message
When used as internal storage, you can install apps or move existing apps from the Fire stick’s built-in storage to the USB Drive. This is especially important for installing heavy apps such as games to your Firestick. You can’t set up a USB drive as both internal and external storage. You have to choose one which will depend on what you want to use your USB drive for.
Related: How to Install or move apps to microSD card or USB external storage on Fire TV Stick
With your USB drive plugged in, to set up your USB drive with your Firestick, go to Settings > My Fire TV > USB Drive. Now you can choose to format it as either external or internal storage. All content on the USB drive will be erased, so be sure to first backup any valuable data.
Related post: How to connect fire tv stick to a wired Ethernet network
The formatting should start. It takes between 2-5 minutes depending on how big your USB flash is. You should not interrupt this process by unplugging the USB drive from your Fire TV. Now you can unplug the USB drive from your Firestick and connect to your computer to download media files onto it. Once you are done, you simply plug the USB drive back to your firestick.
Warnings and Tips
- Formatting Warning:
Formatting your USB drive as internal or external storage will erase all data on the drive. Back up any important files before proceeding. - Do Not Unplug:
Do not unplug the USB drive or power off the Fire TV Stick during formatting or data transfer, as this can corrupt the drive or cause data loss. - Drive Compatibility:
Not all USB drives work with Fire TV devices. For best results, use Amazon-recommended models or drives with positive reviews for Fire TV compatibility. - Performance Tip:
For smoother app performance, use USB 3.0 drives and avoid using very old or slow USB sticks.
Here our step-by-step video tutorial on how to add external storage to your Firestick via USB Drive;
You can also transfer files from your computer to the Firestick wirelessly over WiFi using the appropropriate file manager app or via a command line tool called ADB.
Troubleshooting Common Fire TV Stick USB Storage Issues
USB Drive Not Recognized
- Ensure the OTG cable and USB drive are properly connected and powered.
- Try a different USB drive or OTG cable.
- Restart your Fire TV Stick after connecting the drive.
- Make sure your drive is formatted as FAT32 or exFAT before first use.
Formatting Fails or Is Slow
- Use a high-quality USB 3.0 drive for best results.
- Avoid using large-capacity drives (over 128GB) as they may cause issues.
- If formatting fails, try formatting the drive on a computer first, then reconnect to Fire TV.
- Make sure the Fire TV Stick is powered by a wall adapter, not just the TV’s USB port.
Apps Won’t Move to USB Storage
- Only apps that support external storage can be moved; some system or DRM-protected apps cannot.
- Ensure the USB drive is formatted as “internal storage” in Fire TV settings.
- Update your Fire TV OS to the latest version for best compatibility.
- If the option is still unavailable, try removing and re-adding the USB drive.
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Roku Streaming Stick 4K – HDR & Dolby Vision Roku Streaming Device for TV with Voice Remote & Long-Range Wi-Fi – Free & Live TV
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Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi (3rd Generation) with Siri Remote & Apple 1 Year Limited Warranty (64 GB Wi Fi)
H96 Max M9 TV Box Android 14.0 RK3576 8GB RAM 128GB ROM WiFi6 1000M LAN BT5.4 USB3.0 Support AV1 VP9 4K 60fps H.265 HDR Box
About David Okwii
David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he's not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.
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