Fix The Amazon Fire Stick Decryption Failure Error: 5 Easy Fixes

Are you facing the ‘Amazon fire stick decryption failure error while using your Fire Stick? This can be a tricky issue but can be fixed quite easily. If you can’t get rid of the ‘decryption failure’ error on your own, we’re here to help.

The Amazon Fire Stick is an excellent streaming device that lets you stream HD content from various streaming apps and games right onto your TV screen. With so many excellent features, it is no surprise that the Fire Stick has made its way into most of our homes and become a part of our daily lives. So isn’t it annoying when you want to watch your favorite show but get weird errors that dampen your viewing experience?

If you’re constantly getting the decryption failure error while using your Fire Stick, here are a few ways with which you can use to fix the issue.

What Is The Amazon Fire Stick Decryption Failure Error?

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While streaming some videos via your Fire Stick, you might come across the blue screen or popup message with the error code: DECRYPTION_FAILURE. This error states that the Fire Stick was unable to load the video due to some unknown reasons. Several users have faced this error due to old versions of the software or faulty Internet settings, among other reasons.

Fix 1: Restart Your Amazon Fire Stick

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In most cases of the decryption failure error, just restarting the Amazon Fire Stick has helped. Here’s how you can do so:

1. Open the Settings menu on your TV.
2. Select ‘My Fire TV’ and select the ‘Restart’ option.
3. In the pop-up message, click on ‘Restart’.

The restart process takes a few minutes to complete. If you’re unable to restart your Fire Stick from the settings, you can force a restart by following these steps:

1. Turn off the TV, unplug the Fire Stick from the power source and HDMI port.
2. Leave it in this state for 2-3 minutes.
3. Plug the Fire Stick back into the HDMI port and power source.
4. Turn the TV back on.
5. Leave it in this state for 2-3 minutes before use.

Fix 2: Update Your Amazon Fire Stick

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Sometimes, the decryption failure error can be due to an old version of the software. This can be easily resolved by checking your device for available updates and updating it to the latest version. Here’s how you can do so:

1. Open the Settings menu on your TV.
2. Select ‘My Fire TV’.
3. Select the ‘About’ option.
4. Select the ‘Check for Updates’ option.

If there are any updates available, they will now be installed automatically. Wait for this to complete before trying again.

Fix 3: Restart Your Modem/Router

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Faulty or unstable WiFi connectivity of your Fire Stick device can also lead to decryption failure errors. You can correct this by doing the following:

1. Turn off your TV and Fire Stick device.
2. Turn off your modem and router and wait for a minute.
3. Turn the modem and router on.
4. Wait for the devices to reboot completely. This can take upto 5 minutes.
5. Turn your TV and Fire Stick device on and wait for them to connect to WiFi.

Any connectivity, firewall or proxy issues in your Fire Stick device should automatically get fixed.

Fix 4: Troubleshoot The Affected Apps

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Several users have reported that they face the decryption failure error only while using certain apps, such as Prime Video, via the Fire TV. If this also happens to you, here’s what you need to do:

1. Open the Settings menu on your TV.
2. Select ‘My Fire TV’ and select the ‘Manage Installed Applications’ option.
3. Scroll to the application you want to manage.
4. Select ‘Clear App Data’ and then ‘Clear Data’.
5. Relaunch the app and log in to the linked accounts.

While these steps should get rid of the decryption failure error, if the issue persists, you can also try updating or reinstalling the app. Here’s how you can do so:

1. Open the Fire Stick Home screen.
2. On the left menu, select ‘Apps’.
3. Browse through the app library and select the affected app.
4. If the app is not in the latest version, the ‘Update’ button will be enabled. Click on it to update the app.
5. Else, click on ‘Uninstall’ to remove the app from the device. Then click on ‘Install’ to re-install it.

Most app-related problems will surely get resolved with these steps.

Fix 5: Factory Reset Amazon Fire TV

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If the above methods do not fix the decryption failure error, you might need to do a factory reset on your Amazon Fire TV. Follow these steps to do a factory reset using the Fire Stick remote:

1. On your Fire Stick remote, press and hold the Back button and the Right navigation button simultaneously for about 10 seconds.
2. In the popup message on your TV screen. Click ‘Reset’ to begin the process.

If you do not have a Fire Stick remote, you can follow these steps to reset your device:

1. Open the Settings menu on your TV.
2. Select ‘My Fire TV’ and select the ‘Reset to Factory Defaults’ option.
3. Click ‘Reset’ to begin the process.

Wait for a few minutes to complete the reset process. Do NOT turn off your TV during this stage.

Note: If there is any expandable storage connected to the TV, eject it safely before doing a factory reset.

Final Words

With these various troubleshooting methods, you should now have gotten rid of the decryption failure error on your Amazon Fire Stick. These fixes can also fix other issues that your Fire Stick Device may have. Let us know in the comments below which method worked for you!