Recently, my Toshiba Fire TV has been killing my apps in the background, and sometimes even stops loading when I launch them from the home screen.
From the looks of it, it seems like yet another Fire TV OS bug that surfaced from a software update. But even users that haven't updated to the latest have noticed this bug.
This ridiculous issue is a cause of serious concern and waiting for Amazon to patch it up via a software update would probably take a very long time.
So I decided to make a troubleshooting guide on how to fix the apps not working on Toshiba smart TV.
If your Toshiba Fire TV apps are not working, check the internet connection, cables, and hardware. Clear the app cache and data, and restart the TV. If none of the above works, perform a factory reset.
Read on to find out how you can fix the applications that are not working on Toshiba Fire TV.
Check Your Internet Connection
Almost all applications on the Toshiba Fire TV rely on a stable internet connection, so it is imperative to first check whether your internet is properly functioning.
Connect your WiFi to other devices and check whether the internet is up and running as intended. Go to the Fire TV settings and verify the internet is recognized by the TV.
If your Toshiba Fire TV is not connecting to the internet, check your router for any error messages that are usually indicated by its blinking led lights. Call your ISP for further troubleshooting.
If the router is connected to the Toshiba Fire TV via an ethernet cable, then check for any wear and tear on the cable. If you notice any damage, then change the ethernet cable.
Always buy cables that are made by a reputed manufacturer and make sure to buy from a trusted seller.
Alternatively, you can also check the internet by connecting to the WiFi on the Toshiba Fire TV. If you get internet access, then the fault is most probably the ethernet cable.
Check Your Toshiba Fire TV Hardware
The hardware components of the Toshiba Fire TV can also be a distant factor to what must be happening on the software end that causes the apps to not work.
Smart TVs like the Toshiba Fire TV with an inbuilt smart OS like Fire TV OS are usually run by underpowered spec sheets that only prioritize running the Fire TV OS on a basic level.
This is primarily due to the space constraints inside the TV, and hence why external units like the Amazon Fire TV Cube series are popular.
Due to this, whenever the software demands more power for a task, like running an application the system heats up and thus throttles the performance to maintain temperatures.
This thermal throttling can deteriorate the performance even further for a temporary time frame, leading to app crashes or offloading the app from memory.
This heating issue only gets worse over time, thanks to dust settling inside the Toshiba Fire TV and the eventual degradation of physical components over time.
So make sure to properly clean and maintain the Toshiba Fire TV hardware. If the Toshiba Fire TV heats up, switch off the TV and let it cool naturally.
The TV might also trigger some software mechanisms to cool itself, such as auto shutdown or restriction of certain features.
Do not transfer the Toshiba Fire TV to a much cooler environment when it is overheating. The rapid change in temperatures can cause the formation of ice inside the TV causing further damage.
Deleting unwanted applications that don't hog the memory even further can also help clear a lot of room and hence aid in launching the required applications more smoother.
Restart Your Toshiba Fire TV
The most complicated of problems are solved with the simplest of solutions, and restarting your Fire TV Cube can do wonders to solve certain obscure bugs.
Restarting not only refreshes the system memory but also wipes off any temporary bugs that must have been hogging your Toshiba Fire TV.
Since the Toshiba Fire TV is forced to restart its background processes with each reboot, it also means the system will work as intended with the maximum possible free RAM.
To restart your Toshiba Fire TV in the safest way, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings menu.
- Tap on Device & Software under the System tab.
- Tap on Restart.
This safely reboots the software of the Toshiba Fire TV.
Just like rebooting the software, rebooting the hardware is also necessary and that's where performing a proper power cycle on the Toshiba Fire TV comes into play.
A power cycle is simply a reboot, but for the internal components inside the Toshiba Fire TV.
When performed properly, it depletes and resets the charge inside the internal hardware of the Toshiba Fire TV and thus refreshes the internal components.
To perform a power cycle on the Toshiba Fire TV, follow these steps:
- Unplug your Toshiba Fire TV and let it sit idle without power for one minute.
- Long press the buttons on the Toshiba Fire TV for a few seconds during the one-minute wait.
- Plug the Toshiba Fire TV back in and let it sit idle powered on for a full minute.
This refreshes the hardware of the Toshiba Fire TV.
A power cycle can also be performed on the remote controller for the Toshiba Fire TV.
Since it is an integral part of the Toshiba Fire TV experience in relaying signals, it is always a great idea to do a power cycle on the remote too.
To perform a power cycle on the remote of the Toshiba Fire TV, simply follow the following steps:
- Remove the batteries inside the remote controller. Replace the batteries if they don't have enough power to run the remote properly.
- Wait for one minute. Long press the buttons on the remote for a few seconds during this wait.
- Put the batteries inside the remote.
- Wait for a full minute. Let the remote sit idle powered on.
This refreshes the hardware of the Toshiba Fire TV remote controller.
Clear App Cache and Data
If the above fixes didn't work, then chances are that the issues are app-specific.
In such cases, the first step is to simply clear the app cache. App cache is the build-up of temporary files that are used to speed up loading and provide a better user experience.
But at times, cache build-up can include corrupt files and might be a primary cause for app launch issues in general.
To clean up the cache for a specific application on your Toshiba Fire TV, follow these exact steps:
- Navigate to the settings on your TV.
- Tap on Applications.
- Under the Manage Installed Applications tab, select the application to clear the cache.
- Select the Clear Cache option.
This clears the cache of that specific app on your Toshiba Fire TV.
Since cache has nothing to do with user data, you won't risk losing your application data during the cache-clearing process.
But in some cases, clearing the cache won't be enough and therefore you will have to clear the app data too.
Doing this will clear all user data collected by the app, and reset it to just like when it was installed. You will have to log in to the app if necessary.
You might also lose any downloaded content that was downloaded from within the app, so taking a backup is always a step in the right direction.
To clear the data of a specific application on your Toshiba Fire TV, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the settings on your TV.
- Tap on Applications.
- Under the Manage Installed Applications tab, select the application to clear data.
- Select the Clear Data option.
This will clear all the app data and reset the application back to when you first installed it.
If none of these steps worked, it's possible that the app package got corrupted. In such a case, simply uninstall the application and reinstall it again.
Factory Reset Your Toshiba Fire TV
If all else fails, then you might need to perform a factory reset on your Toshiba Fire TV. Doing this will wipe out all your applications and data.
But along with it, the system will also wipe out any obscure bugs that clung onto the system that might have caused these issues.
Performing a factory reset will reset your Toshiba Fire TV just like how it was when you first bought the TV.
It will also unlink your accounts, including your Amazon account. So you will have to spend some time setting it all back up after the factory reset.
To factory reset your Toshiba Fire TV, simply follow the following steps:
- Navigate to the settings of the TV.
- Under the System tab, tap on Device & Software.
- Tap on Reset to factory defaults.
- Tap on Reset.
- Press the Play/Pause button on the remote to confirm your decision.
This will begin the factory reset process on your Toshiba Fire TV.
Final Thoughts
Toshiba, being a reputed hardware manufacturer, and Amazon, with its great Fire TV OS, did blend well to provide a fantastic Smart TV experience, especially considering the pricing.
But with more features comes more bugs and the app not working issue is one among the many Toshiba Fire TV issues.
But smart home tech is still in its infant stages and therefore, minor issues like this are bound to pop up from time to time on any product irrespective of its price tag.
So instead of focusing on the bugs, as long as it is a fixable issue like the one addressed in this article, it is best to simply enjoy the innumerable benefits it brings to your life.
I hope my article on the applications not working on Toshiba Fire TVs has been a good read and has helped your case in solving the same.
Have a good day!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I sideload any android application onto the Toshiba Fire TV?
Sideloading Android applications is possible on the Toshiba Fire TV, but it is best to sideload apps only if the app package is safe and is verified to work properly with Fire TV OS.
Is the Toshiba Fire TV an Android TV?
The Toshiba Fire TV runs on Fire TV OS, which is based on Android. But it is still an operating system built from scratch by Amazon and not classified under other Android TVs.
Is Prime Video free with a Toshiba Fire TV?
The Toshiba Fire TV, like other Fire TV devices, does not come with a free subscription to Prime Video. Just like any other service, it should be subscribed separately.
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