If Stremio plays audio but shows a black screen on a Fire TV Stick 4K Max, first choose a different version of the same authorized content—preferably HDR10 or SDR instead of Dolby Vision Profile 7 or a combined DV/HDR10+ file. If you need to keep that file, the workaround reported by affected users is to open it in an external player such as Kodi with Dolby Vision compatibility conversion enabled; Stremio does not currently have a confirmed equivalent internal-player option.
Why this happens
The reported problem affects Stremio on Android TV using a Fire TV Stick 4K Max connected to an LG CX OLED. The symptom is specific: playback starts, audio is audible, but the video remains black. The report identifies Dolby Vision Profile 7 and files containing both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ metadata as likely triggers.
The exact cause has not been independently confirmed here. However, this pattern is consistent with a video-decoding or format-compatibility problem somewhere in the Fire TV, player, file, or HDMI display chain. Audio can continue working even when the device cannot correctly decode or output the video layer. A television that supports Dolby Vision does not necessarily mean that every Dolby Vision profile or metadata combination is supported by the streaming device and its player.
This is not the same as a normal buffering problem. Repeatedly waiting for the stream to load is unlikely to restore the picture when audio is already playing and the affected file consistently produces a black image.
Troubleshooting steps
1. Select another video version first
This is the safest and quickest fix because it does not change your Fire TV or Stremio configuration.
For the same authorized content, try a release labelled:
- HDR10
- SDR
- Dolby Vision Profile 8.1, if available and compatible with your setup
- A version without HDR10+ metadata
Avoid choosing another file with the same DV Profile 7 or DV-plus-HDR10+ characteristics until basic playback is working. Labels are supplied by the stream or content provider and can be inaccurate, so treat them as clues rather than proof of the actual video profile.
If an HDR10 or SDR version plays normally while the Dolby Vision version remains black, that strongly points to a format compatibility issue rather than a general Stremio failure.
2. Restart the complete playback chain
Stop playback and restart Stremio. Then restart the Fire TV Stick rather than only returning to the home screen. If the stick is connected through an AV receiver, soundbar, HDMI switch, or capture device, temporarily test it through a direct HDMI connection to the LG TV if your setup allows it.
A full power cycle can also clear a temporary HDMI or video-mode negotiation problem:
- Close Stremio.
- Restart the Fire TV Stick from the Fire TV power or restart controls.
- Turn off the TV and any intermediate HDMI equipment.
- Turn the TV back on, select the correct HDMI input, and test the file again.
If other Dolby Vision content works after the restart but the same file still shows a black screen, the file format remains the more likely cause.
3. Test different content with known video formats
Do not use only one title to diagnose the issue. Test one authorized video that is clearly SDR or HDR10 and, separately, another Dolby Vision file.
Use this simple comparison:
| Test result | Most likely direction |
|---|---|
| SDR and HDR10 work, but DV Profile 7 is black | Profile or decoder compatibility issue |
| DV works for some files but DV plus HDR10+ fails | Metadata or combination compatibility issue |
| Every video is black but audio works | Broader player, HDMI, display-mode, or app problem |
| Only one stream fails | Damaged, incorrectly labelled, or incompatible file |
This comparison cannot prove which component is responsible, but it helps prevent changing settings unnecessarily.
4. Check for available updates
On the Fire TV Stick, check for updates to Fire OS and the installed Stremio app. Also check whether the LG TV has a pending firmware update. Update only through the normal system or app-store controls available on your devices.
The reported issue used Stremio version 1.10.4 and Fire OS 8.1.8.0, but availability and behavior can differ by device, app build, and region. An update may improve compatibility, but there is no confirmed guarantee that it fixes DV Profile 7 or combined HDR10+ playback.
After updating, restart the Fire TV Stick and repeat the SDR, HDR10, and Dolby Vision comparison. If the problem began immediately after an update, record the app and Fire OS versions before contacting support rather than assuming the update is the cause.
5. Avoid forcing an incompatible display mode
If your Fire TV video settings provide automatic or recommended display behavior, use that rather than forcing a Dolby Vision mode for every title. A forced mode can make troubleshooting harder because the device may try to output a format that does not match the current file or HDMI path.
The exact names and available options can vary between Fire TV models and Fire OS releases. Do not change advanced display options repeatedly; make one change at a time and restore the previous setting if it does not help.
6. Try an external player as an advanced workaround
An affected user reported that Kodi 21 fixed the problem by using its “Convert Dolby Vision for compatibility” feature, which converts Profile 7 to Profile 8.1 during playback. The same user reported launching Kodi as an external player from Stremio.
This is a community-reported workaround, not a confirmed Stremio fix. Kodi’s menus, format support, and external-player integration can vary by Fire TV model and software version. Conversion may also change how Dolby Vision is presented and may not solve every file, especially files with unusual or conflicting HDR metadata.
If you use this route, install software only from an official or otherwise trusted distribution and use it with content you are authorized to access. External players operate separately from Stremio, so playback controls, subtitles, audio tracks, and troubleshooting may be handled by Kodi rather than Stremio.
7. Reinstall or clear app data only as a last resort
If SDR and HDR10 playback also fail, and restarting and updating have not helped, reinstalling Stremio or clearing its app data may be reasonable. This is unlikely to convert an unsupported Dolby Vision profile, so it should not be the first response to a black screen limited to DV files.
Clearing data can sign you out and remove local app preferences. Make sure you know how to sign back in and restore your settings before using it. If only one video format fails, selecting a compatible version or using a tested external-player workaround is safer than resetting the app.
What worked for affected users
The GitHub report that prompted this guide says that Kodi 21’s “Convert Dolby Vision for compatibility” option resolved playback for the affected Fire TV Stick 4K Max setup. The reporter also used Kodi as Stremio’s external player. This is useful evidence for similar configurations, but it is one user’s result rather than a universal, independently verified solution.
Other users may get the same practical result without conversion by selecting an HDR10, SDR, or compatible Dolby Vision version of the content. Because stream labels and device support differ, compare at least two formats before concluding that the Fire TV Stick or LG TV cannot play Dolby Vision at all.
If the stream comes from a community addon, remember that addons are independently operated and are not the same as Stremio’s core application. An addon may provide different encodes, metadata, or playback links. Report format-specific failures to the addon operator as well as to Stremio when appropriate, without sharing private account information.
When to report the problem
Contact Stremio support or use its official bug-reporting channel if the issue continues after testing multiple formats. Include:
- Fire TV model and Fire OS version
- Stremio version
- TV model and HDMI connection details
- Whether an AV receiver, soundbar, or HDMI switch is involved
- The reported video profile or HDR labels
- Whether SDR and HDR10 files play normally
- Whether video works in another player
Do not post account credentials or private stream links. A short comparison showing which formats work and which produce audio-only playback is more useful than repeatedly reporting the same black-screen symptom.
FAQ
Is the LG CX OLED incompatible with Dolby Vision?
Not necessarily. The reported failure may involve the Fire TV decoder, a specific Dolby Vision profile, HDR metadata, the player, or the HDMI chain. A television’s Dolby Vision support does not establish that every source profile will play correctly through every device.
Can changing Stremio subtitles or audio tracks fix this?
Usually not when the picture is black from the start and audio plays normally. Test another video version first. Subtitle and audio settings are more relevant when video is visible but a track is missing or playback fails after switching tracks.
Is there a confirmed Stremio setting that converts DV Profile 7?
The supplied report requests a Stremio feature similar to Kodi’s conversion option. No confirmed built-in Stremio setting providing that conversion is established by the available evidence. Use a compatible stream or a tested external player as the safer fallback.
Last reviewed: August 22, 2026