Firestick, in simple terms, is a media streaming device that lets you play the content from different streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and others on your television.
Your TV’s regular remote cannot be used for controlling the media. A different remote is provided to control the device. It is designed specifically to control the features and shows displayed through the Firestick.
How to Fix Firestick Remote Not Working
However, there are times when the remote stops working. In such cases, you should know ways to fix this problem. This article shows different ways of handling the issue where the Firestick’s remote stops working.
What Causes The Firestick Remote To Not Work?
There can be different reasons for problems in the working of your firestick remote, which are listed below-
Battery- This can be the root of the problem if you have inserted the battery improperly or it is running low on power. You require fully charged batteries for the remote to work.
Broken Remote- It may have been accidentally broken which causes it to stop working. You need to replace the remote in such cases. Both external damage and internal faults can be responsible.
Remote not paired- You may not realize that your remote is not paired with the Firestick. Check it and if it is not there, form the connection for the remote to work on your TV.
Distance between the remote and TV- You should maintain an appropriate distance in order for the remote to work. Theoretically, it is 30 feet but the actual distance should be much lesser than that.
Compatibility- If you have upgraded your model of Firestick, it is possible that it may not be compatible with your television. In this case, the remote fails to form a connection.
Bluetooth Connectivity- Bluetooth connection between remote and TV may not be strong enough.
1. Pairing The Remote To Firestick
If your device is not paired with the remote, it surely will not work because the remote won’t be able to transmit the controlling signals to the Firestick.
These are the steps to pair remote to the Firestick-
Step 1: Press and hold the Select and Home buttons. Then long-press the Home button for a few seconds.
Step 2: Press and hold the Home + Play/Pause button
Another way is-
Step 1: Turn on the Firestick. Hold the remote close to the Firestick.
Step 2: Press and hold the Home button for a few seconds. Release the button.
Check if the connection has been formed or not.
If this method does not work, the reason for the dysfunction of the Firestick remote is something else.
2. Power Cycle Firestick
Power Cycle, in basic language, means turning the hardware off and then on again. For power cycling of the Firestick, you need to reset the connection and form it again.
Follow these steps to perform this activity-
Unplug the power cable from the Firestick and wait for a minute. Reconnect the Firestick using the cable. Check if the issue has been resolved or not
Hopefully, power cycling of the router will solve the problem and your remote will be able to build a connection with the Firestick to control the features and content.
3. Amazon Fire TV App (An Alternative)
Amazon Fire TV app is a mobile application available on iOS, Android as well as Fire OS which makes your experience of Fire TV better and more convenient.
The signals are transmitted over WiFi, so make sure that both the TV and your phone are connected to the same network. You can access your favorite shows and movies more quickly by typing on the search bar their title names using the keyboard.
For anyone having a problem with typing, a voice search feature is also available. This application has a quite impressive interface and works just like a remote but with a more user-friendly environment.
Conclusion
Firestick is home to all the streaming platforms such as Hulu, Youtube, HBO, and others. It is used to enjoy content from these sites on the big screen of the television.
To control the media, you need to pair your remote with the Firestick. But sometimes, it stops working due to connectivity issues, internal faults, external damage, battery drainage, and more.
You can try power cycling, resetting the connection, or pairing it manually with the device. Another alternative is to use the Amazon Fire TV app which has even better functionality.
If none of these methods work, consult customer care or replace the remote.