Pairing a Remote to a New Fire Stick Takes About Two Minutes

When you set up a new Fire Stick, the remote that comes in the box is already paired to it. If you're using a different remote—one from an old Fire Stick, a replacement remote you ordered, or a remote someone gave you—you'll need to pair it manually. The process is straightforward: hold the Home button and the Back button together for about 10 seconds until the remote's light flashes, then wait for the pairing to complete on your TV screen.

The remote communicates with your Fire Stick using Bluetooth, not infrared like older TV remotes. This means the remote doesn't need a clear line of sight to work, but it does need to be within about 33 feet of the device. Pairing tells the Fire Stick which remote is yours so it responds to your commands and not to someone else's remote in the next room.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold the Home button and Back button together for 10 seconds until the light on the remote flashes, then release both buttons.
  • The Fire Stick will show a pairing confirmation message on your TV screen within 30 seconds if the pairing worked.
  • If pairing fails, restart both the Fire Stick and the remote by unplugging the device for 30 seconds and replacing the remote's batteries.
  • A single remote can be paired to multiple Fire Sticks, but each Fire Stick will respond to any remote paired to it in the same room.

Step-by-Step Pairing Instructions

Start with your Fire Stick plugged in and your TV turned on. The Fire Stick should be powered on and showing the home screen. If it's not, press the power button on any remote or use the power outlet to turn it on.

Pick up the remote you want to pair. Locate the Home button (the house icon at the top) and the Back button (the curved arrow below it). Press and hold both buttons at the same time. Don't release them—keep holding for about 10 seconds. You'll see the light on the front of the remote start to flash. Once it flashes, you can release both buttons.

Watch your TV screen. Within 30 seconds, you should see a message that says the remote is pairing or has paired successfully. The message usually appears in the top corner or center of the screen. If you see this message, the pairing is complete and you can start using the remote right away.

What to Do If the Remote Won't Pair

If you held the buttons for 10 seconds and the light didn't flash, the remote's batteries may be dead or too weak. Open the battery compartment on the back of the remote and replace both batteries with fresh ones. Use AA batteries for standard Fire Stick remotes or AAA batteries for the Fire TV Cube remote. Close the compartment and try the pairing steps again.

If the light flashed but no pairing message appeared on your TV, unplug your Fire Stick from the power outlet and wait 30 seconds. Plug it back in and let it fully restart—this takes about a minute. Then try the pairing steps again. If the Fire Stick still won't pair, the remote itself may be damaged, and you may need to use a different remote or contact Amazon for a replacement.

Make sure the remote is within 33 feet of the Fire Stick during pairing. Bluetooth signals can be blocked by walls and metal objects, so if you're pairing from another room, move closer to the device. Also check that no other Fire Sticks are powered on nearby—if multiple devices are on, the remote might try to pair with the wrong one.

Pairing Multiple Remotes to One Fire Stick

You can pair more than one remote to the same Fire Stick. Each remote you pair will work with that device. This is useful if you have a remote in the bedroom and another in the living room, or if you want a backup remote in case one breaks.

To pair a second remote, follow the same steps: hold Home and Back for 10 seconds until the light flashes, then wait for the pairing message on your TV. The new remote will be added to the list of remotes that work with that Fire Stick. All paired remotes will respond to commands, so if you're in the same room with multiple remotes, any of them will control the device.

Using One Remote With Multiple Fire Sticks

A single remote can be paired to more than one Fire Stick. If you have Fire Sticks in different rooms, you can use the same remote to control all of them—but only one at a time. When you press a button, the remote sends the command to whichever Fire Stick it's closest to or was last paired with.

If you want a remote to work with a second Fire Stick, go to that second device, turn it on, and repeat the pairing steps. The remote will now be paired to both devices. Keep in mind that if both Fire Sticks are in the same room and powered on, the remote might control the wrong one. In that case, it's better to have a separate remote for each device.

Unpair a Remote From Your Fire Stick

If you want to stop a remote from working with your Fire Stick—for example, if you're giving the remote away or selling it—you can unpair it through the Fire Stick settings. Go to Settings on your Fire Stick home screen, then select Remotes and Bluetooth Devices. Find the remote you want to remove and select it, then choose Unpair or Remove. The remote will no longer control that Fire Stick.

You can also unpair a remote by resetting the Fire Stick itself. Unplug the device for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. When it restarts, all previously paired remotes will be unpaired. Only the remote that comes in the original box will work until you pair a new one.

Troubleshooting Remote Connection Problems

If your remote is paired but stops responding, the batteries are usually the problem. Replace them with fresh ones and try again. If the remote still doesn't work, unplug the Fire Stick for 30 seconds and plug it back in. Sometimes the Bluetooth connection drops and needs to be reset.

If the remote works sometimes but not always, move closer to the Fire Stick. Bluetooth has a range of about 33 feet, but walls, metal objects, and other wireless devices can reduce that distance. Keep the remote pointed toward the Fire Stick when you press buttons, even though it doesn't need a direct line of sight like an infrared remote.

If you've tried new batteries and restarting the Fire Stick and the remote still won't pair, the remote may be defective. You can order a replacement remote from Amazon, or you can control your Fire Stick using the Fire TV app on your phone, which is available for free on iOS and Android.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Fire Stick remote with a different brand of streaming device?

No. Fire Stick remotes are designed to work only with Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV devices. They won't work with Roku, Apple TV, or other streaming devices. If you need a remote for a different device, you'll need to buy a remote made for that brand.

What if I lost my remote and don't have a replacement?

You can control your Fire Stick using the Fire TV app on your smartphone. read the app from the App Store or Google Play, connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire Stick, and you can use your phone as a remote. You can also order a replacement remote from Amazon.

Does the remote need to be pointed at the Fire Stick to work?

No. Fire Stick remotes use Bluetooth, so they work even if you're not pointing them at the device or if there's a wall between you and the Fire Stick. Infrared remotes (like older TV remotes) need a clear line of sight, but Bluetooth remotes don't.

How do I know if my remote is paired?

If the remote is paired, it will respond when you press buttons. You'll see the light on the front of the remote flash briefly when you press a button. If the light doesn't flash or the Fire Stick doesn't respond, the remote is not paired or the batteries are dead.

Can I pair a Fire Stick remote to my TV instead of the Fire Stick?

No. Fire Stick remotes are made to pair with Fire Stick devices only. They cannot be paired to a TV or other devices. If you want to control your TV with a remote, you'll need to use the remote that came with your TV or buy a universal remote designed for your TV model.