Programming your Fire TV remote to control other devices
Your Amazon Fire TV remote can control not just your Fire TV device, but also your TV, soundbar, and other infrared devices in your entertainment setup. The remote has a built-in learning feature that lets you teach it the commands from your original remote controls. You do not need any special equipment or apps — the remote learns by receiving the infrared signal directly from your existing remotes.
The process takes about five minutes per device and works with any device that uses an infrared remote, including older models. Once programmed, you can use a single remote instead of juggling multiple ones.
Key Takeaways
- The Fire TV remote learns infrared commands by pointing your original remote at it from a few inches away while holding down the designated button.
- You program one button at a time, and the remote will vibrate when it has successfully captured a command.
- The Home button and other Fire TV-specific buttons cannot be reprogrammed, but most other buttons on the remote can be.
- If programming fails, move closer to the remote, point your original remote directly at it, and try again — weak or angled signals often do not register.
- You can reprogram the same button with a different command at any time by repeating the learning process.
What buttons you can and cannot reprogram
Not every button on your Fire TV remote can be reprogrammed. The Home, Back, Menu, and Alexa buttons are locked to Fire TV functions and cannot be changed. These buttons control your Fire TV interface and voice commands, so Amazon keeps them fixed.
The buttons you can reprogram are the directional pad (up, down, left, right), the Select button in the center, the play/pause button, the rewind and fast-forward buttons, and the back button on some models. You can also reprogram the colored buttons (red, green, blue, yellow) if your remote has them. Start by identifying which button on your original remote does what you want — for example, the power button on your TV remote — and then teach that command to an available button on your Fire TV remote.
Step-by-step programming process
Hold down the button on your Fire TV remote that you want to reprogram for three to five seconds. The remote will vibrate once and the LED light on the front will turn on. This tells you the remote is now in learning mode and waiting to receive a command.
Point your original remote (the one that controls your TV, soundbar, or other device) directly at the Fire TV remote from about six inches away. Press and hold the button on the original remote that performs the action you want — for example, if you want the Fire TV remote's play button to turn on your TV, point your TV remote at the Fire TV remote and press the power button on the TV remote.
Keep both remotes pointed at each other and hold the button down for two to three seconds. The Fire TV remote will vibrate twice when it has successfully captured the command. If you do not feel the second vibration after five seconds, release the button, wait a moment, and try again. A single vibration means the remote is still listening; two vibrations mean the command was saved.
Test the button when ready by pointing the Fire TV remote at your device and pressing the button you just programmed. If the device responds (your TV turns on, your soundbar volume changes), the programming worked. If nothing happens, repeat the process — the signal may not have been strong enough the first time.
Troubleshooting when programming fails
The most common reason programming fails is that the infrared signal is too weak or angled incorrectly. Move closer to the Fire TV remote — three to four inches away is better than six. Make sure both remotes are pointed directly at each other, not at an angle. Infrared signals travel in a straight line and do not bounce around corners the way radio signals do.
If your original remote is very old or has weak batteries, the signal may be too faint for the Fire TV remote to capture. Replace the batteries in your original remote and try again. Some devices, particularly older ones, use infrared signals that are slightly different from the standard, and the Fire TV remote may not be able to learn them. If you have tried three times from close range and the remote still will not capture the command, that particular button on that particular device may not be compatible.
If the Fire TV remote vibrates once but never vibrates a second time, it means the remote heard you press the button but did not recognize the infrared code. This usually means the signal was interrupted or too weak. Clear any obstacles between the remotes, make sure there is no bright sunlight shining on the Fire TV remote (sunlight can interfere with infrared), and try once more.
Programming multiple devices and buttons
You can program as many buttons as you need, and you can program buttons for different devices. For example, you might program the play button to control your TV, the volume buttons to control your soundbar, and the colored buttons to control your cable box. Each button learns one command independently.
If you want to reprogram a button that already has a command saved, straightforward repeat the learning process. Hold down the button for three to five seconds, point your original remote at it, press the new command you want to teach, and wait for the two vibrations. The old command is erased and replaced with the new one.
Keep a list of which buttons you have programmed and what they do, especially if you program buttons for multiple devices. This makes it easier to remember later and helps if someone else in your household needs to use the remote.
Resetting programmed buttons to factory settings
If you want to erase all the commands you have programmed and return your Fire TV remote to its original state, you can perform a factory reset. Hold down the Home button and the Menu button at the same time for about ten seconds. The remote will vibrate and the LED will flash, indicating the reset is in progress. Release the buttons and wait a few seconds — all your programmed commands are now erased.
After a factory reset, the remote will work only with your Fire TV device again. Any buttons you had programmed for your TV, soundbar, or other devices will no longer work. You can reprogram them at any time by following the learning process again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I program the Fire TV remote to control my TV's power button?
Yes. Hold down an available button on your Fire TV remote for three to five seconds until it vibrates. Point your TV remote at the Fire TV remote and press the power button. When the Fire TV remote vibrates twice, the command is saved. Test it by pointing the Fire TV remote at your TV and pressing that button.
What do I do if my remote vibrates once but never vibrates twice?
The infrared signal is too weak or blocked. Move closer to the Fire TV remote (three to four inches), make sure both remotes point directly at each other, and try again. If your original remote has old batteries, replace them. Bright sunlight can also interfere — move away from windows and try once more.
Can I program buttons on the Fire TV remote to control my cable box?
Yes, as long as your cable box uses an infrared remote. Follow the same process: hold a button on the Fire TV remote, point your cable box remote at it, press the command you want to teach, and wait for two vibrations. You can program multiple buttons for different cable box functions.
Will programming the remote drain the batteries faster?
No. Programming uses very little power. The remote only draws extra battery power when you are actively using it to send commands to your devices. Normal battery life should not change noticeably after you program buttons.
Can I undo a single programmed button without resetting the whole remote?
No. You can only reprogram a button with a new command or reset the entire remote to factory settings. If you want to "clear" a button, reprogram it with a command you do not use, or perform a full factory reset and reprogram only the buttons you need.