Programming your Fire Stick remote to control your TV and other devices

Your Fire Stick remote can be programmed to turn your TV on and off, adjust volume, and control other devices in your entertainment setup without needing a separate remote for each one. The remote uses infrared signals to communicate with your TV and compatible devices, and the pairing process takes about five minutes.

Fire Stick remotes come in two types: the basic remote with a microphone button (for voice commands) and the Fire TV Cube remote. Both can learn IR codes from your existing remotes. The process differs slightly depending on which remote you have and whether you're pairing it with a TV or a soundbar, receiver, or other device.

Key Takeaways

  • Fire Stick remotes can control your TV's power, volume, and input using the Fire TV settings menu under Remotes and Bluetooth Devices.
  • You program the remote by holding down the Home button and selecting your TV brand, then testing whether the power and volume buttons work.
  • If your TV brand is not listed, you can manually teach the remote individual commands by pointing your old remote at the Fire Stick remote and holding down buttons.
  • The remote stores learned commands in its memory, so you can program multiple devices like soundbars or receivers using the same process.
  • If programming fails, check that your TV is powered on, that you're pointing the remote directly at the TV, and that no obstacles block the infrared signal.

Finding the remote settings on your Fire Stick

Start by going to the Fire Stick home screen. Press the Home button on your remote to make sure you're at the main menu, then scroll up to the top and select Settings.

From Settings, scroll down and select Remotes and Bluetooth Devices. This menu shows all the devices your Fire Stick remote can control. You'll see options to add a new device or manage existing pairings. Select Add New Device or Pair Remote, depending on your Fire Stick model.

Programming your remote to control your TV

After you select the option to add a new device, the Fire Stick will ask you to choose a device type. Select TV from the list. The screen will then show a list of TV brands in alphabetical order—Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, TCL, Hisense, and many others are included.

Find your TV brand and select it. The Fire Stick will send an infrared signal to your TV. Point the Fire Stick remote at your TV and watch the screen. If your TV turns off, the pairing worked. If nothing happens, try the next brand option in the list—some manufacturers use the same codes across multiple brand names, or your TV may be listed under a parent company name.

Once your TV responds, the Fire Stick will ask you to test the volume buttons. Press the volume up button on the Fire Stick remote and watch your TV. If the volume increases, press Yes to confirm. If the volume doesn't change, select No and try the next brand code. Repeat this process until you find a code that controls both power and volume.

Teaching the remote commands manually when your brand isn't listed

If your TV brand doesn't appear in the list, or if none of the listed codes work, you can teach the remote individual commands from your original TV remote. Go back to Remotes and Bluetooth Devices, select your TV, and look for an option called Learn Remote Codes or Teach Remote.

The Fire Stick will prompt you to point your original remote at the Fire Stick remote and press a specific button—usually the power button first. Hold the button down for three to five seconds until the Fire Stick confirms it received the signal. Repeat this process for volume up, volume down, and any other buttons you want to program.

The remote stores these learned commands in its memory. You can teach it multiple commands from different remotes, so if you want to control both your TV and a soundbar, you can learn the soundbar's power and volume buttons the same way.

Programming the remote to control a soundbar or receiver

From Remotes and Bluetooth Devices, select Add New Device and choose Audio Device or Receiver instead of TV. The Fire Stick will show a list of audio brands. Select your soundbar or receiver brand and let the Fire Stick send the pairing signal.

Test the volume controls the same way you did for the TV. If your brand isn't listed or the codes don't work, use the Learn Remote Codes option to teach the Fire Stick remote the power and volume buttons from your soundbar's original remote.

Troubleshooting when programming doesn't work

If the remote won't control your TV or device after programming, first check that the device is powered on. Many IR codes won't work on a device that's in standby mode. Point the Fire Stick remote directly at the TV or device—don't aim at an angle or through obstacles like furniture or curtains, which can block the infrared signal.

If you're trying to program a TV brand that's not in the list and the Learn Remote Codes option isn't working, make sure you're holding your original remote close to the Fire Stick remote (within six inches) and pressing the button firmly for three to five seconds. Some older remotes use different infrared frequencies that the Fire Stick remote may not recognize.

If programming still fails after trying multiple brand codes, restart your Fire Stick by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Go back to Remotes and Bluetooth Devices and try the pairing process again. Sometimes a fresh start clears temporary connection issues.

Managing multiple remotes and devices

Your Fire Stick remote can control multiple devices at once. After you program your TV, go back to Remotes and Bluetooth Devices and add another device for your soundbar or receiver using the same steps. The remote will remember all the codes you've taught it.

If you have multiple Fire Stick devices in different rooms, each remote pairs independently. A remote programmed for your living room TV won't automatically work with your bedroom TV, so you'll need to program each remote separately for each room.

You can also unpair a device if you no longer need the remote to control it. Go to Remotes and Bluetooth Devices, select the device, and choose Remove or Unpair. This frees up the remote's memory if you want to teach it new commands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Fire Stick remote to control my cable box or satellite receiver?

Yes, if your cable or satellite box is listed in the Audio Device or Receiver section of the pairing menu. Select your provider's brand and test the power and volume buttons. If your box isn't listed, use the Learn Remote Codes option to teach the Fire Stick remote the buttons from your cable remote.

What if my remote works for power but not volume?

Try a different brand code from the list—some TV models respond to multiple codes, and one code may control power while another controls volume. If no code works for both, use Learn Remote Codes to teach the volume buttons manually from your original remote.

Do I need to reprogram the remote if I move my Fire Stick to a different TV?

Yes. Go back to Remotes and Bluetooth Devices, remove the old TV, and add your new TV using the same pairing steps. The remote will forget the old TV's codes and learn the new ones.

Can the Fire Stick remote control devices through walls or closed cabinet doors?

No. Infrared signals need a clear line of sight between the remote and the device. If your TV is inside a cabinet, you may need to leave the door open or use an infrared extender cable to place the receiver outside the cabinet.

What happens if I lose my Fire Stick remote?

You can purchase a replacement Fire Stick remote from Amazon and pair it to your Fire Stick using the same Remotes and Bluetooth Devices menu. The new remote will need to be programmed with your TV and device codes, but the process is identical to the initial setup.