Programming your Fire Stick remote takes five to ten minutes and requires only your remote, your TV, and the Fire Stick itself—no codes or apps needed
The Fire Stick remote can control your television's volume and power without any setup if your TV is a common brand. Amazon's remotes use HDMI-CEC, a standard that lets devices talk to each other through the HDMI cable. When you plug your Fire Stick into your TV's HDMI port, the remote often works on your TV when ready. If it does not, or if you want to control a soundbar or other device, you can teach the remote to work with those devices in about five minutes using the Fire Stick's settings menu.
The process differs slightly depending on whether your TV supports HDMI-CEC or whether you need to program the remote manually. Both paths are straightforward and do not require you to find or enter any codes.
Key Takeaways
- Most Fire Stick remotes control your TV's power and volume automatically through HDMI-CEC if your TV is plugged into the same HDMI port as the Fire Stick.
- If automatic control does not work, you can teach the remote your TV's brand in the Fire Stick settings without entering any codes.
- The Fire Stick remote can also be programmed to control a soundbar, receiver, or other infrared device using the same settings menu.
- If your remote stops responding, unplugging the Fire Stick for 30 seconds and plugging it back in usually fixes the problem.
- Pairing a new or replacement remote to your Fire Stick takes less than a minute and happens automatically when you press any button.
Check if your TV already works with the remote
Before you program anything, test whether your TV responds to the Fire Stick remote. Pick up the remote and press the power button. If your TV turns off, your remote is already controlling it. Press the power button again to turn it back on, then try the volume buttons. If both power and volume work, you are finished—your TV supports HDMI-CEC and the remote is ready to use.
If the power button does not turn off your TV, or if only one function works, move to the next section. Your TV either does not support HDMI-CEC or needs to be told to listen to the Fire Stick. This is normal and takes only a few minutes to fix.
Program the remote through Fire Stick settings
Open the Fire Stick home screen by pressing the home button on your remote. Navigate to Settings at the top of the screen using the directional pad, then press the select button (the circle in the middle of the pad). Scroll down to Equipment Control and press select.
You will see a list of device types: TV, Soundbar, Receiver, and others. Choose TV if you are programming your television. The Fire Stick will ask you to point the remote at your TV and press the select button. Do this—point the remote directly at your TV's infrared receiver (usually a small dark window on the front) and press select. The Fire Stick will then ask you to confirm your TV's brand from a list. Scroll through the brands until you find yours, press select, and the remote will test itself on your TV. If your TV responds, you are done. If it does not, the Fire Stick will offer you another brand to try.
This process works the same way for soundbars and receivers. Choose the device type from the Equipment Control menu, point the remote at the device, and select your brand from the list.
What to do if your TV brand is not on the list
If you scroll through all the brands and do not see yours, or if the Fire Stick tries your brand but the TV does not respond, your TV may not be compatible with the Fire Stick remote. This is uncommon but does happen with very old televisions or some budget models that do not use standard infrared codes.
In this case, you have two options. First, check your TV's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if there is a setting you need to turn on to accept remote signals. Some TVs have this disabled by default. Second, you can use your TV's original remote alongside the Fire Stick remote—use the Fire Stick remote for Fire Stick functions and your TV remote for power and volume. Many households do this without any problem.
Pairing a new or replacement remote
If you have a new Fire Stick remote or a replacement remote, it pairs to your Fire Stick automatically. straightforward pick up the remote and press any button while pointing it at the Fire Stick. The Fire Stick will recognize the remote within a few seconds. You do not need to enter a PIN or hold down any buttons. Once the remote responds, you can program it to control your TV using the Equipment Control menu described above.
If you are replacing an old remote, the new one will pair even if the old one is still in the house. The Fire Stick accepts input from any compatible remote, so you can keep the old one as a backup or set it aside.
Troubleshooting when the remote stops working
If your remote was working but suddenly stops responding, the first step is to unplug your Fire Stick from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This resets the connection between the remote and the Fire Stick and fixes most problems. While the Fire Stick is restarting, check that the batteries in your remote are not dead. Open the battery cover on the back of the remote and replace the batteries if they look corroded or if the remote has not been used in several months.
If the remote still does not work after restarting the Fire Stick and replacing the batteries, try pairing the remote again by pressing any button while pointing it at the Fire Stick. If that does not work, the remote itself may be damaged. Contact Amazon support to discuss a replacement.
Controlling multiple devices with one remote
The Fire Stick remote can control your TV and one additional device—usually a soundbar or receiver—at the same time. Go back to Settings, then Equipment Control, and add a second device by choosing Soundbar or Receiver. Follow the same process: point the remote at the device, select the brand, and test. The remote will now switch between controlling your TV and your soundbar depending on which buttons you press. Volume and power buttons control whichever device you programmed first, while other buttons may control the second device.
If you want to control more than two devices, you will need to use your devices' original remotes for the extras, or purchase a universal remote designed for that purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the Fire Stick remote to use Fire Stick, or can I use my phone instead?
You can use the Fire Stick app on your phone or tablet to control Fire Stick menus and playback, but you cannot use your phone to control your TV's power and volume. For TV control, you need the physical remote. The app is useful as a backup if your remote batteries die.
What if I have an older Fire Stick remote without the voice button?
Older Fire Stick remotes work the same way as newer ones for programming TV control. Go to Settings, Equipment Control, choose your device type, and select your brand. The process is identical whether your remote has a voice button or not.
Can the Fire Stick remote control my cable or satellite box?
Yes, if your cable or satellite box uses infrared signals. In the Equipment Control menu, look for an option labeled Receiver or Cable Box, point the remote at your box, and select your provider's brand. Not all providers are listed, so you may need to use your box's original remote for some functions.
Why does my remote control my TV sometimes but not always?
This usually means the remote is not pointed directly at your TV's infrared receiver, or the batteries are getting weak. Make sure you are pointing the remote at the TV (not at the Fire Stick) when you use power and volume buttons. If the problem continues, replace the batteries in your remote.
Can I program the same remote to work with two different TVs in different rooms?
No. The remote can only be paired to one Fire Stick at a time. If you have Fire Sticks in multiple rooms, each one needs its own remote. You can move a single remote between rooms by pairing it to a different Fire Stick, but it will only control the TV connected to whichever Fire Stick it is currently paired to.