Fire TV Stick remote won't pair
A Fire TV remote connects over Bluetooth. If it has stopped working, or a new one will not connect, there is a short list of fixes. Start with the Home button, then work down.
Pair the remote
- Make sure the Fire TV Stick is switched on and the TV is on its input.
- Keep the remote within a few metres of the stick, with fresh batteries in it.
- Press and hold the Home button for about 10 seconds.
- The remote should reconnect. Press a button to check.
If Home does nothing
- Take the batteries out of the remote.
- Unplug the Fire TV Stick from power and wait about a minute.
- Plug it back in and wait for the home screen.
- Put the batteries back in and hold Home for 10 seconds.
Add a remote from Settings
If you still have some way to move around the screen, pair a remote from the menu: Settings, Controllers and Bluetooth Devices, Amazon Fire TV Remotes, Add New Remote. Then press and hold Home on the remote you want to add. A Fire TV can keep several remotes paired at once, which is handy if you want a spare.
Get around without a working remote
- The TV's own remote. If HDMI-CEC is on, the TV's remote arrows and OK can drive the Fire TV. HDMI-CEC is on by default on many Fire TVs, under Settings, Display and Sounds, HDMI CEC Device Control.
- The Amazon Fire TV app. It works as a remote, but you have to be signed in to the Amazon account the Fire TV is registered to, and the phone and the Fire TV need the same Wi‑Fi.
- Tuned. A free alternative that needs no Amazon account.
Using Tuned for a Fire TV
Open Tuned with your phone on the same network as the stick. Tap your Fire TV in the list. A 4-digit code appears on the TV. Type it into Tuned, and the remote opens. If the stick is asleep, Tuned wakes it first. After that you have the D-pad, OK, Back, Home, Menu and playback, and your phone's keyboard for search boxes.
Tuned does not pair or repair the Fire TV remote. It is a second remote that sits next to it. It needs the stick on your Wi‑Fi, and the TV on the stick's input so you can read the code.
Questions about pairing a Fire TV remote
How long do I hold Home to pair a Fire TV remote?
About 10 seconds. If the stick is on and the remote is in range, it should reconnect.
Why does my new Fire TV remote not work?
Pair it the same way: hold Home for 10 seconds near the stick. Some remotes need the batteries pulled out and put back first.
Does the Fire TV Stick Lite remote control the TV?
It controls the stick. Whether it can also change TV volume or power depends on the remote, so check the one in the box.
Do I need an Amazon account to use Tuned?
No. Tuned pairs with the code on the TV and does not ask you to sign in to Amazon.
Get Tuned
Free to download for iPhone and Android.