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How to Troubleshoot FireStick Remote Problems
You’ve come to the right place if your Firestick remote isn’t working or pairing.
On my FireStick device, I was watching one of my favorite movies one night. When I decided to take a quick break and grab a beverage from the refrigerator, I was almost halfway through the movie. I tried to pause the movie with the Fire Stick remote, but nothing happened. I pressed the buttons repeatedly, but the device remained unresponsive, and the movie continued to play. I unplugged the power supply in the hopes that rebooting would solve the problem.
The FireStick rebooted normally, but the remote was no longer functional. It took me a few more minutes to realize that the Fire Stick remote was malfunctioning. If you’ve had similar issues and your Amazon Fire Stick remote isn’t working, you’ll want to get it fixed as soon as possible. So, here’s a rundown of the various causes and solutions I’ve found. Continue reading!
FireStick Remote Isn’t Working
I’ve listed the most common causes of remote issues with the FireStick, Fire TV, and Fire TV Cube. I’m confident that if you go through them one by one, your remote will start working again.
1. Make sure the batteries in the Fire Stick remote are charged.
The Amazon Fire Stick Remote consumes a lot of power. After using FireStick for a while and running into the battery draining issues more than a few times, I can confidently say that if the remote isn’t working, the batteries are most likely dead.
The battery runs out with no warning. I’d bet on the battery if your Fire Stick remote suddenly stopped working (annoyingly in the middle of the night when you don’t have any spare batteries).
To be honest, I’m not sure why the remote uses so much battery life. The battery can run out in a matter of weeks in some cases. Alexa, voice recognition, and voice command technology are all used in the Fire Stick remote. Some might point the finger at Alexa. The remote, on the other hand, isn’t always listening. To get Alexa to start listening, press and hold the Alexa button on the remote.
Regardless of the reasons, the only practical solution is to use high-quality alkaline batteries and keep spares on hand. Alkaline batteries are the best by far, and they last the longest in your Fire Stick remote. However, don’t just go out and buy any alkaline. Purchase a branded product from a reputable manufacturer.
If I hadn’t had a problem with mine a week ago, I might have recommended the rechargeable alkaline battery. A white residue was left on the connector after one of the remote batteries leaked out. I had to scrape off the white material before the brand-new battery would work.
So please forgive me if I’m not sold on rechargeable batteries. This also leads me to the conclusion that removing the batteries and inspecting the connectors for any residual deposits from the battery leaks is a good idea. It’s possible that cleaning them will restore functionality to your Fire Stick remote.
There’s one last thing I almost forgot to mention. The ‘+’ (plus) and ‘-‘ (minus) ends of the batteries are probably familiar to you. The + and – sides are also present on the connectors in the battery compartment. The positive side of the battery should line up with the positive side of the connector (and the minuses will automatically get aligned). I misplaced the batteries and had to wrestle with the remote for quite some time.
Continue reading if your Amazon Fire Stick remote is still not working after cleaning the battery connectors and replacing the batteries.
2. Have you already paired your FireStick Remote?
The FireStick remote is usually pre-paired with the device when it comes out of the box. If it isn’t already paired, you’ll have to do it manually. If your new/replacement FireStick remote isn’t working, it’s possible that it hasn’t been paired properly.
The process of pairing is straightforward. Take the steps outlined below.
- Connect your FireStick to your TV’s HDMI port.
- Turn on both your FireStick and your television.
- Hold down the ‘Home’ button on the remote for at least 10 seconds when the FireStick starts up.
- The Amazon FireStick remote will now be paired and ready to use.
If it doesn’t pair after 10-20 seconds, press and hold the home button again. Users had to repeat the process several times to get a successful pairing in many cases.
Up to 7 Bluetooth devices, including the remote controllers, can be connected to the FireStick. If you have more than seven devices connected, you must disconnect at least one of them. Here’s how to go about it:
From the FireStick’s home screen, go to Settings. On the top menu bar, there is a setting option.
On the next screen, click Controllers & Bluetooth Devices.
You’ll see a list of all the devices that are connected. Simply select the device you want to unpair and follow the onscreen prompts.
Please remember to try again if the remote does not pair with your FireStick device the first time. It usually connects the first time, but it may take up to three attempts in rare cases. If the problem persists, proceed to solution #3, which involves resetting and repairing the remote. It has proven to be effective for a large number of users.
3: Buttons on FireStick aren’t working
When the remote isn’t properly paired with your FireStick device, the buttons usually don’t work. To re-pair the remote, press and hold the Home button for at least 10 seconds.
If it still doesn’t work, try resetting your remote and pairing it with your FireStick:
NOTE: The steps below DO NOT RESET YOUR FIRESTICK TO FACTORY CONFIGURATION. They simply reset and unpair your remote before pairing it with your FireStick once more.
1. Unplug your FireStick from the wall outlet (either unplug the adapter from the power outlet or from the FireStick device)
2. Now, for at least 20 seconds, press and hold the following buttons (all of them together):
- Return to previous page
- Button for the menu
- Part of the navigation ring on the left
3. Remove the batteries from the remote control for the FireStick.
4. Turn on your FireStick and wait for the home screen to appear on your TV.
5. Replace the batteries in your FireStick remote control.
6. Hold your breath for 1-2 minutes.
7. You must have already paired your FireStick remote. If it hasn’t paired yet, press and hold the Home button for at least 10 seconds.
4. Is Your Fire Stick Remote Compatible?
This isn’t a question for people who are having problems with their out-of-the-box remote. I’m referring to the remote controls that were purchased separately. There’s a good selection of in-house and third-party remotes for FireStick and Fire TV devices.
Amazon and third-party game controllers can also be used as remote controls to interact with the FireStick. Any official Amazon product that states that it is compatible with FireStick will work with your device. However, if you’re considering purchasing a third-party remote or game controller, make sure it’s compatible with the Fire TV or FireStick device.
There are also some low-cost remote replicas that have the same design and layout as the original. These products appear to be genuine at first glance, but they eventually stop working. Verify the seller’s authenticity before purchasing an Amazon Fire Stick remote.
5. Is there a problem with your FireStick remote?
If you have the original product, have installed new batteries, and have exhausted all other options, it’s time to consider the possibility that the remote is defective.
If this is the case, your only option is to purchase a new remote. The good news is that replacement remotes are inexpensive. They’ll set you back around $10. Go to Amazon and look it up. You’ll have a lot of choices. A customized remote with dedicated buttons for Netflix and other apps may also be available. Volume control is available on some remote controls.
Keep in mind that custom remotes aren’t always from Amazon. Purchase a product that has a high rating (at least 4) and a lot of positive feedback.
6. Amazon Fire TV Remote App – Your Safety Net
Is your Amazon Fire TV remote still not working? Or perhaps you simply ran out of batteries at 12 a.m. and don’t have any spares.
Your FireStick device does not have to be rendered useless as a result of this. The Amazon Fire TV Remote App can still be used to control the device.
This app turns your smartphone into a remote, allowing you to interact with your FireStick in the same way that you would with a physical remote.
Both Android and iOS users can use the Amazon Fire TV Remote app. Install the app on your FireStick or Fire TV device and connect it to the internet. Simply make sure your smartphone and FireStick are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
7. Generic Alternatives
There are other factors that could cause problems in the future. Although these are usually improbable, I would be remiss if I did not mention them.
- A factor to consider is the distance between the Amazon Fire Stick remote and the device. When the remote is within 10 feet of the device, it works perfectly. Bring the remote closer to the TV, within range, if you have a large room or hall.
- The remote connects to the FireStick via Bluetooth rather than infrared rays. This means the remote and the FireStick don’t have to be in direct line of sight. However, keeping the device inside a cabinet or enclosure may cause the signals to be obstructed. Bringing it out in the open to see if that’s what’s causing the issue is a good idea.
- Keep as few electrical devices as possible near your FireStick to avoid signal interference.
final thoughts
All of the problems I’ve had with the Fire Stick remote have always been due to a lack of batteries. The remote depletes the battery more quickly than I prefer. As a result, I always have spares on hand. As a backup, I’ve downloaded the Amazon Fire TV Remote app to my phone. In this article, I’ve attempted to cover all of the possible causes of remote issues, as well as all of the possible solutions. If you have any new or unusual experiences, I’d love for you to share them in the comments section below. Thank you for taking the time to read this!
