Amazon Fire TV remote not working? Try these 7 fixes..Your Amazon Fire TV will not respond to remote commands if the batteries are low or empty. Bluetooth interference and obstacles from nearby devices can also cause your Amazon Fire TV Remote to crash. This post covers a few troubleshooting steps for Amazon Fire TV Remote.
1. Move Remote Closer and Check for Interference
Amazon Fire TV Remotes are powered by Bluetooth with an operating range of 25-30 feet. Your Fire TV may not respond to the remote if both devices are out of range or too far apart.Make sure your Fire TV and its remote are in the same room and within line of sight. Also, make sure the remote control is within line of sight of the Fire TV.Using your Fire TV or remote control near emitting devices such as a Wi-Fi router, wireless speaker, microwave oven, etc. may cause interference. We recommend turning these devices off or moving them away from your device/Fire TV remote.
2. Use the Fire TV Remote App
The Amazon Fire TV app is a mobile remote that works like a physical Fire TV remote. The app is easy to use and compatible with all Fire TV models. Turn on your Fire TV and follow these steps to set up and use the Fire TV app.
- Download the Amazon Fire TV app from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Next, connect your mobile device to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV.
- Open the Amazon Fire TV app and wait while it detects your Fire TV device. Select your device under “Connect to Remote” to continue.
You should see the entry “Fire TV Remote – Ready to Pair” on the search page when your Fire TV detects the remote.
- Enter the code in the Amazon Fire TV app and tap the tick icon to continue.
Use the on-screen navigation and buttons on the home screen of the Amazon Fire TV app to control your Fire TV device.
3. Reinsert or Replace the Batteries
Your Amazon Fire TV Remote may malfunction or stop working if the batteries are low or dead. Also, dropping the remote control on a hard surface may cause the batteries to dislodge and cause the remote control to stop working. You can check the status of your Fire TV Remote in the Fire TV settings menu.Go to Settings > Bluetooth Controllers and Devices > Amazon Fire TV Remote > Amazon Fire TV Remote and check the Battery section on the right sidebar.
Replace the remote batteries if your Fire TV says they are “offline”.
Open the back cover of the Fire TV Remote and make sure the batteries are secure and inserted correctly. Also, make sure that the polarity of the battery – positive (+) and negative (-) – matches the markings in the battery compartment.
Your Fire TV Remote’s batteries are most likely dead if the remote isn’t working. Insert new batteries and check if that solves the problem. We recommend Amazon Basics AAA 1.5V Alkaline Batteries – Pack of 8 sells for $5.98 on Amazon.com.Replace both batteries with new ones. Your Fire TV Remote may malfunction if you change one battery or mix old and new batteries.
4. Unpair and Re-Pair the Remote
Disconnect the remote from the Fire TV and pair it from scratch if the problem persists. You must pair an additional remote with your Fire TV in order to disable the physical remote. Link the Amazon Fire TV app to your Fire TV and follow these steps to turn off an unresponsive remote.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth Controllers and Devices > Amazon Fire TV Remotes > Amazon Fire TV Remotes.
- Press the menu icon (on Amazon Fire TV) to unpair the remote.
- Then, tap the Select icon to confirm the deletion.
- Select Add New Remote to reconnect the remote to Fire TV.
- Press and hold the Home button on your Fire TV remote control for ten seconds to put it into conjugation.
You should see “Fire TV Remote – Ready to Pair” on the search page when your Fire TV detects the remote.
- Press the Select icon in the Amazon Fire TV app to pair/connect the remote to your Fire TV .
The remote should now appear in the list of controllers. Restart your Fire TV if the remote still doesn’t work.
5. Power Cycle Your Fire TV
Temporary system glitches can cause your Amazon Fire TV to not respond to remote commands. Rebooting your Fire TV can fix system crashes and make your streaming device (and remote) work properly.Unplug your Amazon Fire TV from the power source or turn off the electrical outlet. Wait 5-10 seconds, plug your Fire TV back into power and see if it detects the remote.
5. Update Your Fire TV
Updating your Fire TV software to the latest version may resolve performance issues. Connect your Fire TV to the internet and use the Amazon Fire TV app to check for software updates.Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About and select Check for Updates or Install Update.
6. Reset Your Fire TV Remote
Resetting your Fire TV Remote to factory defaults can get it working properly again. The factory reset procedure for Fire TV Remotes depends on your Fire TV or remote model/generation.
How to reset Alexa Voice Remote (1st generation)
Unplug your Fire TV from the power source and follow these steps.
- Press and hold the Left and Menu buttons at the same time for at least 12 seconds.
- Release both buttons and wait five seconds.
- Open the back cover and remove both batteries from the remote.
- Plug or reconnect your Fire TV to a power source.
- Reinsert the batteries into the remote when you see a screen saying Fire TV can’t find your remote.
- Press the Home Button to reconnect the remote to your Fire TV device.
How to reset Fire TV Remote (Basic)
- Press and hold the Home button.
- Press the Menu button three times while holding down the Home< /space> button.
- Release the Home button and press Menu nine once.
- Open the back panel/cover of the Fire TV remote control and remove the batteries.
- Next, unplug your Fire TV from the power source.
- Insert the batteries into the remote control and reconnect the Fire TV to a power source.
- Press and hold the Home button on your remote when your Fire TV loads the home screen. The remote should pair with your Fire TV in about 40-60 seconds.
How to reset Fire TV Remote (other models/editions)
Unplug your Amazon Fire TV from the electrical outlet and follow these steps:
- Press and hold Left, Menu and Back on the remote for at least 12 seconds.
- Release all three buttons, wait five seconds, and remove the batteries from the remote control.
- Plug your Fire TV into a power outlet and wait for the home screen to load. You should see the message “We can’t find your remote” on your TV screen.
- Reinsert the batteries into the remote and press the Home button.
The remote should automatically pair with your Fire TV device. Otherwise, press and hold the Home button for ten seconds to manually pair.
7. Restore Your Fire TV to Factory Settings
Resetting your Fire TV to factory settings can fix remote access issues and other issues. Reset your Fire TV to factory settings if the remote doesn’t work after completing all the troubleshooting steps.Resetting your Fire TV erases everything on your streaming device—settings, installed apps, saved data, and more. Our guide to resetting Fire TV devices explains everything that happens when you reset your Fire TV.Use the Amazon Fire TV app to reset your Fire TV because your physical Fire TV Remote is not working.Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Restore Factory Settings and select Reset on the confirmation screen.
Buy and Pair a Replacement Remote
Your Fire TV Remote is probably faulty if it still doesn’t work after trying the troubleshooting steps above. If your Fire TV is under warranty, contact Amazon Customer Service for a (free) remote replacement. Otherwise, buy a new remote and plug it into your Fire TV’s settings menu.When your new remote arrives, go to Settings > Bluetooth Controllers and Devices > < span style ="font-weight:bold">Amazon Fire TV Remotes. After that, press and hold the home button on your remote for ten seconds to connect it to your Fire TV.Refer to our Fire TV Remote Pairing Guide for more information on pairing replacement remotes with Fire TV devices.
Amazon Fire TV remote not working? Try these 7 fixes.
Amazon Fire TV remote not working? Try these 7 fixes.