Forgot or Lost FireStick Remote? Here Are Your Options (2020).
“It’s probably under the couch,†is the common answer you’ll get if you ever lose ANY remote, including the Fire TV Stick. If you’ve searched everywhere and still can’t find your lost Firestick, don’t worry, not all hope is lost. There are a few more ways to help you use your Fire TV Stick even without a physical remote. I have compiled a list of every possible situation in which you can use the Fire TV Stick even after losing your FireStick. Let’s start.
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Understand the problem
The Fire TV Stick works over a Wi-Fi connection, and when you set up the device for the first time, you use the remote to navigate the interface to save the WiFi credentials to the device. However, when you lose the remote, the Fire TV Stick will still turn on and connect to Wi-Fi. But due to the lack of a remote control, nothing can be done.
This situation gets worse if you move out of range of your default Wi-Fi, which can happen if you take the FireStick with you and forget the remote at home or lose it altogether. I tried to solve this problem and listed 5 ways to use the FireStick without the Fire TV Stick remote.
How to navigate and control the FireStick without a remote control
1. When the Firestick remote inside the house is lost
For those who don’t know, you can use your smartphone to navigate and control the FireStick. If you are connected to the same network that your Firestick is connected to, you can simply log into the app and start using your phone as a fully functional remote.
First, install the Fire TV app from the Play Store or App Store. After installing the app, launch it from the app drawer. Now, if you are on the same network, your Firestick should automatically appear in the app, even without the need to login. After you hit the Fire TV Stick on your phone, it will prompt you for a 4-digit PIN. in the application.
The code will be displayed on the TV screen. Enter the code to connect the remote Fire TV app to the FireStick.
Now that everything is set up, your application will look something like the image below. This is a digital remote for the FireStick, and you can slide your finger across an empty area to simulate arrow keys, and touch an empty space to press OK. You can go to settings, use Alexa, enter URLs from your smartphone keyboard, etc. using the remote app.
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The app is a worthy alternative to the traditional remote control, and you can use it when you can’t find your remote or you are too lazy to get up and grab it.
Read: FireStick 4K mirroring not working? Here’s how to fix it
2. When you lose Firestick away from home
Pairing a smartphone app with the Fire TV Stick was easy because it was connected to your home Wi-Fi. However, if you are away from home and forget the remote, you have to work hard to get it working.
You will need two smartphones; one as a remote control for the FireStick, and we’ll need another smartphone that can create a Wi-Fi hotspot. Unfortunately, the iPhone hotspot name cannot be changed, so I suggest you use a Mac, Windows computer, or Android smartphone with a working Internet connection.
As before, install the Fire TV app on your smartphone, sign in with your Amazon credentials, and keep them out of the way. The next part is essential for the whole process to work. We are going to create a Wi-Fi hotspot with the same credentials as your home Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi name and password are case sensitive, so create an access point with this in mind.
Create a new hotspot with the same name and password that your Firestick was previously connected to. After that, connect the Fire TV Stick to your TV and turn it on. It should automatically connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot you just created. Connect another smartphone to the same Wi-Fi network.
That’s it, your Fire TV Stick should automatically appear on your Fire TV remote through the hotspot you just created. However, you can change Wi-Fi right now if you plan to use the FireStick in a new location.
Go to Settings on the Fire TV Stick> go to Network> select your Wi-Fi network> enter your password.
3. Use previous generation Firestick remote control
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is backward compatible, which means you can just grab your old Fire TV Stick and use it as the default. The previous generation remote control lacks a few buttons, namely volume, mute and power buttons. So if you’re going to be using a previous generation remote with 4K Firestick, you’re missing out on these buttons. Otherwise, it would work the same way.
There are many hidden key combinations you can press on your Firestick remote, including resetting the remote. To pair the previous generation remote with the new FireStick, simply press and hold the Home, Back and Left Arrow buttons simultaneously for ten seconds, then restart the FireStick. The new (technically older) remote will automatically pair after a reboot.
4. Use the TV remote control to control FireStick
Most smart TVs are equipped with HDMI-CEC, or a consumer electronics control system. Basically, it is an interface that allows you to control electronic devices connected to your TV via HDMI using the TV’s remote control. This is an incredibly useful feature when you don’t want to use multiple remotes or lose one.
Most TVs have this feature turned on by default, but just in case we’ll test it before proceeding. Now every TV manufacturer labels this feature differently, so you may have to find out what it’s called. For example, LG calls it SimpLink, Philips calls it EasyLink, Hitachi calls it HDMI-CEC, Sony calls it Bravia Sync, etc. Look for the HDMI CEC setting in your TV settings and turn it on. Now you can simply use the arrow keys on your TV to navigate the Firestick. However, each TV manufacturer tweaks the technology and implements it differently, so the experience may vary and some features may not work.
Must Read: Chromecast v Roku v FireStick v Android TV v Apple TV: What to Buy?
5. Use a keyboard or mouse with FireStick
The above methods are enough to provide full functionality when you lose your remote, but if you want to browse the internet in downloaded Firestick apps like a web browser, the FireStick remote doesn’t even come close to being a full-size keyboard. You can connect an external mouse or keyboard using Amazon’s micro USB hub.
Closing words
Here are some ways you can try losing your Fire TV Stick remote. The official app is the best solution if you lose your remote control at home. But it won’t work if you are away from home. You can easily change Wi-Fi by following the above methods and make the device work even without a remote control. Well, if none of the above methods work for you, then your only option is to buy a replacement from Amazon for $ 29.
What do you think of these methods, if you have any tricks let me know in the comments below?
Forgot or Lost FireStick Remote?
Forgot or Lost FireStick Remote?
Forgot or Lost FireStick Remote?
Forgot or Lost FireStick Remote?