Just like with any other modern technology, Fire Sticks and their remotes are prone to glitches and bugs. Glitches and other issues can happen for a variety of reasons, and each cause has a particular way it needs repairing. So how exactly do you repair a Fire Stick remote?
Fire Sticks and their remotes can malfunction for a variety of reasons. With that said, your best bet when it comes to your remote is to first try to replace the remote’s batteries. In most cases, the problem lies within a power issue. Since the batteries are the power source for the remote, it makes sense to try those first.
In this article, we’ll go over all of the reasons your Fire Stick remote may malfunction and other issues you should be aware of.
Why Your Fire Stick Remote isn’t Working
A malfunctioning remote can ruin a person’s day. This rings especially true when you aren’t sure what the issue is that’s causing the problem in the first place. To help ease that stress a bit, we’ve broken down the most common reasons why your Fire Stick remote is malfunctioning.
1. Dead or Incorrectly Installed Batteries
If your remote’s batteries were installed backward or in an otherwise incorrect placement, power isn’t able to successfully flow through the remote. On the other hand, the power may just be dangerously low, and the batteries can’t support the power needed for the remote. When either of these happens, you need to remove the batteries and either switch them around or replace them with new ones.
Here’s how to check the batteries in your Fire Stick remote:
- Take off the back and remove the batteries. At this point, you should pay attention to how the batteries are situated. If one or both of the batteries were backward, this was likely causing a stop to the power supply.
- Use the illustrations in the battery compartment to help you assess. There should be a photo diagram of a battery and the correct placement for that spot. If the batteries match these pictures, you know you need new batteries instead.
- Replace your batteries with new ones. Use the plus/ minus markers to make sure the positive and negative sides go in the right places — brands can differ.
- Put the cover back on. Try out the remote to see if that fixes the problem.
2. Fire Stick Incorrectly Paired to Your TV
It’s important to make sure your Fire Stick is correctly paired with your TV. If it isn’t, it’s harder for the Fire Stick to receive the signal from your device’s remote. When the remote isn’t paired to your Fire Stick, it won’t work when you use CEC-enabled settings and TVs. CEC functionality is what allows your Fire Stick remote to turn your TV on and off.
Fire Stick remotes that use infrared technology may still work as long as you’re within a straight line of sight to your stick. If your problem is that your remote isn’t paired to your device, all you need to do is pair the devices together again.
How to Fix the Issue?
Here’s how to successfully pair your remote with your Fire Stick device when it comes unpaired:
- Turn your TV on. Make sure the Fire Stick is fully connected to the USB power.
- Access your television settings. Getting to this point depends on your TV’s make and model. Try to find CEC options, specifically “enable CEC functionality.”
- Try your remote. Press the power button to see if it successfully turns the TV on and off.
The issue should be resolved after that. However, in the case that it isn’t, here’s what you need to do:
- Turn your TV on manually. Check and see if the Fire Stick works for the Fire Stick interface. Test out clicking on various apps and exploring settings.
- If you notice it isn’t working with the actual Fire Stick either, hold the “back” and “home” buttons for at least 10 seconds. This will unpair the remote from your Fire Stick and TV.
- Re-pair the remote. Do this by pressing the “home” button for 10 seconds and then testing it on the TV again. You may need to repeat this process a few times.
If you find the issue still persists, you may need to factory reset your remote.
3. Fire Stick Not Responding to the Remote
When your Fire Stick isn’t responding to the remote, it could be due to the pairing issues mentioned above. However, that isn’t the only possible cause of this issue. Fire Stick technology relies on Bluetooth to work properly. Because of that, you need to be within a certain distance from the actual device to get a signal.
How to Fix the Issue?
If you suspect distance is the issue for you, you may want to try using the remote closer to the television. That may not remedy the issue, though. If the problem persists, you should replace the batteries or consider using a Fire Stick extension piece. The extension piece will allow you to broaden the range the Bluetooth connection can reach.
4. The FireStick Remote is Damaged
It’s also possible there’s damage sustained by your remote. Maybe it got sat on one too many times or your nephew took it for a spin in the toilet. Either way, these will cause the remote to sustain internal damage, therefore rendering the remote useless.
If this is the case for you, you’ll need to order a remote replacement.
How to Fix the Issue?
This is perhaps one of the least common causes of remote malfunction. However, it still happens quite often. There isn’t really anything you can do to repair a damaged remote unless you’re a professional or you’re really good at fixing electronics. In this case, it’d just be easier to purchase a replacement.
5. Remote Incompatibility
The issue may also stem from the remote in general. While there may seem like nothing is wrong with the remote, it will only work if it’s paired with a compatible Fire Stick. You should make sure that the remote you’re using is the remote that was designed for the specific Fire Stick model you use with your TV.
How to Fix the Issue?
If you find that you have the wrong remote, you’ll need to order another one. While you wait for the new remote to arrive, you can use your phone to navigate your Fire TV instead.
Use Your Phone as a Replacement Fire Stick Remote
Here’s how to connect your phone to your Amazon Fire Stick:
- Download the FireTV app. The app is available for both iPhone and Android devices.
- Manually turn the TV on. While the TV turns on, log into your FireTV app with your Amazon information.
- Select a Fire device. Your Fire Stick should show up on the list of Fire devices.
- Copy the code displayed on the TV. This is a four-digit code that authenticates the device used as a remote.
You should be able to access all of your FireTV features through your phone “remote” until the correct device arrives.
Other Fire Stick Remote Issues to be Aware of
Now that we’ve gone over the most common issues and how to remedy them, we’re going to cover some other issues. Most of the issues mentioned below have very similar troubleshooting steps to the main problems mentioned previously.
Remote Light Isn’t Working
If you notice the remote light isn’t working, it’s likely due to low batteries or communication troubles between the Fire Stick and your TV. To fix this problem, check your batteries to make sure they’re placed correctly and aren’t dead.
If batteries aren’t the issue, unplug the Fire Stick from your TV and wait 20 seconds before plugging it back in. This should clear up the electronic communication issues that caused the light to be absent before.
Volume Control is Messed up
Volume issues can arise for a variety of reasons. There could be a faulty part in your remote, problems with touch sensitivity, or another issue causing volume control to malfunction. The most common way to fix this issue is to do it through the equipment control function through the smartphone app.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Install and open the app on your phone. If you aren’t already logged on, enter your information to access your account.
- Manually turn on the TV. Toggle the input to the correct Fire Stick display and find “settings,” then “equipment control.”
- Find and choose “manage equipment.” After getting to that page, choose “TV.”
- Go to “change tv” and then confirm that is what you want to do. Follow the prompts given to complete the process.
- Press “Continue” and select your TV from the provided list. After choosing the TV, press the power button on your Fire Stick remote to turn the TV off.
Failing to Work After an Update
Unfortunately, sometimes a Fire Stick remote can malfunction after updating your software. However, this doesn’t mean the remote is useless. There are five things you can do to try to remedy this issue:
- Try re-pairing the device. Sometimes an update can accidentally unpair the device. To re-pair, just hold the “home” button down for 10 seconds.
- Unplug your device from the outlet. Wait a few seconds before plugging it back in and trying the remote again.
- Reset your remote. Turn the TV off and perform a factory reset on the remote.
- Clear any obstructions between the remote and TV. If anything is in the way of the signal route from the remote to your TV, it may affect the signal.
- Check your batteries. Make sure they’re installed correctly or are replaced if you find the old batteries are dead.
It’s possible that a remote that has sustained damage in any way may not be able to support the new update. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace your remote.
Not Working After a Reset
If you reset your device and you find that your remote isn’t working, you can try one of three things; restart the Fire Stick, change the batteries, or try another remote. If you find you’re still running into issues after trying these three methods, you can call Amazon support to speak with someone who can walk you through the process.
Restart Your Fire Stick
Once you get redirected to the remote pairing screen, unplug your TV at the outlet. Wait a few seconds before plugging it back in, turning your TV on, and pressing the “home” button for 10 seconds to re-pair the device.
Change the Remote Batteries
Issues with low or dead batteries are easily the most common troubleshooting task when it comes to electronics. It’s very possible that your remote’s batteries are running low or may even be empty. They may also have been installed incorrectly. Either way, you can check by opening the back panel and removing the batteries. Fix them if they were incorrect, or find new batteries to replace them if you find they’re running low.
Remember to always use matching batteries to avoid potential issues and clean the battery compartment of any dust or dirt before putting the batteries back.
Try a Different Remote or Use Your Phone
It’s possible your remote just decided to stop working altogether. If this happens, you can purchase a replacement and use your phone (method above) to navigate your Fire TV until the replacement comes in.
Fire Stick Remote Repair FAQs
Can you use a universal remote instead of a Fire Stick remote?
Amazon Fire Sticks can connect to a universal remote as long as the remote is Fire Stick compatible. Along with that, the remote must also support Bluetooth to actually be able to connect to the Fire Stick device.
Why won’t the batteries power my remote?
If the batteries inside the remote are low in juice, the lack of power may be causing the Bluetooth to be unable to keep a connection. But, if the batteries are brand new, you may have accidentally installed them backward. If that’s the case, remove the batteries and make sure you reinstall them just as the diagram shows in the battery compartment.
How long are Fire Stick remotes supposed to last?
As long as the remote is well taken care of and doesn’t arrive with any defects, it should last from 2-5 years. This is typically the same technological lifespan as the Fire Stick itself.
