There are few things more annoying during entertainment time than your remote failing to follow commands. However, these issues happen more often than you think, and the Firestick TV remote is no exception. If your Firestick remote failed you, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, you’ll see common reasons why your Firestick remote may not work and solutions for each issue. Whether it’s your battery, an update glitch, volume issues, or another problem, you can usually resolve it.
Below are some of the most common problems, along with instructions on fixing them.
Problem 1: Dead, Weak, or Incorrectly Installed Batteries
How to Check for Battery Problems in Your Firestick Remote
Batteries that are improperly inserted or low on power can cause issues with Firestick remotes. Sure, we all know how to install and replace batteries, but accidents can happen. In addition, batteries are a prevalent cause. One might think that the batteries work because they functioned effectively a second ago, but that doesn’t mean there is enough “juice” in them to keep working.
Banging the remote sometimes wakes the batteries—for a short period. Sound familiar? I’m sure someone you know has tried that fix, or maybe it brings back some memories? Well, that solution doesn’t last very long. You’ll find yourself doing that same thing again in a short period, perhaps to the point of a future surprise battery leak or internal damage to the remote.
- Remove the batteries from the remote, paying close attention to how they were installed.
- Check the direction marks on the Firestick remote to ensure nobody installed them incorrectly. They often get changed/interchanged by kids or borrowed for another device and can easily get reinserted in the wrong direction.
- If the batteries were installed correctly, replace them with fresh ones. Ensure you use matching batteries—mixing brands/type is never recommended (potential for leaking, exploding, etc.).
If the remote still doesn’t work, the issue is likely somewhere else. Also, if you’re using rechargeable batteries, try alkaline ones as those batteries may no longer hold a charge very well. Rechargeable batteries tend to weaken after repeated cycles and continue to do so until they no longer work effectively. Alkaline is the best choice.
Problem 2: Fire TV Remote Not Working on Your CEC-Enabled TV
Pairing Your Firestick Remote to TV for CEC-Enabled Setups
Remotes that are unpaired from the Firestick won’t operate your TV when using CEC-enabled settings and CEC-enabled TVs. However, remotes with Infrared (IR) functionality (2nd Gen, 3rd Gen Alexa Voice Remotes) can work with your TV when within line-of-sight, as long as you are not using the CEC settings to control your TV. Re-pairing often solves the problem for CEC functionality. However, you must also have a CEC-enabled TV and a Wi-Fi network to make it work. Wi-Fi is required for the remote (2nd Gen. or newer) because the Fire TV Stick or Cube uses Wi-Fi Direct to communicate with the remote.
In other words, you have the IR option to control your TV or the CEC-enabled option over a Wi-Fi network. The Firestick and Cube use either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct. CEC can control the TV from great distances as long as it can connect to the Wi-Fi. IR requires line-of-sight to function.
When using CEC, you’re not sending the remote’s signal to your TV; you are sending it to the Firestick, which sends the command signal to the TV via its CEC-enabled HDMI plug. 1st Gen. remotes used Bluetooth while 2nd Gen. and newer use Wi-Fi Direct. No programming steps are required to make the remote work on TVs like universal/multi-device remotes. Here’s how to do it.
- Turn the TV on and ensure the Firestick is connected with power.
- Access the TV’s settings (varies by make and model), then look for CEC options and enable CEC functionality. This step allows the Firestick to turn the TV on and off.
- Press the Power button on the Firestick remote to see if it now turns your TV on/off. If it works, you’re done. If the remote doesn’t turn the TV on/off, continue to Step 4.
- Turn on your TV manually or with its remote, then verify if the Firestick remote is working for the Firestick. If it fails, continue to Step 5.
- When the remote doesn’t work for the Firestick either, press and hold the Back and Home buttons for 10 seconds. You have now cleared/unpaired the Firestick.
- Pair the remote again by pressing the Home button for 10 seconds, then test it on the TV. Repeat the process a few times if necessary.
If pairing didn’t work, maybe your remote needs to be reset. There are different resetting commands for each model. Check out how to reset your Firestick remote on Amazon.
Problem 3: Firestick Not Responding to the Remote
Check Your Remote’s Distance from the Fire TV Stick
2nd Gen Firesticks and newer use Bluetooth rather than infrared. The theoretical range is about 30 feet, but the “actual” distance is generally lower. If you have a large living room or are trying to use your remote from another room, it may not work unless you use Wi-Fi/CEC instead of Bluetooth.
To check whether the distance is the problem, move the remote closer to the Firestick and ensure no obstructions exist between them. If the remote only works when you’re really close to the TV, consider using the Firestick extension dongle (usually included) to reposition the device or replace the batteries.
Re-Pair the Remote to the Firestick
Just like when your Fire TV Stick remote doesn’t work for your TV, re-pairing it often makes it work for the Firestick again.
- On the remote, press and hold the Back and Home buttons for 10 seconds to unpair and clear it.
- Now, re-pair the remote by pressing and holding the Home button for 10-12 seconds.
- The remote should work on your Fire TV Stick or Fire Cube.
- If it fails, try checking the CEC Settings. Confirm that CEC is enabled on the Firestick by navigating to the Equipment Control settings.
Problem 4: Remote Incompatibility
How to Confirm Your Firestick Remote’s Compatibility
Have you replaced your old Firestick remote with a new one recently? If the new one isn’t compatible with your Fire TV Stick, it may cause issues.
If you realize your remote isn’t compatible with your device, you can use your smartphone as a remote until you replace it. You can get the Android Fire TV App or the iPhone Fire TV App. Just follow the steps below to use your smartphone as a remote.
- Download the Fire TV app on your smartphone.
- Turn the TV on by pressing its Power button or using its remote, then log into your Amazon Fire TV account on your smartphone app.
- Select your Fire TV device from the app.
- Copy the code that shows on the TV into the app.
Problem 5: Damaged Remote
Check Your Fire TV Remote for Damage
External damage and internal faults can cause your remote to stop working. Whether there was some water damage or failed components, the remote can sometimes become useless.
Problem 6: Firestick Remote No Light/Not Working
If your Firestick remote shows no light, try unplugging the Fire TV stick from the back of your device and wait 20 seconds. Plug it back in to see if the issue got resolved. Usually, the lack of communication to the Firestick often causes the remote not to light up, assuming the batteries are working correctly.
Pair Fire TV Stick Remote to TV to Fix The ‘No Light’ Issue
If unplugging and reconnecting the Firestick didn’t help, maybe your Firestick remote isn’t paired to the TV. You can do so by following the steps below.
- Power up your Fire TV Stick using the remote.
- Get the remote close to the TV and press the Back and Home buttons for 10 seconds. You have now unpaired the Firestick.
- Press the Home button for 10 seconds to pair it again. Repeat the process a few times if necessary.
If the above steps don’t fix the remote light/LED issue, ensure you’re close enough to the TV. As previously mentioned, the Firestick remote is also a Bluetooth device, meaning it can only work within a certain distance.
As previously mentioned, the Firestick remote is also a Bluetooth device, meaning it can only work within a certain distance.
Also, don’t forget to check if someone installed the batteries correctly. Perhaps they are just running low on charge and need to be replaced.
Problem 7: Firestick Remote Not Working with Volume
Many Fire TV Stick users experience volume problems with their remotes. The issue occurs for several reasons. The most common way to fix the problem is to pair your Firestick remote through the Equipment Control setting by using your smartphone instead.
Manage the Equipment Control Options
In the Equipment Control settings on your Firestick, you can use the Change TV option to reconnect the remote to your particular TV, which may solve your volume control issue.
- Install the Amazon Fire TV app on your smartphone
- Turn your TV on via its remote or use its power button. Ensure you have the correct input set to display the Firestick, then navigate to Settings -> Equipment Control.
- Go to Manage equipment, then choose TV.
- Navigate to Change TV and click on Change TV again.
- Press Continue and select the type of TV you have from the list.
- Press the power button on your Fire TV remote to turn the TV off.
- Wait for 10 seconds and press the power button again to turn it back on.
Problem 8: Firestick Remote Not Working After Update
If your Firestick remote stopped working after an update, try the following five methods. If the first one doesn’t work, go through the steps until the issue gets resolved.
- Hold the Home button on the remote for 10 seconds. This action should pair the remote to the TV if it is unpaired.
- Unplug your device from the outlet and try the remote again.
- Turn the TV off and reset the remote.
- Make sure there are no obstructions between the remote and the TV.
- Replace your batteries and ensure they’re installed correctly (positive side up).
If someone or something damaged your remote, the new update might not support working with it anymore. If none of the above steps help, consider replacing the remote.
Problem 9: Firestick Remote Not Working After Reset
If your Firestick remote stops working after resetting your Firestick, you can try the following methods.
- Restart the Firestick TV. When you get redirected to the remote pairing screen, unplug the TV from the outlet and reinsert it after 10 seconds. Pair the remote by pressing the “Home” button for 10 seconds.
- Change your batteries. Maybe the batteries are running low, and changing them could solve the problem. Just make sure to install them properly. Also, it’s best to get a brand-new set of batteries if you think the old ones may be damaged. As you change the batteries, clean the battery compartment of dirt and debris.
- Try another remote. If resetting and removing the batteries didn’t help, try connecting another remote to your Firestick TV. You can borrow one from a friend or purchase it online. Alternatively, you can use the Fire TV app for iPhone or Android and use it as a remote.
In closing, not being able to use your Firestick remote is never a pleasant experience. Thankfully, there are solutions to everything, and the remote is no exception. The most common solutions include resetting and re-pairing the remote or inserting new batteries. However, if none of the suggestions from this article work, you may want to contact Amazon’s customer service or replace your remote.
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