How To Change the TV Input With a Firestick Remote

As excited as people were when Amazon released the new Firestick remote, there were those who wished it had a button dedicated to changing the TV input. While they may not be as convenient as a customized button, there are still ways you can use your remote to change the input. These techniques work whether you’re using a Firestick, Fire TV, or a Fire TV Cube.

Check them out in this article.

How to Change TV Input With Firestick Remote

The Firestick remote may not have a dedicated button for switching the TV input, but you can still use it for this purpose. To do so, your remote must be either the 2nd or 3rd-generation Alexa Voice Remote. If your remote doesn’t have a power button at the top, you won’t be able to use it for this task.

Let’s look at how to change the input.

Set Up Your TV

You need to ensure that your TV is configured correctly to get started. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to your TV settings and click “Equipment Control.”
   
2. Select “Manage Equipment,” “TV,” then “Input Switching.”
   
3. Ensure that the setting is configured correctly. It should say “Navigate Up + Down.”
   

Method One: Switch Input

With the correct remote and TV settings, you’re now ready to switch inputs. The steps outlined here will show up how it’s done:

1. Hold down the microphone button on your Firestick remote.
   
2. Say, “Switch to (appropriate input).”
3. Let go of the microphone button and point the remote at the TV.

Your TV input will change to the Fire TV HDMI channel.

Method Two: Configure Fire Tv

You can configure your Fire TV to recognize the different devices connected to your television set. For instance, you can name HDMI one as Firestick, HDMI two as Xbox, and so on. This will make it easier to switch between inputs.

This is how you set that up:

1. Open “Settings” on your TV set and go to “Equipment Control.”
   
2. Click “Manage Equipment” then “Fire TV” and pick the input it’s connected to.
   

To change the TV input to your Fire TV, all you have to do now is hold down the microphone button and say, “Go home.”

To set up the rest of the input devices, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to “Settings” and press “Equipment Control.”
   
2. Click “Manage Equipment,” then “Add Equipment,” and proceed to configure the inputs to the relevant devices.
   

Once the devices have been added, you can now use the microphone button on the remote to go from one input to another. Say “Switch to Xbox,” and your TV set will go to the appropriate HDMI channel. This method means you don’t have to remember the specific input that a device is plugged into.

Method Three: Enable HDMI-CEC

HDMI-CEC is a language used by a lot of devices to communicate with each other. As your Firestick connects to your Fire TV through an HDMI cable, you can use HDMI-CEC to change the TV input with your Firestick remote.

1. Enable CEC on your TV set by heading to “Settings,” “System,” then “CEC.”
2. Check that CEC is also enabled on Fire TV by navigating to “Settings” then “Display & Sounds.”
   

Your Fire TV is now configured. When you press the “Home” button on the remote, the TV automatically switches to the Fire TV HDMI channel.

Other Firestick Remote Shortcuts

The ability to change the TV input isn’t the only feature that the Firestick remote is capable of. This little device has lots of concealed key combinations that can be used to unlock a host of features.

Adjust the Resolution

Your Firestick is designed to detect and adjust the display resolution automatically. However, you can also switch it manually if you aren’t happy with the way things look. Hold down the “up” and “rewind” buttons on the remote for Firestick to display the current resolution. Let Firestick run through the different resolutions until it gets to the one you like. Tap the “Select” button on the remote to set your preferred resolution.

Reset the Remote

One of the more annoying Firestick features is that you can’t use the same remote with multiple devices. You would have to unpair and reset the remote to use it with another Firestick. Instead of doing the setup from scratch, you can use a remote shortcut to perform a hard reset. To do so, hold down the “Back,” “Menu,” and “Left” buttons for fifteen seconds. You can then pair your remote with another device.

Reset Firestick

You can also use your Firestick remote to reset your Firestick. All you need to do is press down the “Back” and “Right” navigation buttons for about ten seconds, and you’re all set.

Link the Remote and the Firestick

Your Firestick should recognize the remote if the two are near each other. However, sometimes they don’t automatically sync, which means that you’ll have to connect them manually. Holding down the “Select” button for ten seconds should do the trick.

Restart Firestick

For one reason or another, your Firestick may stop being responsive. If you don’t feel up to walking all the way to the TV to restart the Firestick, you can use the remote to do so. That’s what remotes are for, after all. They allow you to control the TV set without leaving the comfort of your couch. To restart Firestick, tap and hold “Select” and “Play” simultaneously for about ten seconds.

Launch Quick Settings

It typically takes a series of steps to get to the system menu. However, long-pressing the “Home” button with the Firestick remote will get you there faster. This method opens Quick Settings, allowing you to perform various functions, including putting Firestick to sleep.

FAQs

Can I use a mobile app to switch inputs?

Yes, you can use the Fire TV app to control your TV and switch inputs. The app can be downloaded on your smartphone or tablet. However, it has to be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Firestick for it to work.

Firestick Remote Hacks

The Firestick is a great streaming device. Unfortunately, the remote doesn’t have a dedicated button to switch the TV input. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use it to go from one HDMI channel to another. With this guide, you will find different ways to change the TV input using your Firestick remote. You will also learn other remote shortcuts that can enhance your Firestick experience.

Have you used your Firestick remote to change the TV input? How did you go about it? Let us know in the comments section below.