Forgot or lost your FireStick remote? 7 Best Ways to Work Without a Remote
People are forgetful. Losing phones, keys, money, etc. is a common thing that happens to everyone. So, the reason you are reading this article is because you have lost your FireStick remote.
And you can’t find it, despite your efforts, searching every nook and cranny. Don’t worry. In this article, we will discuss what to do if you forget or lose your FireStick remote.
Let’s see how you can control your FireStick without a remote.
How does FireStick and FireStick Remote work?
When setting up the FireStick, you need to enter your WiFi credentials. The FireStick uses the Wi-Fi network to receive data, and you can watch your favorite movies and shows, surf the Internet, etc. And you also connect the included FireStick remote control in this setup.
Depending on where you lost the remote, you must use different strategies in possible situations and move around the FireStick. For example, if you lost the remote in your mouse, you can navigate the FireStick using the Amazon Fire TV app installed on your smartphone.
But the situation becomes more complicated when you take the FireStick with you and leave the remote at home. There is no Wi-Fi network to connect to, and without a remote, you won’t be able to set up new Wi-Fi credentials. Read more about this situation in this article.
Lost or forgotten FireStick remote control How to use FireStick without a remote control?
- When both Fire TV Stick and FireStick Remote are in range of a Wi-Fi network
- When the FireStick is out of range of your Wi-Fi network
- Use an old version of FireStick Remote
- Use TV remote to control FireStick
- FireStick control with keyboard and mouse
- FireStick Control via Bluetooth
1. When both Fire TV Stick and FireStick Remote are in range of a Wi-Fi network
For those who don’t know, the Fire TV Stick can work with the Amazon Fire TV app on your Android or iOS. However, there is one catch. The Fire TV Stick & Remote must be in your home, i.e. you lost the remote in your home. Controlling and controlling your Fire TV with your phone is very easy. Just follow the instructions below.
- Connect your phone to Wi-Fi.
- Download and install the Fire TV app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Once the installation is complete, launch the Fire TV app.
- Sign in with your Amazon credentials (username and password).
- If your phone and Fire TV Stick are on the same Wi-Fi network, Fire TV will automatically appear in your Fire TV app.
- Tap the Fire TV Stick on the phone screen.
- Your TV will display a 4 digit number. Paste this pin into your phone’s Fire TV app.
- Voila, you’ve set up your Fire TV controller on your phone.
Swiping up/down/left/right on the phone screen will mimic the arrow key on the remote control. Click on your phone to mimic the “OK”button. You can use the phone keypad to enter URLs, access settings, and more.
2. When the FireStick is out of range of your Wi-Fi network
FireStick & the Remote was lost in the previous case but still within your Wi-Fi range. So it was easy to work with your smartphone. Just install the Fire TV remote app and enter your 4-digit PIN.
Let’s say you’re traveling with the FireStick in your pocket and left the remote at home. In this case, the previous method does not work. Let’s see what steps to take in this situation.
The first condition is to install a mobile phone with the Fire TV app. Second, a Wi-Fi hotspot with the same name (SSID) as your home Wi-Fi network. You can use your desktop/laptop (Mac or Windows computer) or Android with a working internet connection to create a hotspot.
Create a Wi-Fi hotspot on an Android smartphone:
- Open the Android Settings app.
- Go to Connections -> Portable Hotspot.
- Click Set Up Portable Hotspot.
- Set the Wi-Fi name of your home network.
- Set the same password.
- Click the checkmark icon in the top right corner of the screen.
Now that the hotspot is ready, connect the FireStick to the TV in the new location. Also, connect your smartphone with the Amazon Fire TV app installed. If the FireStick connects to a fake hotspot, its name will automatically flash in your Fire TV app. Click on it and enter the four-digit PIN displayed on the TV.
The best thing about the old Fire TV Stick remote is its compatibility with the new FireStick. The only downside is that you will miss features like volume and mute buttons. It is not present in the previous generation FireStick remote control.
- Turn on your TV with FireStick.
- Press and hold the Home, Back, and Left Arrow keys on your old remote.
- Keep holding them for at least 10 seconds.
- Restart firestick. It will automatically pair with the old remote after a reboot.
4. Use your TV remote to control your Amazon Fire TV Stick
First, let’s introduce the HDMI-CEC function. CEC or Consumer Electronics Control acts as an interface to control any electronic devices connected to your Smart TV. Every Smart TV has this feature pre-installed. But the name of different brands is different.
Here is a list of popular Smart TV manufacturers and the HDMI-CEC option name.
- Simplink in LG.
- HDMI-CEC in Hitachi.
- EasyLink at Philips.
- Bravia sync to Sony.
The CEC feature is enabled by default. But if you want to check the active status, you can do so by following these steps.
- Open FireStick settings.
- Switch to HDMI.
- Make sure the status of the CEC function is set to ON.
Now everything is set up, you can use your Smart TV remote to control your FireStick.
5. Control FireStick with keyboard and mouse
You can also control the FireStick with your keyboard or mouse. The trick is to buy a Micro USB hub or USB connector. Connect one of the connectors (micro USB) to the FireStick, and insert the keyboard or mouse dongle into the other end. It’s also much more convenient to use a keyboard and mouse to navigate the Fire TV web browser.
6. Control FireStick with Bluetooth
FireStick also supports Bluetooth connectivity. This way, you can use your Bluetooth device, such as a mouse or keyboard, to pair and control the FireStick when you lose your FireStick remote.
Follow the steps below to pair your Bluetooth device with the FireStick.
- Open FireStick settings.
- Go to “Bluetooth Remotes and Devices”-> “Other Bluetooth Devices”.
- Click on the “Add Bluetooth Devices”option.
- Find the name of your Bluetooth device on the TV screen.
- Click on the name of your device.
You have completed pairing your Bluetooth device with your FireStick.
First, you need to set up Alexa with your Fire TV Stick so you can verbally control and control your Fire TV.
- Open the Amazon Alexa app on your Smart TV.
- Go to settings.
- Select TV & Video.
- Tap the plus sign (+) next to the Fire TV option.
- Follow the onscreen instructions and sync Alexa to your Fire TV Stick.
When you lose your FireStick remote, you will be able to verbally navigate using Amazon Alexa. For example, let’s say something like “Alexa, turn on the Avengers on my Fire TV.”
Conclusion
That’s all. Using the solutions above, you can control your Fire TV Stick when you lose your FireStick remote. The most potential solution you can apply is using the Fire TV app to control the FireStick from your smartphone.
But that’s when the FireStick and remote control are within range of your home Wi-Fi. However, if you only take FiresStick with you and leave the remote at home. You can save the day by creating a temporary Wi-Fi hotspot using your laptop or Android phone. Too bad you can’t change your iPhone’s hotspot name.
The next best thing you can do is control your FireStick with a previous generation FireStick remote. In addition, the Firestick has a Bluetooth connection. So you can use a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard to pair them with the FireStick and control your Fire TV.
Finally, if none of the above methods work for you, either find your lost remote or buy a brand new replacement from Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What to do if you lose your Fire Stick remote control?
You can look for your remote in places where you may have lost it, or use the following alternatives to control your Fire TV. If you lose your remote in Wi-Fi range (at home), you can install the Fire TV smartphone app and use it to control your Fire TV. However, if the FireStick is out of range of your Wi-Fi, set up a new hotspot with the same SSID and password as your home Wi-Fi. Alternatively, you can use an OTG cable to connect an external mouse or keyboard to the FireStick. Use the CEC function to control the FireStic with your TV remote control.
You can create a temporary hotspot with the same Wi-Fi name and password as your home Wi-Fi. Connect the FireStick to the new hotspot. Open the official Fire TV app on your smartphone and connect to the same hotspot. Touch the name of the FireStick flashing on the screen and enter the four-digit number flashing on the TV screen. Voila, you are now connected to the FireStick.
How to pair a Bluetooth mouse with a Fire TV Stick?
If you have a Bluetooth mouse and want to connect it to your Fire Tv Stick, follow these steps. First, open the Fire TV settings. Go to “Bluetooth Remotes and Devices”-> “Other Bluetooth Devices”. Select Add Bluetooth devices. Your Bluetooth mouse will flash on the TV screen. Select your mouse to start the pairing process.
Yes, you can use the keyboard to control the FireStick. A USB connector (OTG cable) or a micro USB hub is required to connect the keyboard and FireStick. Plug the micro USB port into the FireStick and the USB receiver dongle into the USB port.
Leave a Reply