Firestick Remote Not Working? How to Reset & Fix If All Else Fail (2025)

While streaming on your Firestick can be a seamless experience, a Firestick remote that stops working completely ruins the fun. So, we wrote this guide on how to reset your Firestick remote and other solutions to fix your remote in 2025. We’ve also included a lot of tips that will be helpful with other kinds of media stations too. (We feel your frustration when you realize you can’t watch your favorite movies or shows after jailbreaking your Amazon Firestick!) We hope this prevents you from being sent to anger management classes – just be patient and remember that as long as you don’t bite the remote you will survive!

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Basic Troubleshooting: Before Resetting Your Amazon Firestick Remote
• How to Reset Firestick Remote
• How to Reset a Brand New Firestick Remote
• Using Alexa Voice Remote
• Using the Fire TV App on Your Phone
• Alternative Firestick Remotes
• Using a Remote Tracker
• Going Remoteless With Your Fire TV
• Bonus: Weird Stories for the Remote Control Freaks 

Even though remote controls sound like retro nostalgia, the truth is that they are some sort of magic aliens that came to Planet Earth to save us. Radios, music stations, televisions, air-conditioners, lights, screens, toys, drones, video games, cameras, and a lot of new AI devices are linked to remote controls. All of them have something in common: these tiny things can easily get lost or damaged.

Yes, smartphones and apps are a universal alternative when the remote is not around, but who wants to click through slow scenes by softly touching a glass? I mean, it doesn’t click.  When it comes to Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, there are a lot of things that can prevent your remote from working. Let’s face it, the device works great for its price, but Bluetooth remotes aren’t necessarily the best invention.

But there is hope! Below you will find the most common reasons why your Firestick remote stopped working. The list is organized in a way that prioritizes the solutions you can achieve with the items that you have at home – also known as batteries and troubleshooting with the remote itself.  The second part involves using other gadgets. Just keep in mind that accidents that produce external damage or faults inside the remote or the Firestick components, will also prevent it from working and will affect repairs requiring a higher level of expertise. Hopefully, the problem can be fixed with the options below. 

Oftentimes, your Amazon Firestick isn’t working because of some very basic settings that you just overlooked. So, first things first: check the following before you blow that fire out of your nostrils! 

Amazon’s Firestick doesn’t include an infrared remote but a Bluetooth remote. This means that a direct line between the Stick and the remote is not necessary – think how your wireless Bluetooth headphones don’t need to be directly aligned to your phone in order to work.

Note: Newer versions of Firestick include infrared technology, but its purpose is to connect to the television, not to the Firestick. The connection between the Firestick and the remote is still via Bluetooth. 

That being said: 

• Make sure that the distance between the Firestick and its remote is shorter than 30 feet.
• Remove any obstacles between the remote and the stick. For example, move furniture and decor, and avoid having the Firestick inside a cabinet or container.
• If you have other devices, turn their Bluetooth off in order to avoid interference.
• Get closer to the Firestick and if doing so works, you are probably dealing with a battery problem.

With so many USB devices that can be charged, or with more accessible domestic electronics that use alternative renewable energy like solar and wind, single-use batteries tend to be rarer nowadays. Reusable batteries keep on being one of the most popular sources of power – even cars work with reusable batteries today.

The remote that was designed for Firestick needs 2 AAA batteries. You can still use single-use batteries for this remote, but if you are environmentally conscious we encourage you to use rechargeable ones. This will also help you save money and the nightmare of not having extra batteries around in the middle of the night.

Note: The battery compartment is at the back of the remote and protected with a case. Press the case softly and slide it to open it.

These are some common battery issues you might face:

• Make sure that the batteries are in the correct direction. Older Firestick remotes need both batteries, one next to the other, with the negative pole at the bottom. Newer versions require one battery next to the other horizontally (like in the image below). This will vary depending on the Firestick version.

• Check if the batteries are working. You can do this by testing them with other devices. However, different artifacts consume different amounts of power, which means that they might work with other electronics and still not have enough power for your remote.
• Removing the batteries and inserting the same batteries again is a classic option. This might work, but it won’t last. We recommend you replace them directly, or ideally recharge them if you are using reusable ones.

Note: You can use any battery brand, just make sure that they are the correct size, which for this remote is AAA. However, if you’re looking for those manufactured by Amazon, you can find them here: Amazon’s rechargeable batteries

If checking the batteries and avoiding obstacles didn’t work, you might be facing a problem with the Firestick itself. Updates, space, and the internet connection are some of the reasons why the Firestick is not responding. A shortcut to stop these issues is to restart the Firestick. If that is not enough, try resetting it to factory defaults. In addition to that, remove the batteries from your remote for one minute to refresh its power.

Note: Restarting your Firestick won’t remove all personal data and downloaded apps and content. Resetting to factory defaults will.

1. Select the “Settings” button, located at the top of the home screen.
2. Go to “My Fire TV”.
3. Select “Restart”.

Follow the same steps from the instructions above, but select “Reset to Factory Defaults” instead of “Restart”.

A brand new Amazon Firestick includes a remote control, and that remote control should be already paired. In other words, once you connect the Firestick and install the Amazon app on your television, the remote should be automatically connected. If this doesn’t happen, you should pair it.

Note: If you buy a replacement remote, you will definitely need to pair it with the Firestick. Before buying it, make sure the new remote is compatible with your device.

1. Plugin your Fire TV Stick.
2. Wait for the Fire TV to boot up.
3. Hold the remote near the Firestick.
4. Press and hold the Home button on your Fire TV remote.
5. Continue holding the Home button for 10 seconds.
6. Release the Home button, and see if the remote works.

There are seven Amazon devices and remotes. Below you will find the steps to reset each remote according to the edition of Fire TV that you own.

Note: To keep it simple and avoid confusion, we took these instructions from Amazon’s website.

1. Press and hold the Home button. At the same time, press the Menu button three times.
2. Release the Home button.
3. Press the Menu button 9 times.
4. Remove the batteries from your remote.
5. Unplug your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
6. Put the batteries back in your remote, and then plug in your Fire TV.
7. Once the Home screen appears, press and hold the Home button for 40 seconds.
8. Wait 60 seconds for the setup to complete.

Note: This Alexa Voice Remote doesn’t have a power button or volume up/down buttons.

1. Unplug your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
2. Press and hold the Left button and Menu button at the same time. Hold them for 12 seconds.
3. Release the buttons and wait 5 seconds.
4. Remove the batteries from your remote.
5. Plugin your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
6. Put the batteries back in your remote.
7. Press the Home button on the remote.

Your remote should be paired now. If your remote hasn’t paired, press the Home button for 10 seconds.

1. Unplug your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
2. Press and hold the Left button, Menu button, and Back button at the same time. Hold them for 12 seconds.
3. Release the buttons and wait 5 seconds.
4. Remove the batteries from your remote.
5. Plugin your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
6. Put the batteries back in your remote.
7. Press the Home button.

When the LED indicator blinks blue, your remote is paired successfully. If it’s not paired, press the Home button for 10 seconds.

Note: This remote doesn’t have a power button or volume up/down buttons.

1. Unplug your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
2. Press and hold the Left button, Menu button, and Back button at the same time. Hold them for 12 seconds.
3. Release the buttons and wait 5 seconds.
4. Remove the batteries from your remote.
5. Plugin your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
6. Put the batteries back in your remote.

Press the Home button on the remote.

1. Unplug your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
2. Press and hold the Left button, Menu button, and Back button at the same time. Hold them for 12 seconds.
3. Release the buttons and wait 5 seconds.
4. Remove the batteries from your remote.
5. Plugin your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
6. Put the batteries back in your remote.
7. Press the Home button on the remote.

When the LED indicator blinks blue, your remote is paired successfully. If it’s not paired, press the Home button for 10 seconds.

1. Unplug your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
2. Press and hold the Left button, Menu button, and Back button at the same time. Hold them for 12 seconds.
3. Release the buttons and wait 5 seconds.
4. Remove the batteries from your remote.
5. Plugin your Fire TV and wait 60 seconds.
6. Put the batteries back in your remote.
7. Press the Home button on the remote.

When the LED indicator blinks blue, your remote is paired successfully. If it’s not paired, press the Home button for 10 seconds.

If so far nothing worked and you are giving up, we don’t blame you. Chances are that your remote has been physically damaged, and we don’t expect you to play with cables and screwdrivers – at least not this time. There are many other remotes that you can get to control your Fire TV Stick. You can choose one of the Amazon models, or be creative and test different brands.

We recommend you to replace your damaged or lost remote with Alexa Voice Remote because it was specifically designed for Amazon’s products, so the chances of it working accurately are higher. Plus, it allows you to control the device with your voice, which is handy and provides more accessibility options.

Image via Amazon.

Note: The Alexa Voice Remote is compatible with Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick (2nd Gen and later), Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Cube (1st Gen and later), and Fire TV (3rd Gen, Pendant Design). It is not compatible with Fire TV (1st and 2nd Gen), Fire TV Stick (1st Gen), or Fire TV Edition smart TVs.

This remote should be connected automatically but if that’s not your case, try this:

1. Go to “Settings”.
2. Go to “Controllers and Bluetooth devices”.
3. Select “Add a new remote”.
4. It will be searching the new remote. At the same time, press the “home” button on the new remote.

If none of the options above helped you fix the remote, or if your remote is lost, you can download the Fire TV app to your Android or iPhone to control the Firestick device. 

Note: These are the links to download the app: Amazon Fire TV for Android and Amazon Fire TV for iOS.

Steps:

1. Plug your Firestick or Fire TV device in and wait for it to boot up.
2. Download and install the Fire TV remote app, and launch it.
3. Sign in to your Amazon account in the Fire TV remote app.
4. Select your Fire TV device from the list of devices in the app.
5. Wait for a code to appear on your television, and enter it in the app.
6. Your phone will now function as a Fire TV remote.

The main reason to buy a remote from an alternative brand is the price – Amazon’s replacements are usually as expensive as rebuying the whole device. The second reason is that if your entertainment station includes artifacts from different brands, you might want to find a remote that can control all of them. 

These are some universal remotes that work with various versions of Firestick:

• Premium Pick: Harmony Elite
• Best Value: Harmony Companion
• Budget Replacement: Amazon Voice Remote
• Best Harmony Alternative: Sofabaton U1
• Remote-Keyboard Combo: WeChip W2 Pro
• Best Mini Keyboard: Fosmon Mini
• Best Sidecar Remote: Sideclick

Note: If your remote’s connectivity issues started when you acquired a replacement Firestick remote, and you were not able to pair it, then you may have a compatibility issue. There are several generations of Firesticks, other Fire TV devices, and Fire TV remotes, and they don’t all work together. Before purchasing a new remote, make sure that it is compatible with the devices that you are looking to control with it.

If your problem isn’t breaking the remote but constantly losing it, you can use a remote tracker. A tracker will help you follow the trail of your remote by attaching a small device to it – usually, they look like tiny coins. That “coin” will be invisibly wired to an application – usually via bluetooth tech – that you can manage from your phone or computer, and will tell you the geographic location of the lost item. Imagine it like the microchip and GPS used to locate your dog, except that hopefully your remote won’t bark. 

Remote Control Trackers Available on Amazon

Note: Trackers are usually between $16 and $70 USD and can help you find other items like wallets, keys, pets, bottles, and many other things that you frequently lose.

Probably the least comfortable option, but still a handy solution, when you cannot find or fix your remote, is to stream the content that you want to watch with your computer, and mirror your computer’s screen on the television.

This might actually be comfortable if you have an extra computer that you can leave in your media station. It is also a great permanent option for gamers and creatives that use the TV screen to display more interactive platforms and software.

1. Go through the Apple logo.
2. Select “System Preferences”.
3. Click “Displays”.
4. Select the TV from the “AirPlay Display” taskbar.

Note: To mirror a Mac to a smart TV, you will need to get a mirroring app designed to work with that TV brand. For Samsung TVs, get the Samsung SmartThing app from the App Store. For a Sony TV, get the AirBeamTV app.

1. Go to “Settings”. 
2. Go to “Connected devices”
3. Click on the  “Add device” option at the top. 
4. The drop-down menu will list all the devices you can mirror to. Select your TV and the laptop screen will start mirroring to the TV.

This option will vary a lot depending on the computer and the television that you have. The most generic version nowadays is using an HDMI to USB C cable. But again, this depends on your computer’s and television’s port.

Fixing electronics can be stressful, but hopefully, this guide helped you solve the problem. Now that the battle is over, we created The Remote Control Playlist, so that you can unwind and shake off any frustrations while testing your device. If it’s necessary, move the table to the side and turn the volume up. Louder!

Control – Janet Jackson

Remote Control – Kanye West

Remote // Kanye Made This Ok – Good Point

Controlla – Drake

Remote Control – The Clash

X’em Remote Control – Marino Infantry

Remote Control – Beastie Boys

Remote Control – Discovery Song

As Kanye sings, we “got it on remote control,” so remain strong at the tech-adversities, and keep on vibrating with the best digital art that is waiting to touch your soul from the world wide web. Have fun and take care!