Pairing a New Remote to Your Firestick

A Firestick remote pairs to your device through Bluetooth, a wireless connection that works within about 30 feet. If you have a new remote or your old one stopped responding, you can reconnect it in under a minute without any apps or codes.

Start by plugging in your Firestick and waiting for it to fully boot — you'll see the Amazon logo disappear and the home screen appear. Then hold the Home button (the house icon at the top of the remote) and the Back button (the curved arrow) at the same time for about 10 seconds. Keep holding even after the remote starts vibrating. You'll see a message on your TV screen saying the remote is pairing. Release the buttons when the pairing is complete, usually within 15 seconds total.

If nothing happens on screen after 10 seconds, your Firestick may already be paired to a different remote. In that case, you'll need to unpair the old remote first through the Firestick settings, which we cover below.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold Home and Back buttons together for 10 seconds to pair a new remote without entering any codes or passwords.
  • Your Firestick can only pair with one remote at a time, so you must unpair an old remote before connecting a new one.
  • If pairing fails, restart your Firestick by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then try the button combination again.
  • Bluetooth range is about 30 feet, but walls and interference from other devices can reduce that distance.

Unpairing an Old Remote Before Connecting a New One

If you're replacing a remote that still works, or if your Firestick is already paired to a different remote, you need to unpair the old one first. You can do this through the Firestick settings menu using the remote that's currently paired, or through the Alexa app on your phone if the old remote is lost or broken.

Using the paired remote: Press the Home button, go to Settings, select Remotes and Bluetooth Devices, then choose the remote you want to remove and select Unpair. Once that's done, follow the pairing steps above with your new remote.

Using the Alexa app: Open the Alexa app on your phone, tap Devices in the bottom right, select Fire TV & Cube, choose your Firestick, then go to Remotes and Bluetooth Devices and unpair from there. This works even if you don't have a working remote in your hand.

What to Do When the Remote Won't Pair

If holding Home and Back doesn't trigger pairing, the problem is usually one of three things: the Firestick isn't fully booted, the remote batteries are dead, or there's interference from another Bluetooth device.

First, check the remote batteries. Most Firestick remotes use two AA batteries. Open the battery compartment on the back, remove the batteries, wait 10 seconds, and put them back in. If the remote still doesn't respond, replace the batteries with fresh ones — old batteries are the most common reason a remote stops working.

Next, restart your Firestick. Unplug it from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait for the home screen to appear completely before trying to pair again. During this restart, move any other Bluetooth devices (speakers, headphones, phones) at least 10 feet away from the Firestick, since they can interfere with the pairing signal.

If pairing still fails after a restart and fresh batteries, try the pairing sequence one more time, holding the buttons for the full 10 seconds even if nothing seems to happen. Some remotes take longer to respond than others.

Pairing a Firestick Remote to a Different Firestick

If you have multiple Firesticks in your home, you can use the same remote with different devices by unpairing and re-pairing. Each Firestick can only be paired to one remote at a time, but a single remote can be moved between devices.

To move a remote from one Firestick to another, unpair it from the first device using the Settings menu, then use the Home and Back button combination on the second Firestick. The remote will pair to whichever device you're holding it near when you press the buttons.

If you want to use the same remote with multiple Firesticks simultaneously — for example, one in the living room and one in the bedroom — you'll need a separate remote for each device. Firestick remotes are sold individually and cost between $15 and $30 depending on the model.

Differences Between Firestick Remote Models

Amazon makes several remote versions, and they all pair the same way, but they have different features. The basic Fire TV remote has just the essential buttons: Home, Back, directional pad, Select, and volume. The Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote adds a microphone button so you can search by speaking. The Fire TV Cube remote is similar but designed specifically for the Cube device.

Older remotes (before 2017) used infrared instead of Bluetooth, which means they need a clear line of sight to the Firestick and can't work through walls or around corners. If you have an infrared remote, you'll see "IR" printed on the back. These remotes don't pair through the Home and Back button method — instead, they just work automatically as long as they're pointed at the device. If an IR remote stops working, replace the batteries or buy a newer Bluetooth remote.

You can use a newer Bluetooth remote with an older Firestick, but you'll need to check your device's generation first. Firesticks from 2015 and later support Bluetooth remotes. If your Firestick is older than that, stick with an infrared remote or upgrade to a newer device.

Using Your Phone as a Remote

If your remote is lost or broken and you don't have a replacement yet, you can control your Firestick with the Alexa app on your phone. read the Alexa app from the App Store or Google Play, sign in with your Amazon account, and tap Devices. Select your Firestick, and you'll see a remote interface on your phone screen with all the same buttons as a physical remote.

The phone remote works over your home WiFi network, so it doesn't require Bluetooth pairing. This is useful for temporary control, but it's slower than a physical remote and requires your phone to be unlocked and nearby. Most people use the phone remote only as a backup while waiting for a replacement remote to arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Roku remote or other brand remote with my Firestick?

No. Firestick remotes are designed specifically for Amazon devices and won't work with Roku, Apple TV, or other streaming devices. Each brand uses its own pairing system. If you need a remote for a different device, you'll need to buy one made for that brand.

Why does my remote work sometimes but not other times?

Weak batteries are the most common cause. Even if the remote seems to work occasionally, replace the batteries with fresh ones. If that doesn't fix it, try unpairing and re-pairing the remote through Settings. If it still fails randomly, the remote may be defective and should be replaced.

Do I need to pair my remote every time I turn on the Firestick?

No. Once paired, the remote stays connected to that Firestick until you unpair it or pair it to a different device. You only need to pair once, unless you're moving the remote to a different Firestick or replacing it with a new one.

What's the difference between pairing and connecting?

Pairing is the one-time setup where the remote and Firestick recognize each other through Bluetooth. Connecting is what happens every time you use the remote — it automatically connects to the paired Firestick as long as you're within range and the batteries have power.

Can I pair two remotes to the same Firestick?

No. Each Firestick pairs with only one remote at a time. If you want two people to control the same Firestick, they can take turns using the same remote, or you can use the Alexa app on a phone as a second control option.