1. Check Batteries
If your Fire TV Stick is not working as intended, the first thing to check is always the battery. Perform the following check to ensure your batteries are A+.
- Check if your Fire Stick batteries are depleted, insert a new pair and check if the remote works.
- Check if the batteries are inserted correctly. Unlike the common TV remotes, batteries in a Fire TV Stick remote are in a series with the + sign facing the same direction as indicated on the inside of the remote.
- Ensure you use the same battery brand and don’t mix up different batteries.
- Moreover, ensure that you are using a fresh pair of batteries. Only use one old and one new battery in your Fire TV Stick remote.
2. Re-pair the FireTv Stick remote
- Turn on your Fire TV Stick.
- On the remote, press the home and right direction buttons together for 10 seconds to reset it.
- Now pair the remote again by pressing the home button for 10 seconds.
- Your remote should work fine now.
3. Check Compatibility
If your dog chewed up your old remote and you recently replaced it with a new one, the new remote may be incompatible with your Fire TV Stick. In this case, you can temporarily use the Fire TV Stick app until you get the right remote.
- Download the Fire TV app on your Android or iOS smartphone.
- Select your Fire TV Stick on the app.
- Your TV screen should now show a 4-digit code, enter that in the app to pair.
- You will now be able to control your Fire TV Stick using your phone.
4. Reset Your Fire TV Stick
- Turn on your Fire TV Stick.
- Go to the gear icon on the home page.
- Navigate to My Fire TV.
- Scroll to Reset to Factory Defaults and click on it.
- Click on Reset.
5. Ensure that you are in the range
Like all remote controls, the Fire TV Stick Remote also comes with a range of at least 10 feet from the device, with no obstructions in between. Unlike other remote controls, a Fire TV Stick’s remote works on Bluetooth instead of IR. So, while you don’t need to point the remote at your TV, you will still need to be within the range for it to work perfectly.
6. Ensure that there are no obstructions or interference
Additionally, you cannot play music on the YouTube app on your Fire TV Stick while you dine in another room or take a shower and expect to use the remote control. Apart from being within the range, you must be in the clear line of sight of the device. It means there should not be any wall between the remote and the Fire TV stick. Additionally, look out for any appliance that can cause interference. These include microwaves, wireless devices like speakers, and unshielded coaxial cables. Remove them from the general vicinity of the Fire TV Stick for the remote to work seamlessly.
How do you reset an unresponsive Fire Stick?
To do so, press the home and right direction buttons together for 10 seconds to reset it on the remote. Do this for 10 seconds and click on reset when the dialog box pops up on the screen.