Step 1: batteries
Put in two new AAA batteries. Amazon recommends alkaline for best performance, and its safety notes say to use only new 1.5V alkaline or 1.2V NiMH rechargeable AAAs and never to mix old and new. Weak batteries cause the most confusing symptoms: some buttons work, others don’t, or the remote responds only up close.
Step 2: ask the remote what’s wrong
Many Fire TV remotes have a troubleshooting mode. Press the Alexa Voice button: if the light at the top flashes, yours has it.
- Hold Rewind and Right together for three seconds.
- Press Menu. The light turns green: you’re in troubleshooting mode.
- Press any button and read the colour.
| Light | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Red, slow blinking | Low battery | Replace the batteries |
| Red, fast blinking | A problem with the remote | Reset the remote (step 4) |
| Orange | Not paired with the Fire TV | Re-pair it (step 3) |
| White | The Fire TV may be off | Check the Fire TV is on, then restart it |
| Blue | The remote is fine | Restart the Fire TV; the problem is on the device side |
To leave troubleshooting mode, hold Play/Pause and Up for three seconds, press Menu, then take the batteries out and put them back.
Step 3: re-pair
- Restart the Fire TV (unplug it and plug it back in) and wait for “Cannot detect your remote” on screen.
- Hold Home on the remote for 10 seconds.
- Stay within 10 feet (3 metres) of the Fire TV.
More options, including pairing from your phone: pair a Firestick remote.
Step 4: reset the remote
- Unplug the Fire TV from power and HDMI and wait 60 seconds.
- Hold Left, Menu and Back together for 12 seconds.
- Release, wait five seconds and take the batteries out.
- Plug the Fire TV back in and wait for the remote detection message.
- Put the batteries back and press Home. On remotes with a light, it blinks blue when pairing succeeds.
Only volume, power or mute don’t work
Those buttons talk to your TV, not the Fire TV. Open SettingsEquipment ControlManage EquipmentTV and check that the brand shown under Change TV matches your TV; if not, select Change TV and follow the steps. Amazon notes this doesn’t apply to Fire TV smart TVs.
Still dead?
- Use your phone while you sort it out: Fire TV remote app.
- The remote may have failed. Check which replacements work with your model: replacement Firestick remotes.
- If the Fire TV itself isn’t responding, the remote isn’t the problem: see Firestick not working.