What is a Fire TV & Fire Stick? How to Control Them?

What is a Fire TV? Are you pursuing a new visual experience? Do you know or do you want to get clear knowledge about your Fire devices? Today, I will lead you to understand what Fire TV and Fire Stick are, and then help you master them easily.

Fire TV, or Amazon Fire TV is an ecosystem of streaming devices and smart TVs created by Amazon. This enterprise, founded on July 5, 1994, aims at customer obsession rather than competitor focus.

What is Fire TV

Amazon released its first version of Fire TV in 2014. The second generation version was released in 2015, while in 2016 Amazon introduced the Fire TV edition with built-in Amazon Fire OS and Fire TV interface, in which you are allowed to watch TV shows and movies streamed over apps on Fire OS like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and many others.

Amazon Fire TV, a video streaming device, can turn your TV into a smart TV via an HDMI port or a micro-USB port just like Roku, Chromecast, and Apple TV. You can use it to enjoy what and when you want by connecting to your television or monitor. It also supports Apple AirPlay so you can share videos, photos, music, and more from Apple devices to your Fire TV. Moreover, Fire TV also comes in many different TVs from Toshiba and Insignia, and now Amazon makes its own TVs too.

It’s worth noting that Fire TV and tablets run on its operating system–Fire OS. As a forked version of the Android operating system, Fire OS allows you to use any app that runs on Android on Fire devices as well. The latest version is FireOS 8, and you use Fire TVs, Fire tablets, Amazon Echos and Amazon Echo shows on this operating system. Now let’s see how to use a Fire TV.

Step 1. Plug the power cord into Fire TV and then into an outlet. Put batteries in the Fire TV remote.

Step 2. Turn on the TV by the Power button on the Fire TV remote. If the remote doesn’t pair automatically, press the Home button until “Press to start” appears on-screen.

Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect Fire TV to WiFi. Then sign in to the Amazon account.

What are Other Fire TV Streaming Devices

Fire TV streaming devices can transform almost any normal television into a smart TV that allows you to stream Netflix, YouTube, and more on a bigger screen. Streaming refers to viewing a video or listening to audio content without downloading the media files, and it is a real-time function that is more efficient than downloading media files. Moreover, Fire TV devices are popular, so Amazon has developed several models, from the value-priced Fire TV Stick Lite to the premium Fire TV Cube.

Fire TV Stick Lite

What is a Fire Stick? It looks like a USB drive that you can stream movies, shows, music or play games via the internet by connecting it to the HDMI input of the TV.

The Fire TV Stick Lite box costs about $29.99, including the TV Stick Lite, Alexa Voice Remote Lite (2nd Gen), power cable and power adapter, HDMI extender, 2 AAA batteries, and a Quick Start Guide. This Stick Lite with 8GB storage and 1GB memory, is the best budget option with an in-built Alexa voice assistant and Bluetooth connectivity. However, it fails to offer 4K or HDR streaming or ethernet connection.

Fire TV Stick

Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite were both released in 2021, but they have differences in audio output, their remote controls, and also the price.

The Fire TV Stick box costs about $39.99, including this TV stick, Alexa Voice Remote (3rd gen), power cable, power adapter, HDMI extender, 2 AAA batteries, and a Quick Start Guide. The Fire TV Stick remote has more buttons than the Fire TV Stick Lite remote, which makes the former Alexa Remote more capable.

What’s more, the Fire TV Stick 2020 has Dolby Atmos Audio while the Fire TV Stick Lite only has Dolby Audio that only via pass-through HDMI, which the latter loses in providing “multi-dimensional sound with incredible clarity that envelopes you”. However, it also fails to offer 4K or HDR streaming or ethernet connection.

Fire TV Stick 4K

You will know the Fire TV Stick 4K can support 4K and HDR streaming refers to its name.

This box contains Fire TV Stick 4K, Alexa Voice Remote, power cable and power adapter, HDMI extender cable for Fire TV Stick 4K, 2 AAA batteries, and Quick Start Guide. The advantage of this TV Stick 4K is that it supports 4K and HDR streaming with Dolby Atoms and Dolby Vision, while its disadvantage is that it cannot connect to the ethernet. Fire TV Stick 4k with 8GB storage and 2GB memory will cost about $34.99.

Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Fire TV Stick 4K Max was released in 2023, the same time as the Fire TV Stick 4K. Do they have differences? Let’s read as below:

Fire Stick 4K Max box contains the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced, power cable and power adapter, HDMI extender cable for Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen), 2 AAA batteries, Quick Start Guide. You will spend about $59.99 to own it.

This streaming device supports wifi 6, 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atoms but also doesn’t support an ethernet connection. As the latest model, it has the most storage with 16GB and normal 2GB memory. Thanks to its Alexa Voice Remote Enhance, you can enjoy expansive control and easy navigation without juggling multiple remotes.

After having a brief understanding of Amazon sticks, now let’s learn how to connect Amazon Fire stick to TV:

Step 1. Plug in the Fire TV streaming device to your TV’s HDMI port. Or you can use the HDMI extender cable if it’s difficult to plug the Stick into the TV’s HDMI port.

Step 2. Plug the power adapter into the wall outlet. Avoid plugging the USB cable directly into the TV.

Step 3. Turn on your TV and switch to the correct HDMI input.

Fire TV Cube

The main thing is that the Amazon Fire TV Cube offers more storage and always-listening Alexa.

You need to spend $139.99 on it. This box contains the Fire TV Cube, Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced, power adapter, 2 AAA batteries, and Quick Start Guide. While HDMI, IR extender and Ethernet cables are sold separately. You can enjoy hands-free control with built-in Alexa. It also includes an ethernet adapter. However, there exists a significant drawback that it is not portable.

How to connect Amazon sticks to TV:

Step 1. Place your Fire TV Cube 1 to 2 ft (50 cm) away from any speakers.

Step 2. Plug one end of your HDMI cable into your TV and the other end into your Fire TV Cube.

Step 3. Plug the power adapter into an outlet and then into your Fire TV Cube. Turn on your TV and switch to the correct HDMI input.

How to Control Fire TV By Pairing Fire TV Remote

Now keep reading to know how to pair Fire TV remotes to control Fire TV. Connection introductions surrounding three kinds of remote are as follows.

Use a Fire TV Remote

The Alexa Voice Remote is a powerful device with a voice feature to improve your viewing experience. You can activate voice control with Alexa from the Voice Search button above the Navigation Ring. Furthermore, the small hole right above the Voice Search button is the microphone. When talking to Alexa, press and hold the Voice Search button, and you will hear a chime indicating Alexa is ready.

How to pair Fire TV Remote:

Step 1. Hold the remote within 5 meters of the Fire TV Stick.

Step 2. It should find it automatically during the initial setup of a Fire TV.

Step 3. If the Fire TV doesn’t discover the remote, press and hold the Home button on the remote for a full 10 seconds until the Fire TV Stick finds it.

Use the Amazon App

The free Amazon Fire TV app for iOS/Android/Fire OS will enhance your Fire TV experience with its simple navigation, a keyboard for easy text entry, and quick access to your favorite apps and games.

How to use the Fire TV app:

Step 1. Download the Fire TV app from the app store.

Step 2. Connect the mobile device to the same Wi-Fi network as the Fire TV Device.

Step 3. Open the Fire TV app and search for the available device on the screen to connect by following the on-screen prompt.

Step 4. Use on-screen navigation, keyboard, and other menu options to control the Fire TV device.

Use a Third-party Remote App

If your Fire TV remote is not working, then this third-party remote app will be your best choice to control your Fire TVs. It supports all popular Fire TV and stick models. Set up the Fire TV remote app for easy and intuitive control over your Fire TV Stick.

The Remote for Fire TV and Firestick app developed by BoostVision gives you more convenience to enhance your Fire TV experience via a simple pairing process. You are allowed to use this app to easily share local photos and videos on the TV screen through a wireless network connection.

Plus, you have quick access to the integrated channel shortcut feature. It means that you can access your favorite app in the first place. Just click the little cornered heart icon and the app will automatically appear at the front of your channel list.

How to use the FireRemote app:

Step 1. Download the FireRemote app from the app store.

Step 2. Ensure the devices connect to the same Wi-Fi. And Local Network Permission must be granted for this app in Settings.

Step 3. Open the app and select the target device to connect with.

Step 4. Then a 4-digit PIN code will be displayed on the TV. Enter the PIN code on your mobile device to make the connection.

To Sum Up

When you are reading here, you may have your idea about whether to buy a Fire streaming device or not, and which Firestick will be the optimum choice for you. Hope this article will help you make a suitable decision.

What is Fire TV FAQ

Q: Can I use the Fire TV Stick on other TVs?

The answer is yes. Fire TV Stick is a small streaming device that can be connected to any type of TV with an HDMI port and allows you to stream live and favorite videos on your TV via Wi-Fi.

Q: Why won’t my Fire TV remote connect to my TV?

If you can’t pair your Fire TV Remote, please try to reconnect and wait a few seconds. While nothing has happened, now follow these steps as follows:

Step 1. Make sure the positive and negative terminals of the battery are placed correctly. Replace the batteries in your remote and alkaline batteries are recommended.

Step 2. Move your remote closer to your Fire TV device within 10 feet (3 m).

Step 3. Restart your Fire TV by unplugging the device or going to Settings. Then press and hold the Home button on your remote for 10 seconds.

Step 4. Remove one of the controllers paired before attempting to pair another remote.

Step 5. Use the Fire TV app to pair your remote. Download the Fire TV app on your mobile device from the app store and pair it with your Fire TV.

Step 6. Maybe there is something wrong with your Fire TV remote. You can also try the Remote for Fire TV and Firestick app from your app store to replace your remote.