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Gone are the days of juggling multiple remotes for your gadgets. Enter the universal remote – a game-changer in streamlining your home technology experience.
This guide simplifies how to pair universal remotes with Firestick and other Fire TV gadgets. Discover easy steps to connect your universal remote and explore alternative ways to manage your Firestick without a traditional remote. Perfect for tech newbies eager to enhance their streaming experience.
Can You Use a Universal Remote on a Firestick?
Traditional infrared (IR) universal remotes can’t control Fire TV Stick or other Fire TV devices. That’s because Fire TVs connect with their remotes using Bluetooth, not IR. To manage these devices, ensure your universal remote supports Bluetooth.
If you’re trying to control your Firestick with an IR remote, consider switching to a Bluetooth remote instead. There are many available that offer more features. Unless you really love your current universal remote, Bluetooth is a smoother choice.
What Remotes Can You Use With Firestick?
Most Bluetooth remotes are compatible with Firestick, often coming with Fire TV and streaming stick setup guides.
Explore these remotes, tested and compatible with Fire TV Sticks and Fire TV Cubes:
- Logitech Harmony Smart Control
- SofaBaton F2 remote attachment
- Sideclick remote attachment
- Inteset Remote with IReTV Receiver and Y Cable (need all three)
The price range and functionalities of these remotes vary significantly.
The Harmony Smart Control stands out with its Bluetooth, IR, and Wi-Fi capabilities. It seamlessly connects with over 270,000 gadgets, from Philips Hue bulbs to various smart home devices and nearly all gaming consoles.
The SofaBaton F2 and Sideclick simplify your remote control clutter. Instead of being full-fledged universal remotes, they clip onto your Fire TV remote, adding buttons to manage your other devices. This straightforward approach also means they’re budget-friendly, costing less than $30.
The Inteset remote might seem like any other IR remote, but it stands out by controlling over 100,000 devices, similar to Harmony’s range. What makes it truly unique is the IReTV Receiver and Y Cable, which allow it to connect seamlessly with your Firestick.
How Do You Connect a Universal Remote to a Firestick?
Different Fire TV remotes connect in unique ways. Here, we’ll explore a few examples to show you the ropes. For details on your specific remote, visit the manufacturer’s website or consult the manual.
Harmony smart control (Discontinued)
Setting up the Harmony control is a breeze. Simply grab the app from the Apple app store or the Google Play Store. Next, connect the Harmony Hub to power and let the app’s step-by-step guide do the rest.
Logitech stopped making the remote in 2021, yet they still offer support, and no one has topped it yet.
Firestick universal remote attachments
Attachments like Sideclick and SofaBaton S2 clip onto your Fire TV remote, bypassing the need to link directly with your Firestick, making control seamless and straightforward.
To set up your universal remote, simply follow the steps in the attached manual.
Inteset remote with IReTV receiver
To get started with IR remotes such as the Inteset, first connect an IR receiver to your Fire TV. If you have a Fire TV Cube, simply plug the Inteset IReTV IR Receiver into the Cube’s USB port.
The Firestick comes with just one USB port, used for power. To plug in both the power adapter and an IR receiver, you’ll need a Y Cable. This handy tool splits the USB port, making room for both connections on your Firestick.
After setting up the IR receiver, programming your remote to manage the Fire TV becomes as straightforward as it does with any device, especially using the Inteset remote.
- Press the A, B, C, or D key (whichever one you want to use for the Firestick).
- Press and hold the SET button. You can release it when you see the red LED light on the remote blink twice.
- Enter 02049 on the remote. That is the current code for the Fire TV Stick. If you enter the right code, the LED will quickly blink twice.
Can You Control a Firestick Without a Remote?
Forget needing a physical remote for Fire TV gadgets. With Amazon’s Fire TV apps on both iPhone and Android, your phone transforms into a powerful Firestick remote. This magic happens thanks to Bluetooth’s edge over traditional IR technology.
Enhance your Firestick experience by pairing it with Bluetooth devices like a mouse, keyboard, or gaming controllers from PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S. Plus, with an Echo or any Alexa-enabled device, control your Firestick effortlessly using voice commands.
What’s Next?
Simplify your coffee table clutter by integrating your Firestick with a universal remote. It’s a smart backup plan for those times your Fire TV remote goes missing or breaks.
When your Firestick remote goes missing or stops working, don’t panic. Check out my straightforward guides on how to connect a new Firestick remote and how to reset your Firestick without the remote. Given the remote’s knack for disappearing—especially when moving it between TVs or packing it for trips—these tips could save your day.
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Zachary has spent 14 years in the tech industry focusing on automation, analytics, and cybersecurity. His passion is tech education; he uses his industry expertise and STEM PhD to break down complicated concepts into simple step-by-step guides. When he’s not writing or coding, you can find him binging anything Star Trek or Marvel or reading far too many sci-fi novels.
