Recently I have had intermittent issues with my Fire TV remote,
the HDMI CEC controls will work for power and volume, but the buttons won’t
work on the remote itself. Currently, and for the second time since I got the
device, the play button and home button have decided not to work. It’s not the
end of the world, I can use the navigation buttons and centre buttons to do
most things, but it is very annoying. So I set out to find an answer.
The current device I use is the latest Amazon Fire TV 4K HDR that was launched last year and includes a power button plus volume buttons which work using HDMI-CEC to act as a universal controller, allowing me to power up both my Sony TV and amp then control the volume. It is one of the best things about the new device when it works at least.
The first time this happened to me, the solution was a full device reset, this worked perfectly, but it is a nightmare. Most of my passwords are randomly generated. Kodi requires a manual installation. While it doesn’t take ages to do, it all takes at least 30 mins to an hour to do. So what are some quicker user-friendly solutions?
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Last updated on 16th July 2019 2:45 pm
HDMI-CEC works but nothing else – it might not be paired up
Currently, when the CEC commands work but nothing else works
this is because the controller has not paired at all with the device. The easiest
solution I have found is if you have another HDMI-CEC compatible device, such
as your TV remote, you can use the navigation keys to browser to the settings
and pair up the remote again. I have found this issue happens a lot when I
switch the power from a USB socket to the TV, and the Fire TV has to fully load
up when I switch on the TV.
If you don’t have another remote, Amazon has an app on the
play store and iOS that allows you to navigate the device and carry out the
same pairing function.
Another option is to hold the ‘Home’ button on the remote
for at least 10 seconds and this should attempt the pairing process.
How to check if your Fire TV remote is connected to your Fire TV?
To see if your Fire TV remote is connecting to your Fire TV
box or dongle you need to head to the settings menu.
- Settings
> Controllers and Bluetooth Devices. - Amazon
Fire TV Remotes
This will show you what devices are currently paired and
from here you can see if your remote is connecting. In my case when fiddling
with the batteries my remote would appear here for a few minutes then
disappear.
Reset the Fire TV Remote
Unplug your Fire TV Stick. With Fire TV Stick off, press the
menu (three bar) button, back button, and the left key of the navigation ring
all at the same time on your remote for 10 seconds. Release the buttons and
turn on the Fire TV Stick. Then on the pairing screen, pair the remote by
holding the home button for 20-40 seconds.
Once you have done this the remote will not work with the
Fire TV and you will need to pair it up using the mobile app to navigate the
device.
Reboot the Amazon Fire
The classic IT solution, try switching it on and off again.
The simplest way is to pull the USB from the Amazon.
Alternatively, sometimes the remote still works, but certain
functions don’t, in this case, you can try and hold down the Select + Play
buttons together for 5 seconds to Restart the device.
Another option is to use the app to browse to Settings >
System > Restart
Change the batteries
The last easy solution here is to replace the batteries, and this is often a possible solution for any of the issues. The Fire TV remote can be fickle, and it is not unheard of for people to have to regularly change their batteries. Some people claim using brand batteries help with claims that cheaper batteries leak slightly causing a crust of potassium carbonate after sitting for a little while.
In the case of leakage, if you clean up all the connectors and replace the batteries with good quality ones, things should go back to normal.
Hardware Reset
This worked for me the first time I did it, but it is a last resort.
Once the Fire TV Stick is up and running, use the navigation buttons on your remote to navigate to Settings at the top. Select it (use the app if needed).
- Again using the navigation buttons, scroll to the right and select My Fire TV.
- Scroll down and select Reset to Factory Defaults.
- A dialogue box will appear asking you to confirm your decision of resetting the Stick. Select Reset.
- The system will then start the reset process, and that will take around 5-8 minutes. You will then have to set up the Stick.
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Last updated on 16th July 2019 2:45 pm
Post from: Mighty Gadget – Gadget and Technology Blog
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