In this post:
- 3 Ways to Reset Your Fire TV Stick Without a Remote
- Using the Fire TV App
- Using HDMI-CEC to Reset Your Fire-TV Stick From Your TV's Menus
- Using a Laptop to Reset Your Fire-TV Stick
- Using a Keyboard to Reset Your Fire-TV Stick
- 2 Advanced Remoteless Fire TV Stick Reset Techniques
- Setting Up Your Fire TV Stick After a Successful Reset
- Summing It All Up
If you’ve ever lost your Fire TV Stick’s remote, you know how frustrating it can be to navigate your device without it. Luckily, there are a few ways to reset your Fire TV Stick without a remote, and most of them are simple and easy to try.
To reset a Fire TV Stick without a remote, first try using the Fire TV App on your smartphone to access and reset the device from the Settings menu. If that doesn’t work, see if your TV has HDMI-CEC and use the TV’s remote to access the Fire TV Stick settings. Consider more advanced after that.
Resetting your Fire TV Stick without a remote can seem daunting at first. Don’t worry, we’ll cover all the steps you need to take to reset your Fire TV Stick without a remote. Whether you have an Android or iOS device, we’ll show you how to reset your Fire TV Stick to factory defaults in just a few simple steps. So, let’s get started!
3 Ways to Reset Your Fire TV Stick Without a Remote
There are several ways to reset your device without it, but first we’ll go through the most common things you should try first. The methods are explored further in the sections below, and there are more detailed troubleshooting options as well.
Method | How to Execute It |
---|---|
Use The Fire TV App | 1. Download the Fire TV app on your smartphone or tablet. 2. Connect your phone or tablet to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV Stick. 3. Open the app, select your Fire TV Stick, and use the app as a remote control. 4. Navigate to “Settings” and reset your Fire TV Stick to factory defaults. |
Use an HDMI-CEC Connection & Your TV’s Remote | 1. Enable HDMI-CEC on your TV. 2. Connect your Fire TV Stick to an HDMI-CEC-supported HDMI port. 3. Turn on your TV and set it to the HDMI input with your Fire TV Stick. 4. Use your TV remote to navigate the Fire TV Stick menu, select “Settings,” then “Device,” and “Reset to Factory Defaults.” |
Connect the Fire TV Stick to a Laptop | 1. Connect your laptop to your Fire TV Stick using a USB cable. 2. Download and install the Amazon Fire TV app on your laptop. 3. Open the app and select your Fire TV Stick from the list of available devices. 4. Use the app to control your Fire TV Stick and navigate to “Settings,” then “Device,” and “Reset to Factory Defaults.” |
If you’re still having trouble after trying these solutions, don’t worry. Start working your way through our troubleshooting list below and you’re bound to find a fix. And if that reference to HDMI-CEC went way over your head, you’re not alone: check out out guide on that topic to get up to speed. And keep in mind that, after you set it up, you probably do want a remote for your Firestick. Replacements (on Amazon) are cheap, but you should know that you can also control your Firestick with a universal remote or your TV remote pretty easily!
What Causes This? (Random Glitch or Sideloading)
Real quick, let’s talk about why you may need to do this. One common cause is a random glitch that prevents your remote from working properly, or which can cause a glitch requiring a reset, is that something was mixed up during sideloading.
Sideloading is a sort of hackery way of adding apps that aren’t necessarily greenlit for use on the Fire TV Stick. If you’re doing this, you’ll know it, and just know also that it can causes crashes and forced reset situations.
Fortunately, Amazon sells a replacement remote that’s compatible with your Fire TV Stick. You can find it here: Replacement Voice Remote Control (on Amazon).
Using the Fire TV App
If you’ve lost your Fire TV Stick remote or it’s not working, you can still reset your Fire TV Stick using the Fire TV app. Here’s how:
Downloading the Fire TV App
First, you need to download the Fire TV app on your smartphone or tablet. The app is available for free on both the iOS App Store and Google Play. Once you’ve downloaded the app, make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV Stick.
Connecting to Your Fire TV Stick & Trigger A Reset
- Open the Fire TV app on your phone or tablet and select your Fire TV Stick from the list of available devices. If you don’t see your Fire TV Stick listed, make sure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV Stick.
- Once you’re connected, you’ll be able to use the app as a remote control for your Fire TV Stick. From there, you can navigate to the “Settings” menu and reset your Fire TV Stick to factory defaults.
It’s important to note that resetting your Fire TV Stick will erase all of your data and settings, so be sure to back up any important files before proceeding.
In conclusion, the Fire TV app is a useful tool for resetting your Fire TV Stick without a remote. By downloading the app and connecting to your Fire TV Stick, you can easily navigate to the “Settings” menu and reset your device to factory defaults.
Using HDMI-CEC to Reset Your Fire-TV Stick From Your TV’s Menus
If you’ve lost your Fire TV Stick remote or it’s not working, don’t worry. You can still reset your Fire TV Stick using HDMI-CEC, which stands for HDMI Consumer Electronics Control. HDMI-CEC is a feature that allows devices connected via HDMI to communicate with each other, eliminating the need for multiple remotes. Here’s how to reset your Fire TV Stick using HDMI-CEC.
Pro Tip: The HDMI port supporting HDMI-CEC on your TV should be labelled “CEC” near the port.
Tragically, this isn’t shown in our example picture, but usually the letter will be printed in a color, or embossed into the plastic near the port.
Enabling HDMI-CEC on Your TV
To use HDMI-CEC, you need to enable it on your TV. The process may vary depending on your TV make and model, but generally, you can find the HDMI-CEC option in your TV’s settings menu. Here are the steps to enable HDMI-CEC on some popular TV brands:
- Samsung: Go to Settings > General > External Device Manager > Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) > Enable.
- LG: Go to Settings > General > HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color > Enable.
- Sony: Go to Settings > System > BRAVIA Sync Settings > Enable.
Once you’ve enabled HDMI-CEC on your TV, make sure your Fire TV Stick is plugged into an HDMI port that supports HDMI-CEC.
Using Your TV Remote to Control Your Fire TV Stick
Now that HDMI-CEC is enabled, you can use your TV remote to control your Fire TV Stick. Here’s how:
- Turn on your TV and make sure it’s set to the HDMI input that your Fire TV Stick is connected to.
- Press the Home button on your TV remote.
- Navigate to the Fire TV Stick icon using the arrow keys on your TV remote and press OK to select it.
- Use the arrow keys on your TV remote to navigate the Fire TV Stick menu and select Settings.
- Select Device > Reset to Factory Defaults > Reset to reset your Fire TV Stick.
That’s it! Your Fire TV Stick will now reset to its factory default settings. Keep in mind that this process will erase all your data, including your apps and settings, so make sure to back up any important data before resetting your Fire TV Stick.
Using a Laptop to Reset Your Fire-TV Stick
If you’ve lost your Fire TV Stick remote, don’t worry – you can still reset your Fire TV Stick using your laptop. Here’s how:
Connecting Your Laptop to Your Fire TV Stick
To connect your laptop to your Fire TV Stick, you’ll need to use the Fire TV Stick’s original power cable (or equivalent). Plug one end of the cable into the Fire TV Stick and the other end into your laptop’s USB port. Also, users seem to have mixed results with this (see forum for an example discussion). The instructions below should work for you, but may be a little harder to navigate.
Controlling Your Fire TV Stick with Your Laptop
To control your Fire TV Stick with your laptop, you’ll need to download the Amazon Fire TV app. The app is available for both Windows and Mac and can be downloaded from the Amazon website.
Once you’ve downloaded and installed the app, open it up and select your Fire TV Stick from the list of available devices. You should now be able to control your Fire TV Stick using your laptop.
From here, you can navigate to the “Settings” menu on your Fire TV Stick and select “Device” and then “Reset to Factory Defaults” to reset your Fire TV Stick.
Resetting your Fire TV Stick without a remote may seem daunting, but with a laptop and the Amazon Fire TV app, it’s a breeze. Just remember to use the Fire TV Stick’s original power cable to connect to your laptop and download the Amazon Fire TV app to control your Fire TV Stick.
If you need to purchase a new Fire TV Stick remote, you can find one on Amazon for a reasonable price.
Using a Keyboard to Reset Your Fire-TV Stick
If you have lost your Fire TV Stick remote, you can still reset your Fire TV Stick using a keyboard. There are two ways to connect a keyboard to your Fire TV Stick: using a USB keyboard or mouse or using a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse.
Connecting a USB Keyboard or Mouse
Connecting a USB keyboard or mouse to your Fire TV Stick is straightforward.
- Plug the USB device into the USB port on your Fire TV Stick, and it should be recognized automatically.
- Use the keyboard or mouse to navigate through the Fire TV Stick menus.
- Open the Fire TV Stick menu and select “Settings.”
- Choose “My Fire TV” and then select “Reset to Factory Defaults.”
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the reset process.
Using a Bluetooth Keyboard or Mouse
Connecting a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse to your Fire TV Stick requires a few more steps than connecting a USB device.
- Make sure your keyboard or mouse is in pairing mode.
- On your Fire TV Stick, go to “Settings” and select “Controllers & Bluetooth Devices.”
- Select “Other Bluetooth Devices” and then choose “Add Bluetooth Devices.”
- Follow the on-screen prompts to pair your keyboard or mouse with your Fire TV Stick.
- Open the Fire TV Stick menu, select “Settings,” choose “My Fire TV,” and then select “Reset to Factory Defaults.”
- Follow the prompts to complete the reset process.
In conclusion, using a keyboard to reset your Fire TV Stick without a remote is a simple process. Whether you use a USB keyboard or mouse or a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse, you can easily navigate through the Fire TV Stick menus and reset your device to its factory settings.
2 Advanced Remoteless Fire TV Stick Reset Techniques
If you’re here, don’t worry: there’s only a 2 more options, and one of them is bound to work:
Advanced Hotspot Fire TV Stick Reset
If you don’t have a remote, and you can’t use the physical buttons on your Fire TV Stick, you can still reset it over Wi-Fi. But you’ll need to use two phones. First turn off your Wi-Fi router. This will force your Fire TV Stick to search for a network to connect to.
Next, use one iPhone to create a mobile hotspot with the same name and password as your home Wi-Fi network. Then, use the second iPhone to connect to the mobile hotspot. Once connected, open the Amazon app on the second iPhone and select the Fire TV Stick that you want to reset. If you don’t see it, power-cycle the Fire TV Stick and wait for it to connect to the Wi-Fi network it recognizes.
From there, you can reset your Fire TV Stick to factory settings.
Ask Alexa!
One of the most surprising ways to reset your Fire TV Stick without a remote is by using Alexa voice commands. If you have an Alexa-enabled device, you can control your Fire TV Stick with voice commands. Here’s how to do it:
- Make sure your Alexa device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV Stick.
- Say “Alexa, open Fire TV” to your Alexa device.
- Once the Fire TV app is open, say “Alexa, go to Settings.”
- From there, you can navigate to “Device & Software” and then “Reset to Factory Defaults” to reset your Fire TV Stick.
It’s important to note that this method only works if you have previously set up your Fire TV Stick with your Alexa device. If you haven’t, you’ll need to use another method to reset your Fire TV Stick.
Setting Up Your Fire TV Stick After a Successful Reset
Once you have completed the reset process for your Fire TV Stick, you will need to set it up again. This involves reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network, signing in to your Amazon account, and personalizing your settings and preferences.
Reconnecting to Your Wi-Fi Network
- Navigate to the “Settings” menu and select “Network.”
- Select your Wi-Fi network and enter your network password.
- If you have any issues connecting to your network, you may need to reset your router or contact your internet service provider for assistance.
Signing in to Your Amazon Account
- Sign in with your email and password if you previously had your account linked to your Fire TV Stick.
- If you need to create a new account or link an existing account, follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
Personalizing Your Fire TV Stick Settings and Preferences
- Set up parental controls, if desired.
- Adjust display and audio settings.
- Download any apps or games you want to use.
- Explore the various settings and features available to get the most out of your Fire TV Stick experience.
Overall, setting up your Fire TV Stick after a successful reset is a straightforward process that should only take a few minutes. By following these steps, you can ensure that your Fire TV Stick is fully functional and ready to use.
Summing It All Up
In this article, we’ve explored various methods to reset your Fire TV Stick without a remote, ensuring that you can continue enjoying your favorite content with minimal hassle.
If you’re still having issues, it’s time to consider a replacement Fire TV Stick remote (linked toward the top) to sidestep the issue entirely, or maybe it’s an opportunity to upgrade to a Fire TV ( example on Amazon).