Before asking a question like ‘how to connect Firestick to Wi-Fi without remote?’, let’s find out what a Firestick is. It’s a tiny device, shaped like a USB flash drive, used to stream movies/videos from Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube on your TV. You can also use the device to install apps, play games or even listen to music on the TV.
The magic doesn’t stop there; built on the Android platform, it can turn an ordinary TV into a smart TV, as long as the TV has an HDMI port. It’s easy to use – just plug it into the TV’s HDMI port and a power source. Then connect it to the Wi-Fi network to get online.
Due to its portability, people love to bring it along during travels anywhere in the world. Therefore they can enjoy their favorite programs on a TV no matter where they go. The Firestick comes with a remote. It’s no surprise you can easily forget to pack the remote when they travel. However, the remote is not indispensable – there are many ways you can replace the remote. This post will guide you with the methods and steps to follow when connecting the Firestick to Wi-Fi in the absence of its remote.
Why Would You Set Up Firestick Without its Remote?
Other than for the reason of losing the remote, users would want to set up Firestick without its remote due to multiple different reasons. Here are some other reasons:
- Using the Firestick remote has extremely limited settings.
- You want to set it up for someone else.
- By reasons of Privacy.
But the main reason is definitely that you could have misplaced the remote, missing during transit, or it gets badly damaged and deemed unusable.
Connect Firestick to Wi-Fi Using Smartphone
You cannot move without a phone, right? A smartphone is a must and it seems you cannot do any work without it. It wakes you up in the morning, updates you with the latest news and happenings, helps you complete your work and personal matter, and so on. It even keeps working and updating when you’re fast asleep deep into at night.
There’s another thing that your smartphone can do for you. That’s right; you can use it to connect Firestick to Wi-Fi when you lose its remote and Jeremy Clifford wrote a blog post about it. You can install Amazon’s Fire TV app on your phone so that you can use it to watch TV. However, you need two phones because the Firestick can only connect to Wi-Fi but not to your phone’s hotspot. Alternatively, you can prepare a phone and a tablet to make up the duo.
Switch on the Wi-Fi hotspot on one phone or a tablet, and the idea is to connect the other phone and Firestick to the same Wi-Fi network. Follow the upcoming steps:
- Use the other phone/tablet to download and install the Amazon Fire TV app.
- Connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot on the other phone.
- Connect the Firestick to the TV.
- Use the Fire TV app to control the Firestick so that both the Firestick and the phone with the Fire TV app connect to the same Wi-Fi network.
- When you already have both connections, you can use the second phone to control the Firestick and use it to replace the missing remote control.
- Now you can enjoy thousands of shows using the virtual remote control with your phone and the Fire TV app.
Connect Firestick to Wi-Fi Using CEC
CEC stands for Consumer Electronics Control. A modern TV comes with an HDMI port where you can slot in a universal remote that can control all CEC-enabled devices in your house, up to 15 devices. So, CEC is a better option for some who are not comfortable using two phones/tablets.
However, since the HDMI-CEC is a relatively new feature, you need to check if your TV can support it. To check if your TV includes the CEC mode, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings
- Look up Display & Sound.
- Find out if you can see the CEC feature. It’s worth mentioning that sometimes some TV brands don’t call it CEC but their own labels (normally something that ends with link, sync, or command/control)
Next, stick the Firestick to the TV and use the CEC device to control the programs. The only downside is that you can no longer use the voice command if you opt for the CEC mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need Wi-Fi to use the Amazon Fire TV Program?
A: Yes, you definitely need an internet connection to access thousands of programs to use Fire TV. You also need a smartphone and Firestick connecting to the same Wi-Fi network in order to control the TV screen.
Q: Do I need to sign in to the Amazon Account to enjoy Fire TV?
A: Yes, you need an Amazon Account. In fact, Firestick can only operate with an Amazon Account. The good thing is, opening an account is totally free. Additionally, you can get a 30-day free trial on Amazon Prime to stream thousands of movies at home or on the move.
Q: If I have an Amazon account, can I link it to multiple Firesticks?
A: Yes, you can link as many Firesticks as you wish. Currently, there is no limit on how many Firesticks you want to connect. However, if you have an outdated Firestick, make sure you deregister it to avoid congestion.
Q: I own an old TV set. It doesn’t have an HDMI port. How can I connect the Firestick?
A: You need to plug in your Firestick to the TV to enjoy Fire TV. You can still connect your Firestick if your TV doesn’t have an HDMI port. But you need to buy an HDMI converter. In addition, you also need to buy an RCA cable so that you can connect it to the TV. RCA is an older cable, and all TV should have some built-in RCA ports.
Conclusion
A Firestick doesn’t come with buttons. But when you buy a Firestick, you can find the remote in the package. If you lose it, how to connect Firestick to Wi-Fi without remote? Unfortunately, with the absence of any buttons on the Firestick, you can only navigate the TV with an alternative remote or a digital remote.
We have gone through a few suggestions on how to figure out the alternative methods to navigate your TV without the Firestick remote. It’s up to you to decide which method provides the best option. If you have two phones, or alternatively a phone and a tablet duo, it’s probably the best option since it can provide an instant solution. But if you’re restricted with only a phone, or feel uncomfortable and confused to use two devices, then go for the other options.
The HDMI-CEC solution requires you to buy another device. Although a universal remote doesn’t cost much, it will take some time before you can get it. If that is the case, and you happen to have an Echo/Echo dot, you would also have an instant solution.
