The Amazon Firestick is an excellent device for streaming content from almost anywhere straight to your TV. Whether it’s streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime or casting things to your TV from another device, the Fire TV Stick is ready for almost anything. Today we’re looking at the Firestick setup process. 

Key Takeaways:

• Amazon makes it easy to set up your Fire TV Stick; it should take just a few minutes.
• We include step-by-step instructions on how to set up the Amazon Fire TV Stick, plus how to set it up with the Alexa voice remote and without a remote at all.
• If you’re having trouble setting up the Fire TV Stick, we have troubleshooting guides at the end of this article.

For the most part, Amazon has done a good job of simplifying the setup process and you should be able to get through it if you follow the on-screen instructions. There are a few nuances and tips that are good to know, though, especially if things aren’t working properly. 

We will also look at some options when it comes to the controls and basic troubleshooting steps after our step-by-step setup breakdown, so be sure to check those out if you’re having trouble.

If you haven’t bought your Firestick yet, we’ve looked at the differences between the various models of Amazon Fire TV Stick in our Firestick comparison article and the reasons to get one in our Firestick overview article. 

Step by Step: Amazon Fire Stick Setup

1. Plug in the Power and HDMI to the Firestick and Your TV

   First you’ll need to connect the Firestick to a power adapter with a USB to micro USB cable and plug the Firestick into an HDMI port on your television. You can plug the Firestick directly into the back of the TV or you can use the included extender if there’s no room for the Firestick to fit behind your TV. It’s also highly recommended that you use the included power adapter and cable.

   

2. Connect Your Remote and Start the Firestick Setup Process

   The Firestick will take a minute to boot up once you plug it into a power source, after which it will search for your remote. The remote usually connects automatically to the Firestick, but if this doesn’t happen, hold the “home” button on your remote until it pairs with the Firestick. Once your remote is detected, you’ll be prompted to hit the “play/pause” button to begin the setup process.

   

3. Choose Your Language

   The first thing you’ll be asked during the Fire Stick setup is to choose your language.

   

4. Connect the Firestick to Your WiFi

   Next, you’ll be asked to choose which WiFi network you want to connect to and for the network password. Once connected to the internet, the device will automatically install any necessary updates and may shut off and restart a few times over the course of several minutes.

   

5. Sign in to Your Amazon Account

   Once connected to WiFi, you’ll be asked for your Amazon account information, or to create an account if you don’t already have one. You can either sign in by entering the email and password for the account, or by entering the code generated by the Fire TV Stick into your Amazon account on another device. After you sign in, you’ll be asked if you want to save your WiFi information to your Amazon account for future use on other devices.

   

6. Make Sure the Remote Is Working Properly

   The next step of the setup process is to make sure your remote is working properly and will vary slightly depending on the model of TV and Firestick you have — many televisions can be controlled through your Firestick remote. If your TV supports this, the Firestick will play a few repeating musical notes and ask you to turn the volume up and down to make sure things are working properly.

   

7. Sign in to Your Favorite Services

   The last step of the setup process is to sign in to any streaming services or other accounts you want to use on your Firestick. You’ll also be asked whether you want to set up parental controls on your device.

   

How to Set up Fire TV Stick With Alexa Voice Remote

All the models of Fire TV Stick currently sold include an Alexa voice remote. This allows you to use Alexa to search for specific movies, shows or anything else by name or ask less direct questions such as “Alexa, show me movies with Paul Rudd.” 

Your Fire TV Stick should automatically sync to the Fire TV remote that was included in the box when you first boot it up, but if not, you can hold the “home” button on the remote for about 10 seconds and they should pair. Using this remote is the default way to set up any Fire TV device. 

Because of the way that Amazon’s language processing works, the Alexa features will not be available until the Fire TV device is connected to the internet. This means you cannot use the speech recognition to fill out the first few pieces of information that you’re asked for, such as the WiFi network name and password. However, once you’re connected, the voice command function of the remote should start working. 

Amazon Fire Stick Setup Without Remote

Using the Fire TV app on your phone will allow you to control your Amazon Fire TV from a mobile device. However, just like with the voice control, this feature is not available until both devices are connected to the same WiFi network. Once both your phone and the Fire TV have an internet connection, you’ll be able to connect your phone to the Fire TV device. 

This cannot be done before the Fire TV is connected to the internet, so it means that you’ll need to have a remote for at least the first few steps of the setup process. Any Amazon Fire TV remote can be synced to any Fire TV device by holding the power button for around 10 seconds or, if the device is already set up, by heading into the settings and telling it to search for a remote to connect to. 

If your device has been factory reset or has never been set up and you don’t have the remote, you may have to purchase a new remote, since the initial setup process cannot be completed using the Fire TV app or other means. 

Amazon Fire Stick Not Working? Try These Tips

If your Firestick is not working — whether the remote is not connecting, or the device isn’t waking up or connecting to the internet properly — Amazon has a generalized series of troubleshooting steps that are recommended. 

Restart the Fire TV Stick or Reset the Router

First, you should restart the device, either in the settings menu or by simply unplugging the Fire TV if it’s unresponsive. Amazon also suggests resetting your router in case there’s a problem with your network rather than the Fire TV Stick. 

Use Original Connection Equipment

If these don’t seem to help, make sure you’re using all of the original connection equipment that the device came with. This means using the included HDMI cable, power cable and power adapter. 

Since the Amazon Fire TV Stick connects to a USB cable for power, it’s technically possible to use another power adapter, such as the one you use to charge your phone, to power the Firestick. However, this can lead to potential voltage issues if the power adapter is not outputting the right current consistently, which can cause the Firestick to freeze or crash while playing videos. 

If you’re already using the cables that the device came with, you might try another HDMI cable if you have one, just to rule out the possibility that the cable is causing the problem. 

Factory Reset

If you’ve done all of this and nothing seems to work, then you should try a factory reset on the device. This can be found in the settings under the “my Fire TV” tab. A factory reset wipes everything from the device, so you’ll have to go through the entire setup process again, but this will usually fix any issues. 

Final Thoughts: Setting Up the Amazon Fire TV Stick

Hopefully, this article has been helpful if you’ve encountered any issues with your Fire TV Stick during the setup or regular use. If you’re still having trouble, Amazon has a wide catalogue of its own guides and manuals for each model of Fire TV device that offers more in-depth information. 

Have you used an Amazon Fire TV Stick or another streaming dongle before? Have you had any issues? Does the tried-and-true restart method work for your Fire TV Stick or did the problem require more troubleshooting? Let us know about your experiences in the comments below and, as always, thanks for reading. 

FAQ

• Do I Need an Amazon Account to Access Shows With Fire TV Stick?

  You are required to sign in to an Amazon account when you first set up the Fire TV Stick device. There is no way around this, but it does not have to be a Prime account.

• Can I Have More Than One Firestick Linked to My Amazon Account?

  Yes, there is no limit to the number of Firestick devices that are allowed on an Amazon account. However, some streaming services limit the number of devices that you can stream to at one time.

• Which Amazon Firestick Is the Easiest to Set Up?

  All of the Amazon Firestick devices use very similar operating systems and have very similar setup processes. None of the devices are necessarily easier or harder to set up.