Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Set up the official Amazon Fire TV app (free)
- 03Method 2: Pair HiRemote if you own a Hisense Fire TV Edition set
- 04Method 3: Control a Fire TV Stick with your TV remote (HDMI-CEC)
- 05Fix 1: The app connects but the buttons do nothing
- 06Which Fire TV remote app should you use?
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08Is there a free Amazon Fire TV remote app?
- 09How do I connect my phone to a Fire TV as a remote?
- 10Does the Fire TV app work without the physical remote?
- 11Why won't the Fire TV app find my TV?
- 12Can I use the Amazon Fire TV app on a Hisense TV?
- 13Related guides
The official Amazon Fire TV app is the fastest free remote app for any Fire TV: download it from the App Store, sign in with your Amazon account, and pick your device on the same Wi-Fi. On a Hisense Fire TV Edition set, HiRemote also works and skips the Amazon login.
I run two Fire TVs at home: a Fire TV Stick 4K in the bedroom and a Hisense Fire TV Edition set in the lounge. After a year of lost remotes and flat AAA batteries, I've paired phone apps to both more times than I'd like to admit. This guide is the routine that actually works — free options first, and honest about where each app stops.
The 30-second test
Before you install anything, check what kind of Fire TV you own. It decides which app pairs fastest.
- A Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Cube plugs into an HDMI port. Amazon's app is your route.
- A Fire TV Edition TV has Fire TV built in. In the UK these are mostly Hisense sets.
Press Home on any working remote. A standalone Stick shows the Amazon Fire TV home. A Hisense Fire TV Edition shows the same Amazon rows, with a Hisense logo on the bezel.
Saw a Hisense logo on that Home screen? You've got a Fire TV Edition TV, and HiRemote pairs with it over Wi-Fi in about 30 seconds — no Amazon account needed. Standalone Stick owners, keep reading for Amazon's own app.
Method 1: Set up the official Amazon Fire TV app (free)
Amazon makes its own free Fire TV app for iPhone and Android. It works with every Fire TV device — Sticks, Cubes, and Fire TV Edition sets. It's the closest thing to the physical remote.
Here's the setup:
- Install the Amazon Fire TV app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV.
- Open the app and sign in with the Amazon account on your Fire TV.
- Tap your device name when it appears in the list.
- Enter the four-digit code shown on the TV screen to pair.
Once paired, you get a swipe pad, playback keys, and a keyboard for typing passwords. Tap the microphone to use Alexa voice search from your phone. For Amazon's own walkthrough, see Amazon's official Fire TV help.
When it won't work: the app needs the same Wi-Fi as the TV. Guest networks and work VLANs hide the Fire TV, so pairing fails. Mobile data won't reach it either.
Method 2: Pair HiRemote if you own a Hisense Fire TV Edition set
Here's the honest scope first: HiRemote controls Hisense TVs, including the Fire TV Edition models sold mostly in the UK. It does not control a bare Fire TV Stick or Cube. If your Fire TV is built into a Hisense TV, it's a strong pick.
Why bother when Amazon has its own app? HiRemote skips the Amazon login and mirrors every button on the original Alexa Voice Remote. It's free, adds an Apple Watch remote, and pairs over your local Wi-Fi.
To pair:
- Put your Hisense TV and iPhone on the same home Wi-Fi network.
- Download HiRemote free from the App Store.
- Open the app and let it scan your network for the TV.
- Pick your Hisense set from the list of found devices.
- Confirm the pairing prompt that appears on the TV.
When it won't work: the connection is LAN-only by design, so both devices must share one network. Very old sets that predate network control need the original remote.
Method 3: Control a Fire TV Stick with your TV remote (HDMI-CEC)
Lost the Fire TV remote and don't want an app? Your TV's own remote can drive the Fire TV Stick through HDMI-CEC. It's free and needs no download, but it's limited.
Turn on CEC, then use the TV remote's arrows and OK to navigate the Fire TV:
- Hisense and most brands: Settings → System → HDMI-CEC (or "CEC Control").
- Samsung: Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).
- LG: SimpLink.
- Sony: Bravia Sync.
When it won't work: CEC handles arrows, OK, and play/pause, but there's no Alexa button and no keyboard. For typing passwords or voice search, use one of the apps above.
CEC gets you moving, but typing a Netflix password with four arrow keys is painful. If your set is a Hisense Fire TV Edition, HiRemote adds a full keyboard and an Apple Watch remote for free — handy when the phone's across the room.
Fix 1: The app connects but the buttons do nothing
This is almost always a network mismatch. The app "connects" to Wi-Fi but can't see the Fire TV. Work through these in order:
- Check both devices are on the same network, not guest Wi-Fi.
- Restart the Fire TV: Settings → My Fire TV → Restart (or unplug it for 30 seconds).
- Force-close and reopen the remote app.
- Turn off any VPN on your phone — it can block local-network traffic.
When it won't work: some routers block traffic between devices. If nothing helps, switch off AP (client) isolation in your router settings, then re-pair.
Which Fire TV remote app should you use?
Here's how the three routes compare at a glance.
| Option | Works with | Amazon account? | Voice & keyboard | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV app | Every Fire TV (Stick, Cube, Edition) | Required | Alexa voice + keyboard | Free |
| HiRemote | Hisense Fire TV Edition TVs only | Not needed | Keyboard; mirrors remote keys | Free (Pro $9.99/yr) |
| TV remote via HDMI-CEC | Fire TV Stick/Cube on a CEC TV | Not needed | No voice, no keyboard | Free |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free Amazon Fire TV remote app?
Yes. Amazon's own Fire TV app is free on the App Store and Google Play, and it works with every Fire TV device. You sign in with your Amazon account, join the same Wi-Fi as the TV, and enter a four-digit code to pair. For a Hisense Fire TV Edition set, HiRemote is also free and skips the Amazon login.
How do I connect my phone to a Fire TV as a remote?
Put your phone on the same Wi-Fi as the Fire TV, open the remote app, and pick your device from the list. Amazon's app then shows a four-digit code on the TV — type it in to finish pairing. HiRemote scans for a Hisense set and pairs from an on-screen prompt instead of a code.
Does the Fire TV app work without the physical remote?
Yes. The whole point of the app is to replace a lost or broken remote. You can run a Fire TV Stick from the app alone, as long as your phone and the Stick reach the same Wi-Fi. If the Stick was never online, you'll need the physical remote once to join Wi-Fi first.
Why won't the Fire TV app find my TV?
Almost always because the phone and Fire TV sit on different networks. Guest Wi-Fi, work VLANs, and separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz names all hide the TV. Put both on one network, turn off any VPN, and restart the Fire TV. Router "AP isolation" can also block it — switch it off and re-pair.
Can I use the Amazon Fire TV app on a Hisense TV?
Only if the Hisense TV is a Fire TV Edition model, which runs Amazon's Fire OS. Then the Amazon app pairs like any Fire TV. Most Hisense TVs run VIDAA, Roku, or Google TV instead — for those the Amazon app won't connect, and you'd use HiRemote or the matching platform app.
