Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test: is it really a Fire TV?
- 02Method 1: Use the official Amazon Fire TV app
- 03Which Fire TV remote option should you use?
- 04Method 2: Turn on Alexa as a Fire TV remote
- 05Fix 1: When the Fire TV app won't connect
- 06Using a Hisense TV instead? Here's the right app
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08Is there a free Fire TV remote app?
- 09Why won't the Fire TV app find my device?
- 10Can I use a Fire TV remote app without Wi-Fi?
- 11Does the Fire TV app work on iPhone and Android?
- 12Will the Amazon Fire TV app control a Hisense TV?
- 13Related guides
The best Fire TV remote app is Amazon's own Fire TV app — it's free on iPhone and Android. Install it, connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi as your Fire TV, then type the on-screen code to pair. You get a D-pad, a keyboard, and Alexa voice search in under a minute.
I've set up a shelf of streaming sticks over the years — a Fire TV Stick 4K Max in the lounge and a Fire TV Stick Lite in the spare room. When a remote goes missing down the sofa, the app saves the night. Here's exactly how each option works, with the honest limits so you don't waste ten minutes on the wrong one.
The 30-second test: is it really a Fire TV?
Before you download anything, check what your TV actually runs. The Amazon Fire TV app only controls Fire TV devices — a Fire TV Stick, a Fire TV Cube, or a Fire TV built into an Amazon Omni or Toshiba set. It will not touch a Hisense VIDAA or Roku TV.
Look at the home screen. Rows of apps with an Amazon look and an Alexa button mean Fire TV. A VIDAA logo, or a purple Roku home screen, means you need a different app. That two-second glance saves you the wrong download.
Turned out it's a Hisense, not a Fire TV Stick? The Amazon app can't reach it. HiRemote is built for Hisense TVs, or you can use the free browser remote at hisense-roku-tv-remote without installing anything.
Method 1: Use the official Amazon Fire TV app
This is the app most people mean, and it's free. Amazon makes it, so it does everything the plastic remote does — D-pad, playback keys, keyboard, and Alexa voice.
- Install the Amazon Fire TV app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open it and sign in with the same Amazon account as your Fire TV.
- Pick your device from the list. Your phone and Fire TV must share one Wi-Fi network.
- Type the four-digit code shown on the TV into the app.
- Swipe the trackpad to move, tap to select, and hold the mic button to talk.
When it won't work: a guest or office network that blocks device-to-device traffic hides your Fire TV from the list. Switch both the phone and the stick to your normal home Wi-Fi first. For the current download links, see Amazon's official Fire TV hub.
Which Fire TV remote option should you use?
Each option has a job. This table sums up who each one suits.
| Option | Cost | Voice search | Full keyboard | Works without the physical remote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV app | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa app | Free | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Physical Fire TV remote | Paid to replace | Yes (with mic) | On-screen only | No |
Method 2: Turn on Alexa as a Fire TV remote
Already have the Alexa app? It doubles as a basic Fire TV remote. It's handy when you'd rather not install a second app.
- Open the Alexa app, tap More, then Add Device.
- Choose Amazon Echo, then Fire TV, and follow the link steps.
- Or just say "Alexa, open Netflix on Fire TV" from an Echo speaker.
Honest limit: the Alexa remote is thinner. You get navigation and voice, but not the full trackpad feel. For heavy typing, the dedicated Fire TV app wins.
Fix 1: When the Fire TV app won't connect
The app usually fails for one of three reasons. Work through them fastest-first.
- Put the phone and Fire TV on the same Wi-Fi band. Some routers split 2.4GHz and 5GHz into two names.
- Restart the Fire TV: Settings, then My Fire TV, then Restart.
- Force-close the app and reopen it, then re-enter the pairing code.
Note: a VPN on your phone can block the local connection. Turn it off while you pair, then switch it back on.
Using a Hisense TV instead? Here's the right app
A lot of "fire tv remote app" searches come from Hisense owners. Hisense sells sets on VIDAA, Roku, and Google TV — and only a few older ranges ran Fire TV. If yours isn't a Fire TV, the Amazon app is a dead end.
For a Hisense TV, HiRemote gives you a phone remote with power, volume, a D-pad, and app shortcuts. Point it at your VIDAA or Roku Hisense and it pairs over Wi-Fi in under a minute. No spare batteries, no lost remote to hunt for.
Not sure which app fits your set? Start with the Hisense TV remote app guide, or open the free browser remote at hisense-roku-tv-remote and test it right now. Juggling several brands? Our TV remote app guide covers the trade-offs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free Fire TV remote app?
Yes. The official Amazon Fire TV app is free on both iPhone and Android. Amazon builds it, so it mirrors the plastic remote with a D-pad, playback keys, an on-screen keyboard, and Alexa voice search. You don't need a subscription. Your phone just has to be on the same Wi-Fi as your Fire TV device.
Why won't the Fire TV app find my device?
Almost always it's a network mismatch. Your phone and Fire TV must sit on the same Wi-Fi network, and some routers split 2.4GHz and 5GHz into two names. Guest networks and active VPNs also block the local connection. Put both devices on your normal home band, turn off any VPN, then restart the Fire TV and try again.
Can I use a Fire TV remote app without Wi-Fi?
No. The Fire TV app controls your device over your local Wi-Fi, so both need to be connected to the same network. Unlike an infrared remote, there's no line-of-sight option. If your Wi-Fi is down, the physical Bluetooth remote is your only backup until the network is back.
Does the Fire TV app work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Amazon publishes the Fire TV app on both the App Store and Google Play, and it works the same on each. You sign in with your Amazon account, pick your Fire TV, and enter the pairing code. Older phones may need the current OS version, so update your device if the app refuses to install.
Will the Amazon Fire TV app control a Hisense TV?
Only if that Hisense actually runs Fire TV, which is rare. Most Hisense sets run VIDAA, Roku, or Google TV, and the Amazon app can't reach those. Check your home screen first. For a VIDAA or Roku Hisense, use HiRemote or the free browser remote instead — they're built for those systems.
