The easiest way to control your Firestick TV is of course through the remote that it comes with.
However, we also know that the remote has this weird ability to disappear when we really need it. It’s often somewhere in the house but who has the time to find it?
Well, the great news is that there’s more than one way to control a Firestick. The idea of using digital remotes installed directly on your phone isn’t new though.
There are some apps that are better than others and we are going to discuss one of them later in this post.
Why Do You Need a Firestick Smartphone App?
It’s easy to assume that you will always have your Firestick remote with you until of course, you lose it.
There’s nothing more annoying than sitting down with popcorn to catch up with your favorite shows and movies only to realize that the remote is in fact missing. You can avoid all this by having a Firestick app on your smartphone. What are the odds of losing both your remote and your phone? Well, they look pretty slim to me.
There’s also the issue of convenience. A smartphone app simply means that you can control your Firestick anywhere you are. Even if you don’t have your phone with you, you can always re-download the app and install it on a different mobile device. This gives you that extra bit of convenience.
Don’t also forget that your remote uses batteries that can run out anytime and without any warning. Imagine if this happens in the middle of the night and you don’t have a spare pair. A digital remote solves this for you.
You’ll also notice that over time, your Firestick remote may go out of sync with the streaming device. In essence, some buttons stop working and others send different commands than what they are meant for.
It’s so difficult to bring an out of sync remote back to its old self. More often than not, it may involve opening it up. This can end up messing other aspects of it. The great news is that you’ll never go out of sync with a digital remote. The buttons will remain intact forever.
A digital app is also easy to use. We all know how difficult it can be to search for stuff where you have to type using the on-screen keyboard. The Firestick app gives you the chance to type using your own phone’s keyboard. This makes it so easy to type and find whatever you want very fast.
And finally, who doesn’t want an app for a remote. Don’t get me wrong. The physical remote is a very vital piece of technology but it’s nonetheless old technology. Controlling the Firestick with a digital app feels so cool and modern. For those of you tech-savvy guys out there, it’s by far the most interesting way to control your Firestick
Take Control of Your Firestick
We did note above that there are so many apps that you can use to control your Firestick.
However, we will give you a better one – the official Firestick TV app that simply mirrors the device’s interface into your smartphone.
To get this app, go to the Google Play Store if you’re using an Android phone or Apple’s app store in case you’re using an iOS device.
Search for the “Firestick TV App” while you’re there. You will actually see a lot of apps available. Scroll down a bit and click on the official app. Download it and install it on your device.
How to Use the App
Once the official Fire TV app has been downloaded and installed on your device, it’s time to open it. On the screen that appears, you will see a list of all your Firestick devices.
However, if you only have one Firestick TV in the house, there will be only one single device there. Please also note that for this to work, your mobile phone and your streaming device must be connected to the same network.
To pair your device with your phone, simply click on it. A four-digit code will appear on your TV’s screen while four boxes will appear on your phone at the same time.
Key in the four-digit code into the phone and hit enter. Your Firestick TV will now be connected to your phone.
Open the app’s interface, click the Fire TV device that you just connected to and there you go. You’ll now be able to control your entire streaming device from your mobile phone.
The App’s Interface
The first time you launch this app you will have blocks of arrows pointing up, down, and on both sides.
When you tap on each arrow, you’ll be navigating the direction it’s pointed at on your Firestick. However, there are three dots at the top of the app’s interface. That is where the magic actually happens.
Tapping these dots simply gives you a list of shortcuts of all the apps you’ve installed on your Firestick device.
This then makes it so easy for you to find apps and launch them from the comfort of your couch. You don’t need a tedious remote search or annoying scrolling.
But in case short cuts aren’t your thing, you can use voice commands to find whatever you want on your streaming device. This actually works by tapping a microphone on the app’s interface where you can key in voice commands.
Conclusion
You don’t need a remote to control your Firestick TV and, in most cases, the remote is often the most inconvenient option to do it. The official Fire TV remote is the way to go, especially if you always have to type stuff.
Have you used the app yet? What was your experience? Is there something you’d recommend for other users?
Let us know in the comments below what you think!
