The Amazon Fire TV Stick, more popularly known as the FireStick, is a pluggable HDMI streaming stick that looks like an extra-large USB flash drive. Its purpose involves allowing non-smart HDTVs or even CRT TVs (using an HDMI adapter) to enjoy online streaming of Prime Video and Netflix.
With that in mind, let’s talk about how to connect firestick to tv. It’s pretty simple since the Fire TV Stick was made to get connected to an HDMI-type LCD, LED, or OLED flat-panel TV set.
How to Connect FireStick to TV
In order to connect your Amazon Fire TV Stick or FireStick, you simply need to plug it into the HDMI port then plug its USB into the USB port or power plug adapter to power it up. However, that’s just the start of setting the FireStick up.
- Plugging the Stick: Your Fire TV Stick should plug easily unto the TV’s HDMI port, with it jutting out like a USB flash drive but bigger. Afterwards, plug the power adapter into an outlet or the USB port of your TV to power it up.
- Switch to the Port: Go to your HDTV’s settings then switch to the port where you plugged the FireStick to. It should come off as “HDM1” or “HDMI2” depending on the amount of HDMI ports your HDTV has.
- Activate the Remote: Put AAA batteries into your Fire TV remote. You’ll be using it later for the actual setup. If your remote doesn’t pair with your FireStick, press the Home button until “Press Play/Pause to Start” appears on the screen.
- Connect to Wi-Fi: Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your Wi-Fi to the FireStick. This will allow you to download the latest software update and also login to your Amazon account. Contact your ISP if you have issues with your Wi-Fi password.
- Sign In with Your Amazon Account: Sign in with your Amazon account and use your mobile phone or PC to visit the on-screen web address in order to enter the verification code. Once you’re done you should be good to go.
- Setup Equipment or Paraphernalia: Follow the on–screen questions in order to set up your equipment control for soundbars and other devices linked to your HDTV. You can add a default payment to “Your Payments” to download apps and games for the FireStick too.
- Reset Password: If you get a login error or you’ve forgotten your Amazon account password, you can reset the password in order to fix things. You also need to have an Amazon account in the first place to properly use the FireStick.
Things to Watch Out for When Plugging in a FireStick
If you’re plugging in your Fire TV Stick on a CRT TV, you need an HDMI to AV or HDMI to Component Video converter to allow you to view digital TV on the analog display. Expect downscaling of quality and compression of HD video to accomplish this.
- In a Nutshell: In a nutshell, you need to connect the stick to your TV’s HDMI port, configure your FireStick’s remote, and link your streaming devices together.
- Adapters and Converters: The Fire TV Stick connects easily to any HDMI port. You’ll need either an adapter or converter to make it work on a non-HDMI port like A/V. Some simple adapters might not work so an outright converter box might be called for.
- Power the Stick On: Don’t forget to plug the Fire TV Stick’s USB cable to a power adapter and electric outlet. Sometimes, simply plugging the USB cable to your TV’s USB port is enough, but other times the power isn’t enough.
- 4K Version of the Fire TV Stick: If your Fire TV Stick is the 4K version, make sure you’re using the HDMI HDCP 2.2 port of your 4KTV specifically in order to view Ultra HD videos in their full glory. The port should be marked HDCP 2.2 or 4K. Shine a light to find this port, even.
- Tight Space? No Problem: If your HDTV flatscreen has tight spacing from behind such that it can’t support a TV stick jutting outwards from its HDMI port, you can always invest in an HDMI extender to give yourself more room to work with.
Why Use the FireStick over Roku?
They’re practically the same, but FireStick or the Fire TV Stick is made by Amazon and thusly favors the Prime Video provider more. Of course, it also caters to other streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, but its priority remains making it easier for FireStick users to access
- Streaming Stick Saves Space: Instead of buying another DVD-player-sized or game-console-sized device to watch Prime Video or Netflix with, you can save space by using Amazon’s “tiny” streaming stick that’s only a little bigger than a thumb drive or flash drive for USB.
- Affordable Stick: You can turn your non-smart TV with no Internet connection to a streaming device like your smartphone and PC by getting the $25 FireStick. It also works with smart TVs in case you wish for a more streamlined Prime Video experience.
- Requires an Amazon Prime Account: The fact that the streaming stick requires an Amazon Prime account is a good thing if you’re a regular Amazon customer that regularly shops for deals with the ecommerce giant.
- On-Demand TV: You can get to watch hit shows such as The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Fire TV. Forget cable channels and their timeslots. You can make up your own schedule by streaming on-demand TV instead.
- Voice Commands with Alexa: On top of all the programs you could watch, you can also control your Fire TV Stick with voice commands from Alexa. Just add the Fire TV Stick as an Alexa Skill and you’re good to go in controlling the stick in every which way by talking!
How to Fix When FireStick Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi?
If you’re having trouble connecting your Amazon Fire Stick to your home Wi-Fi, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem. First, check that you’ve correctly entered your Wi-Fi password and that the connection is established. If not, reboot your router and try again. If that doesn’t work, restart your Fire Stick by unplugging it from the power source for 30 seconds and then plugging it back in.
If you’re still having trouble, disconnect and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network. You may also need to connect to a hidden Wi-Fi network. To do this, go to Settings > Network > Wireless and choose the option for “Connecting to hidden Networks.” If interference is still an issue, try clearing any obstructions between your router and Fire Stick or resetting your Fire Stick to factory settings.
Why won’t my firestick connect to my TV?
If you’re having trouble connecting your Amazon fireTV stick to your TV, there are a few things you can try. The first step is to reboot both devices. This will sometimes clear up any connection issues.
If that doesn’t work, try unplugging the fireTV stick and plugging it back in. Make sure that the stick is fully charged before proceeding.
If the previous steps don’t work, hold down the home button on the fireTV remote for 5-10 seconds. This will often fix any pairing issues between the remote and the stick.
By following these simple steps, you should be able to connect your fireTV stick to your TV with no problem.
How to connect amazon fire stick to wifi without remote?
In order to connect an Amazon Fire Stick to WiFi without remote, there are a few different methods that can be employed. Perhaps the simplest way is to make use of the Fire TV App on another mobile phone or device. This app can be used to control the Fire Stick in much the same way as the physical remote, including controlling WiFi settings.
Another option is to use an HDMI-CEC remote, which stands for Consumer Electronics Control. Many newer TV models come with this technology built-in, and it allows for additional control over compatible devices, such as the Fire Stick.
Lastly, it is also possible to connect the Fire Stick to the Internet using Echo or Echo Dot. These devices can be used to control many aspects of the smart home, including WiFi settings. By employing one of these three methods, it is possible to connect an Amazon Fire Stick to WiFi without the remote.
The Nitty-Gritty
If you’re having a hard time plugging the FireStick in with the rest of your HDTV paraphernalia like the DVD or Blu-Ray player, you can use an extender cable or an HDMI switcher to allow for additional HDMI ports. You can even setup Fire TV Stick with Alexa if you’d like.
References:
- “Set Up Your Fire TV Stick“, Amazon.com Customer Support, Retrieved April 19, 2022
- Clifford Colby, “Got a new Amazon Fire TV stick? Here’s how to set it up for the first time“, CNET.com, December 29, 2019
