How to Connect FireStick to WiFi Without Remote

In this tutorial, I will guide you through how to connect your FireStick to Wi-Fi without a remote. The methods outlined in this article will work on the Amazon FireStick, FireStick Lite, FireStick Cube, FireStick 4k, and other Fire TV devices.

The Amazon FireStick is a portable, nifty device that has grown in popularity since it was introduced. There are quite a few reasons cord-cutters love the FireStick: It is simple and elegant, is easy to set up, and opens up a world of online streaming. Plus, unlike cable, you can put it in your backpack and carry it around when you travel away from home.

All you need is access to a TV with an HDMI port and Wi-Fi, and you can enjoy streaming on your FireStick, regardless of where you are. Usually, you’ll be on your home network. But if you are connecting your FireStick to a new Wi-Fi network, you’ll probably want to set up the new Wi-Fi using the FireStick remote.

So what happens if you lose your remote or forget it back at home? Mistakes like that happen all the time. However, that does not mean you should miss out on binge-watching new shows or following your favorite sports team.

Without your remote, you can still connect your FireStick to Wi-Fi. Keep reading, and I will show you how.

Read: How to Install and Use Best VPN for FireStick

Connect FireStick to Wi-Fi Without Remote

You can use two methods to connect your FireStick to Wi-Fi when you don’t have a remote handy. Let’s look at them both in detail.

Note: If you have your FireStick remote with you, but it is not working, you may not need this guide. Instead, try following these steps to fix your FireStick remote control.

Use HDMI-CEC to Connect FireStick to Wi-Fi

CEC stands for Consumer Electronics Control. HDMI-CEC is a function of the HDMI standard that allows one remote to operate multiple HDMI-compatible devices. This feature permits devices that are connected to your TV through the HDMI port to communicate back and forth with the TV.

With HDMI-CEC, you can connect a wide range of devices, such as TV receivers, AV receivers, DVD players, Blu-ray players, game consoles, sound systems, Chromecast, and of course, your FireStick and control all of these devices with one remote.

To use HDMI-CEC with your FireStick, you need a universal remote. As the name suggests, universal remotes work across a wide range of devices, including Roku and FireStick.

You can buy a universal remote from a brick-and-mortar store like Walmart or have it delivered to you from Amazon. Alternatively, you can download one from an app store, effectively turning your smartphone into a remote. And if you use a newer model TV, you may not even have to get another remote at all—your TV remote control could work just fine.

But before you can use HDMI-CEC and universal remote control, you must enable the feature on your FireStick. Here’s how you can check to ensure it’s enabled:

1. Go to the Settings button on your FireStick home screen.

2. Navigate to the Display & Sounds option.

3. Scroll down to HDMI CEC Device Control. If the option is OFF, click to turn it ON.

At this point, you are almost set to connect your FireStick to Wi-Fi without its remote. There’s just one step left: enabling HDMI-CEC on your TV itself. You can do this on your TV’s settings panel.

As I mentioned earlier, this feature is not available on every TV. If you have a TV that was made in the last few years, chances are that it does have this feature.

That said, TV manufacturers label the feature with a variety of names for differentiation purposes. For instance, Samsung calls it Anynet+, while LG calls it SIMPLINK.

To make things easier for you, I have compiled a list of common TV brands and the unique names they give the HDMI-CEC function.

Here they are:

• AOC: E-link
• Hitachi: HDMI-CEC
• LG: SimpLink or SIMPLINK
• Mitsubishi: NetCommand for HDMI
• Onkyo: RIHD
• Panasonic: HDAVI Control, EZ-Sync, or VIERA Link
• Philips: EasyLink
• Pioneer: Kuro Link
• Runco International: RuncoLink
• Samsung: Anynet+
• Sharp: Aquos Link
• Sony: BRAVIA Sync
• Toshiba: CE-Link or Regza Link
• Vizio: CEC

It is pretty simple after you enable your TV’s respective HDMI-CEC feature. Not only will you be able to connect your FireStick to a Wi-Fi network, but the remote will also help you to navigate on your device.

Use Fire TV App on Smartphone to Connect FireStick to Wi-Fi

The first method I discussed is an excellent one, but it will only work under certain conditions. If your TV is not compatible with HDMI-CEC, this next method is for you.

You probably know that Amazon provides a convenient Fire TV app that you can install on your smartphone. This app is available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple Store. It comes with lots of features and can stand in as an alternative for your FireStick remote control.

To use your phone as a remote via the Fire TV app, both your phone and the FireStick must be connected to one Wi-Fi network. If your FireStick tries to connect to the wrong network by default, you’ll be in a bit of a pickle: without having your FireStick remote in the first place, you may not be able to switch your FireStick to a different network.

Thankfully, there is a workaround that fixes this problem. It involves two smartphones or tablets, with one operating as a wireless hotspot. That way, you can connect your phone and FireStick to a single network. Then you can go on to connect your FireStick to a different Wi-Fi network without a remote.

Here’s how it goes:

1. On your smartphone, set up a wireless hotspot. Use the same SSID and password that your FireStick is currently connected to (or trying to connect to).
2. Download and install the official Fire TV app on the second smartphone or tablet.
3. Now connect the second smartphone or tablet to the hotspot you created on your smartphone. This ensures that your FireStick and the device with the Fire TV remote app are now on the same network and can see each other.
4. Connect your FireStick to the TV.

Now you can use your second device as the remote control to navigate and stream with your FireStick.

At this point, you can use the second device to switch over to the Wi-Fi network you can connect to in your current location. Just head over to Settings and then Network on your FireStick. From there, you can see all available Wi-Fi networks and connect to whichever you choose.

However, once you do this, you will lose the remote control’s functionality on the second smart device. But you can now connect to the same network on your main smart device, get the Fire TV app, and continue using that device to operate your Fire TV.

FAQs

Can I buy a new remote for my FireStick device?

Yes, you can. If you misplaced your remote and you prefer to get a new one instead of using a universal remote or the Fire TV app on your smart device, you can buy a new remote directly from Amazon. A new one will come with even more features than you got from the stock remote. After you have received it, you can pair the remote to your device.

Can I connect my FireStick to Wi-Fi without its remote?

Yes. If you are without your remote, you can connect your FireStick to a Wi-Fi connection using a universal HDMI-CEC remote or using the wireless hotspot on another device. I have outlined the steps above.

How can I download the Fire TV remote?

The Fire TV app is officially available for both Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. This means that you can download it from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, depending on your device.

Wrapping Up

Being without your remote, especially when your FireStick is already connected to another network, can be frustrating. But in this article, I have shown you a couple of ways to resolve the issue. After following the steps I have discussed, you can easily connect your FireStick to Wi-Fi without a remote. If you have any thoughts or comments, please let me know below.

Related:

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