This year, I planned to set up a new Fire TV in our bedroom, but the decision was not straightforward, leaving me with a dilemma.
I was torn between sticking with my aging Fire TV Stick or upgrading to the Google TV Streamer.
Staying with my Fire TV means richer, wider access to free content, but it has a drawback.
I have an aging device, and I will lose software support sooner rather than later. It has also started to slow down because of recent Fire TV OS updates and system restrictions.
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However, I hate spending another Benjamin or so on new hardware, so I decided to live by the classic adage, “make do and mend.”
Fortunately, I found ways to restore my Fire TV Stick and get the most out of it through a few simple app downloads.
Why your Fire TV stopped working
Turn your phone into a full Fire TV remote
Most major reasons users stop using their Fire TV devices are that they’re outdated or have become clunky to navigate over time.
Many can also relate to having an Alexa Voice Remote that stopped working or became damaged.
Worse yet, some might have lost the remote. Depending on the model, replacing the physical Alexa controller can be costly.
While I have not lost the Alexa Voice Remote for my Fire TV Stick 4K, and I hope I never do, using your phone is a handy alternative to a standalone controller.
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The mobile app is especially useful if you lost the original remote or are dealing with a broken controller on an older Fire TV.
I installed the Fire TV app on both my Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones, which is more convenient whenever I lose track of which of the 17 couch cushions and room corners swallowed the physical remote.
TOOLS
Price: Free
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How to use the Fire TV app
Control and search content on your phone
It is easy to install, completely free on Android and iOS, and supports most hardware starting from the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick up through the Fire TV Stick Lite.
To pair it,…