How To Connect Alexa To Fire TV

To get the best functionality out of the Amazon Fire TV, users will want to know how to connect Alexa to Fire TV. The Amazon Fire TV is an external plug in for a TV that lets users stream content like movies and shows, as well as play games and listen to music. Users can access Fire TV using the Fire TV Stick or the Amazon Fire TV (box), which both plug directly into a user’s television. The stick has slightly less memory than the box and can support fewer apps. The 3rd generation of Fire TV (box) is set to be released October 25, 2017 for . With this upgraded model, Alexa has even more features to help users on and off the screen.

Alexa and Fire TV

Before we explain how to connect Alexa to Fire TV, users will want to know what Alexa can do for them. The Fire TV comes with a small remote that contains a few buttons and a microphone. Simply press down on the microphone button and Alexa will be ready to fulfill tasks and answer questions. Common commands that Alexa can fulfill include searching for content (“Alexa, search romantic comedies”), opening up an app, (“Alexa, open Hulu”), and controlling the TV (“Alexa, pause”). While Alexa’s help stopped after opening apps on previous generations of the Fire TV, Alexa can now help users navigate Hulu, Netflix, and other services within the apps.

How To Set Up Alexa For Fire TV

Amazon makes setting up Alexa with Fire TV very easy. Simply set up the Fire TV and put batteries in the remote. Alexa is already integrated into the remote and is connected to the Fire TV box. Setting up the Fire TV requires a few extra steps like registering the box to a user’s account and connecting to the Internet. But many of these steps have prompts to help users along the way. When using Alexa, she will speak to users through the TV meaning the volume of her voice can be changed using the TV remote. Sometimes Alexa’s response to a user’s request involves bringing up a screen or displaying information on the screen. When users are finished with the information, they can press home or back on the Fire TV remote to remove the information.

Connect Alexa To Fire TV With An Echo

Users who own an Echo device (Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Look, or Echo Show) will be pleased to know that they don’t need to use the remote in order to control their Fire TV. By linking the devices together, users can simply speak Alexa commands rather than pushing down a button on the remote and speaking. For users that have one Fire TV, Alexa can automatically set up the connection when given a command that includes the words “Fire TV”. If this doesn’t work or the user have more than one Fire TV registered to their account, they will need to go into the Alexa app.  From the menu, select the option Music, Video, and Books. Select Fire TV and then Link Your Alexa Device. There should be on screen prompts that pop up to guide users through the process. Then confirm the connection by selecting Link Devices. Alexa will understand all commands that users usually use when speaking through the remote.

How To Stop Alexa Amazon TV

Some users may want to simply browse through Amazon Fire TV content using only the remote without Alexa. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to completely remove Alexa from the remote. However, given that Alexa will only respond to requests when summoned using the microphone button, users can simply choose not to press the button. Finding content will take a longer time, but is entirely possible using just the buttons on the remote. To deactivate Alexa’s help from an Echo device, users can go into the Alexa app and choose to disconnect the device from the Fire TV.