Fire TV voice control for Prime, Netflix, TV controls and more
If you have an Amazon Echo speaker and an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Cube, you can control your TV through the power of Alexa.
No matter if you have a standard Echo, an Echo Dot or another Echo smart speaker, you’ve got the option to control your viewing, or access your security camera feeds using just your voice – as long as it’s in the same room as the television you’ve got your Fire TV plugged into, or if you have a Fire TV Edition.
Plus, if your smart TV supports HDMI-CEC, you’ll also be able to power it on from standby simply by saying a Fire TV command.
Learn how to do it all with our complete guide to Amazon Fire TV voice control.
Connecting Fire TV to an Echo speaker
It’s super simple to get started. In fact, if you’ve only got one Fire TV device, simply using a compatible command will automatically pair an Echo device to it.
For example, if you’ve got an Echo Dot in your living room and you say, “Alexa, watch Stranger Things,” then the Dot will instantly pair up with the only Fire TV it can find in your Alexa account.
You can link multiple Alexa devices to the same Fire TV, but only one Alexa device at a time can control a Fire TV; handy if you’ve got a pair of Echo speakers on either side of your couch, for example.
If you do have more than one Fire TV, you’ll need to jump into the Alexa app to pair your devices, like so.
A few years ago, Amazon expanded the feature to include more nuanced controls, such as navigating on-screen Fire TV menus and enhanced video playback commands.
Pair Fire TV with Alexa
- Open the Alexa app and tap the Echo & Alexa icon in the top left corner of the homescreen.
- Choose the Fire TV you want to link.
- Tap Linked Alexa Devices
- Then select the Echo speaker you want to control that Fire TV.
You can view and manage your linked devices from the Alexa app at any time. Go back to Settings from the menu, select TV & Video, select your linked Fire TV, and then select Manage devices.
One interesting note: while you can fire up a smart home security camera feed (from a Ring Cam, for example) by saying, “Alexa, show me the [room name]”, if your paired Echo device has a screen – i.e. is an Echo Show or Echo Spot – that device will default as the playback device for that command.
Far-field voice control of Fire TV works on all generations of Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, and all models of Echo speakers can be paired up.
Using Fire TV with an Echo speaker
Once synced up, you’ll have access to an absolute wealth of new Alexa functionality – mostly focused on streaming TV, obviously, but there’s also the security camera access we’ve just mentioned:
- “Alexa, watch [movie title]”
- “Alexa, pause”
- “Alexa, fast forward [x] minutes”
- “Alexa, rewind [x] seconds.”
- “Alexa, next/next Episode.”
- “Alexa, turn it down on Fire TV.”
- “Alexa, show me movies with [actor’s name]”
- “Alexa, open Netflix”
- “Alexa, show me a popular show on [app]”
- “Alexa, go to [channel / network] on [app]”
- “Alexa, scroll left/right”
- “Alexa, go to my Watch List’
Show Me mode
Mimicking what you might see with Echo Show skills, is you can use your TV screen to enhance Alexa’s results.
You can ask things like “Alexa, show me the weather,” “Alexa, show me the nursery camera,” or “Alexa, show me my shopping list” and you’ll see visual responses.
This “show me” experience works with any paired Alexa device except the Echo Show / Spot – because these smart speakers with screens would respond with their own visuals, of course.
How to connect Alexa to your TV: The Fire TV Blaster
Alexa voice control for your Fire TV is great, but, when it comes to doing important things like turning on the TV, changing the volume or switching HDMI ports, unless you have the Fire TV Cube, it’s back to the remote for you.
However, Amazon is looking to free you from these chores and give you complete hands-free control over your television set-up with the Fire TV Blaster, which connects Alexa directly to your TV and/or AV setup.
This $37.99 / £34.99 device sits on your media center and lets you turn on or off your TV, change the volume, or switch inputs, all with your voice.
Once plugged into power the Blaster replaces all your IR remotes, so the soundbar, A/V receiver, TV and cable box – and anything connected to your HDMI ports – become Alexa compatible.
You can ask your favorite voice assistant commands such as:
- “Alexa, turn off the TV”
- “Alexa, turn up the soundbar volume”
- “Alexa, switch to HDMI 2″
The Blaster requires a compatible Echo device and either a Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K or Fire TV (3rd-gen or later). It will not work on its own.
It’s also worth remembering that, most TV brands, have an Alexa skill that allows you to connect Alexa to your TV for basic functions like turning the power on and off.
