The Amazon Fire TV Stick is an excellent way to gain access to various streaming services and make passport portable and portable, too. Making the most of the device requires a bit of work, however. Our guide can help.
The days of renting DVDs are now largely gone. Streaming video services such as Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube TV are now the most convenient way to watch your preferred shows at home. If you don’t own an intelligent TV, or the interface of your smart TV is complicated and slow-moving, devices such as Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Amazon Fire TV Stick can provide these streaming services to almost every modern TV.
What Is the Fire TV Stick?
It’s called the Fire Stick and is a small device–just a bit bigger than a thumb drive that connects to the HDMI port that is located on the rear of an HDTV. Connect it to the internet, start it up, connect it to Wi-Fi, and then on your way to the races. You can stream shows on Netflix and rent streaming films through Amazon Prime Video, and access a myriad of other channels via the dedicated apps.
If you’re familiar with Apple TV or Roku, the Fire Stick is very similar–but Amazon makes it with very strict integrations with Amazon services such as Prime Video. The remote also has Alexa integrated, which allows users to push one button and request the assistant to show their preferred show, pause or restart playback, or find films featuring certain actors. It’s also possible to do this with Alexa using your Amazon Echo if you’re too lazy to pull the remote from another side of the sofa. We’ll take it as is.
It’s worth noting that the Fire TV Stick isn’t the only streaming device Amazon has in its lineup, but it’s a favorite due to its affordable price. The basic model Fire TV Stick costs $39 for the basic model, and the one that can support 4K costs $49. If you’ve got a little more cash on the model, you can purchase the price of $119.
Fire TV Cube is a larger unit that is a part of your media console and functions simultaneously as a Fire TV streaming device and an Amazon Echo integrated into one unit. There are also Fire TV’s streaming capabilities in soundbars, TVs as well as other devices, and all of them have the same capabilities. The benefit that comes with this Fire TV Stick is that it is compatible with nearly any setup, and it can be tucked perfectly behind the TV to ensure it is not visible to the naked eye. It.
Contrary to Apple TV as well as Roku and Roku, Fire TV is not like Roku or Apple TV. Fire TV lineup has also received attention for its capacity to install applications other than the ones sanctioned by Amazon. The underside of its Fire TV runs a custom version of Android which is Google’s software found on phones and tablets. A lot of Android apps are compatible with the Fire TV, even if they weren’t designed specifically for use on the TV and didn’t appear on Amazon’s app store.
When you install unapproved apps, you can play old-fashioned video games, safeguard your privacy using VPN, protect your privacy with VPN or cast videos using your phone, or search for free films to stream (some of which, with full disclosure, may not be legal). This freedom, combined with the device’s affordable cost and low price, makes it a great choice for people seeking to expand the capabilities of their smart TV.
It’s true that the Fire TV Stick isn’t without its drawbacks, but they aren’t insignificant. The interface is focused on the company’s programs and services than, like, say, the Roku, which is why it may be a little more difficult to navigate with the remote. Alexa will help you navigate the program and let you, for instance, directly access an app without having to move around.
Some apps even have Alexa support which means you can say, “Play A Good Place on Netflix,” and it will jump directly to your favorite program. So if you’re looking for a streaming device that doesn’t cost a lot but has a variety of possibilities–the Amazon Fire TV Stick is an excellent option.
How to Set Up Your Fire TV Stick
The Amazon Fire TV Stick allows you to stream almost anything to your TV, and the setup process is simple if a bit tedious. Here’s how you can install your newly-installed Fire TV Stick up and running.
1. Unpack and Plug-In Your Fire TV Stick
Apart from it being the Fire TV Stick itself. It also comes with an Alexa voice remote with an HDMI extension cable as well as a micro USB cable as well as a USB Power adapter.
This HDMI Extension cable doesn’t seem to be required; however, it could be useful in certain settings. In most cases, it is possible to plug in the Fire TV Stick directly into your A/V receiver, TV, or soundbar. When your TV has been mounted in an arrangement that means you do not have enough clearance or your receiver’s HDMI ports are too close for the large-set Fire TV Stick, you could use an extender. Connect your Fire TV Stick to the HDMI extender, then plug the extender into your preferred HDMI port, and you’ll have more flexibility to make sure that everything is positioned correctly.
The next step is to connect an electrical source to power the Fire TV Stick. Connect the micro USB cable to your Fire TV Stick, and plug the other end into the wall with the USB Power adapter. If your TV comes with a USB port that is able to supply sufficient power, you could try connecting the micro USB cable through it. However, should you experience any issues, make use of the power adapter to get optimal results.
It is possible that the Fire TV Stick should immediately begin to boot up once you plug it into your TV to your TV, so turn it on and select the appropriate input so that you can see the Amazon Fire OS interface. For instance, if you connected to the Fire TV Stick to the “HDMI1” port, press the button for Input or Source on the remote on your TV until it changes to HDMI1. Then you’ll be able to see an image of the Fire TV logo appear.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi and Log In to Amazon
If your Fire TV Stick first boots up, it’ll prompt users to press a couple of buttons on your remote to connect it to your stick. Once you’ve completed this, you’ll need to choose your language, locate your Wi-Fi connection in the list, and then enter your password on the screen keyboard.
This Fire TV Stick is designed to function over Wi-Fi; however, if the signal is not strong in the area of your home, Amazon sells a microUSB-to-Ethernet adapter for Fire TV devices that will let you connect to an Ethernet port or router, provided you have one in your vicinity. After connecting it to the internet it will, Fire TV will download software updates if any.
The device will then prompt you to sign in to your Amazon account exactly the same way. If you purchased the device through Amazon by yourself, then the Fire TV Stick may already be connected to your account, so you won’t need to do this. If you purchased it used or got it for the gift of someone else, you’ll need to sign out of the account belonging to the previous owner and then connect your account.
The setup then asks you to join Amazon’s password-saving feature, then turn on parental controls and conduct the audio tests to ensure that your remote controls the volume of your TV. When you’ve completed the setup, the Fire TV Stick prompts you to download some featured applications. Do not worry if you do not get your top services, you can download other services once you’ve completed the setup wizard.
3. Download Some Apps and Get Streaming
Once you’ve finished the initial configuration When you’re done, the Fire TV Stick can bring users to The Fire OS Home screen showing the recommended apps from Amazon and shows. To view more apps, tap on your remote to open the navigation bar that is at the top. Scroll into “Apps.” To download an application, simply select it, then hit the Enter button on your remote, and then hit Enter once more to save it.
Certain apps, such as Netflix, require users to input their username and password on the keyboard on the screen, while others will provide you with an URL to type to your computer, from which you are able to log in with your keyboard and mouse. If you subscribe to cable, Many apps allow “single sign-on,” meaning you’ll only need to log in one time. Once you’ve logged into CNN Go, for example, you’ll be able to switch and stream the shows you want to on the USA without needing to sign in again. Some apps don’t allow single sign-in, however the list of ones that are gaining popularity.
The home screen is loaded with advertisements and featured Prime shows. At any point, you can hold the Home button of your remote and then select “Apps” to see a grid of all downloaded apps. If you select an app and then press the Options button, you are able to move the app around on the grid or remove it completely.
However, most of it is old-fashioned. It’s not necessary to scroll around on your remote if there’s no reason to, as you already have Alexa. Press the button for the microphone on the remote. Speak the command, then release the button to allow Alexa to do the work. Here are a few phrases you could say:
- “Open Netflix”
- “Download HGTV Go”
- “Play Game of Thrones on HBO now.”
- “Show me comedies.”
- “Show me movies with Ryan Reynolds.”
- “Pause”
- “Rewind 10 seconds.”
If you own the Amazon Echo, you can utilize the Alexa app on your smartphone to connect the device to your Fire TV and give voice commands without a remote too.
These are the basic steps to setting up the Fire TV Stick, but there’s more to do than this. You can add more streaming services, alter your privacy settings using your Settings app, set up a VPN to disguise your location, or block your activities, install Kodi or another similar media player to stream local media, and download games to play on your television.
The above are the fundamentals of starting up with the Fire TV Stick, but there’s more you can do about this. You can also install additional Streaming services, alter your privacy settings in Settings, modify your privacy settings from the Settings app, set up a VPN to disguise your location or conceal your location, set up Kodi or another similar media player to stream local files, and download games that can be played to your TV.
