You might have read the best Amazon Fire TV tips and tricks on numerous websites before. A lot of these tips and tricks are repetitive. In addition to this, most users already know these things beforehand. Only, a few people would find information on such websites new and worth reading.
In today’s article, we will not focus on things that people already know. Instead, what we will do is guide you to tips and tricks known by very few people.
We have come up with a list of 5 little known or hidden tips and tricks for the Amazon Fire TV for you. They include:
1.Using Voice Control to Search for Content
During the early days, the Fire TV’s mic would only allow users to use voice search for Amazon content alone. It was incredibly frustrating for users as they had to type all the letters themselves for non-Amazon content. This problem is now resolved to a certain extent. Users can now use the voice search feature for browsing content on Netflix and iPlayer as well.
You can use the voice feature in numerous ways. One of the ways is to use the Alexa Voice Remote. Secondly, you can use the Fire TV Remote App. Users can search for content using movie title, cast, genre, and various other ways.
2. Third-Party Controllers
The official Amazon Fire TV Game Controller is expensive and not worth the hefty price tag. Moreover, there is no other use for it. Therefore, why waste your time on buying a piece of equipment which is lacking critical features and not up-to-mark? Especially when you can use third-party controllers.
That is right! You can use other controllers as a game controller on the Fire TV Kodi Box. The PlayStation 4 Dual Shock works exceptionally well. Also, you can use Xbox 360 controllers as well. Therefore, there is no need to buy the official Amazon Game Controller. Please keep in mind that Xbox One controllers cannot be used on the Fire TV, without hacking. However, hacking will void the warranty!
3. Upgrading the Storage
We all know that the 8 GB storage of the Fire TV is not enough! Honestly, there is too much content and apps we need, and 8 GB cannot support it all. There are two ways to upgrade the storage capacity of your Fire TV. The first way is to insert a Micro SD card into the Fire TV box. It will function as if part of the internal storage. You can directly install apps on it then.
The second way is to attach USBs or other external storage devices. You can store your favourite content on these devices. Amazon needs to realize that 8 GB is not enough. Therefore, it must upgrade the storage on the yet to be launched Fire TVs. Otherwise, user discontent will increase, something which the company needs to avoid.
4. Using your Smartphone as a Fire TV Remote
Thank God and the tech industry for our smartphones. Ever since they have been launched, smartphones have made our lives. Now add the official Fire TV app, and you will love your phone even more. The official Fire TV app is free to use on Android and iOS devices. One of the most prominent features of the app is that you can use your phone to act as a remote for the Fire TV. Therefore, the next time you misplace the remote, do not worry about missing your show or match, just use the smartphone!
5. Side loading Apps
Today, all of us use numerous apps for various purposes. The default apps that come with our smartphones or in this case TVs do not meet our needs. We need more, and for this, we need to find a way to install apps. Luckily for us, Amazon realizes that the default apps on the Fire TV are not enough for consumers.
Hence, it allows users to install apps manually. To do this, go to:
- Settings
- System
- Developer Options
After this you need to enable the ADB Debugging and Apps from the Unknown Sources. Lastly, you must download the Apps2Fire application on your smartphone (the app is available for Android devices only). The app allows you to install APK files (Android apps) on the Fire TV from the comfort of your phone. Is it not a splendid feature?
Please be patient when installing large APK files. It may take longer. Therefore, keep the phone screen on while installing larger APKs. Otherwise, you might have to start over.
Final Thoughts
This sums up today’s article. We are sure that only a handful of users knew about these hidden tips and tricks before reading them here. Let us know what you think about the information you learned here — looking forward to your feedback and suggestions. Thank You!
