The Amazon Fire TV Stick offers a mine of entertainment. From streaming hits on Prime Video, games, movies, and Alexa, you get everything. But did you know that you can significantly upgrade your experience with a few tweaks? There are many Amazon Firestick tips and hacks that let you leverage this device optimally. With them, you can do much more than you ever thought of.
In this post, we will describe the best technique that will help you elevate your TV experience with this streaming device.
Command Alexa to Find Your Preferred Content
The latest models of Firestick are equipped with an Alexa voice remote. It lets you control your TV with voice commands. You can easily find a particular movie that you wish to watch by just asking Alexa to do so.
You can even speak an actor’s or a director’s name and find relevant search results. What’s good is that these results will cover Amazon’s and well as other services.
Upgrade Your Streaming Experience by Sideloading Apps
This is one of the most exciting Amazon Firestick tips and hacks for a delightful viewing experience. On its own, the Firestick uses a limited version of the official Amazon app store for all its services and apps. But if you want to access apps that the Amazon app store does not provide, you can sideload them using the Downloader app.
To sideload apps not available on the App Store of Amazon, input a valid URL in the relevant box on the Downloader app. However, this URL is very confusing and long, making it difficult for you to type it out through the Firestick remote.
Luckily, there’s a smart workaround to it. Instead of the long URL, you can use a five-digit downloader code for the app you wish to sideload through the Downloader app. There is a long list of downloader codes available for most streaming apps, such as Cinema HD, Cyberflix TV, TeaTV, Bee TV, and more. You can find a code to install apps for Live TV, TV shows, movies, and sports. The codes work for any type of Fire TV product, such as Firestick 4K, Firestick 4K Max, Firestick Lite, Fire TV OS Smart TVs, and Fire TV Cube.
Enjoy a Theatre-Like experience at Home
You can mirror the screen of any of your devices, like iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac device on your Firestick and access all the content on your Fire TV. This hack is perfect for when you wish to display some content from these devices on your Firestick.
To mirror your device on Firestick, download the Air Screen application from the Amazon App Store. When the app downloads on your Firestick, launch the app menu. Tap the ‘Help’ option and choose the device whose content you want to mirror.
Improve Your Browsing Experience with Magnifier
Sometimes, while browsing the internet on Firestick, it can be hard to read some words. One of the smart Amazon Firestick tips and hacks to resolve this issue is through the built-in magnifier on your Firestick.
To access it, tap ‘Settings’ on your Firestick and navigate to ‘Accessibility.’ Now, turn on the device’s screen magnifier. You will see a menu with guidelines about using the magnifier. Use it whenever you want to zoom out or zoom in on any content.
Prevent Targeted Adverts
One could argue that targeted advertising violates people’s privacy. However, keep in mind that any information you enter online, including search engine requests, social network posts, and website visits, can be traced. This information might come back to you in the form of a targeted advertisement if it can be tracked.
Many apps on Firestick will give you advertisements based on the information they gather about you. If you don’t like this, you can disable this feature. Just navigate to ‘Settings’ on your Firestick and choose ‘Preferences.’ Now, choose ‘Advertising ID.’ You can turn off the feature here.
Note that turning off adverts will not completely eliminate them from appearing. But they will not be based on the data gathered about you. The apps will no longer collect information about your preferences and interests.
On a similar note, you can turn off pop-up notifications from installed apps. Head to ‘Settings’ followed by ‘Preferences’ and ‘Notification Settings’ to hide notifications.
Use an Ethernet to Eliminate Buffering
Nobody wants their Firestick to start buffering, especially in the midst of a thrilling movie. Apart from buffering, a loss of wireless connectivity also brings the movie-watching experience to a standstill. A great way to eliminate it is to connect your Firestick using an Ethernet.
Go to the ‘Settings’ area of your Firestick. Choose ‘Network’ and you will see the option to set up a wired Ethernet connection. Just use the instructions and start streaming through Ethernet. The problem of buffering will get eliminated for good.
Change the Look of Your Home Screen However You Want
If you want easy navigation, customizing the look of your Firestick’s home screen is what you should do. You can visit your profile and navigate with your voice using Alexa. Find exactly what you are searching in major places like Home, Live, Find, My Stuff, and the like. You can also pin and set up apps in a way that lets you access the most-used ones quickly. Go to an app on the navigation bar and use the menu button to execute actions like moving the app, moving it to the front or hiding it completely.
Customize the Default Slideshow
Fire TV has a default slideshow mode that shows various landscapes. If you use Prime Photos, you can customize it easily. Amazon Prime members have unlimited photo storage. You can transfer the pictures you have and personalize the default slideshow.
Go to ‘Settings’ followed by ‘Display & sounds.’ Select ‘Screensaver’ and then choose any of the photo collections you have in Prime Photos. If you want the pictures in the slideshow to change speedily, you may customize the speed as well.
Final Words
Just a handful of Amazon Firestick tips and hacks can upgrade your experience. Fire TV lineup has some of the most remarkable devices that give you an incredible streaming experience at a cost-effective rate. There is so much to learn about them. Just dig a bit deeper into the device’s interface, and you’ll realize how much more it can offer you!