Firestick remote flashing or blinking blue: meaning, causes and troubleshooting

A flashing or blinking blue light on the Firestick remote, especially on the newer Alexa Voice Remotes with the blue Alexa button, means Alexa is activated, or the remote is in pairing mode or searching for a connection.

The primary causes for the blinking blue light on the Firestick remote are the low or improperly inserted batteries and a firmware/software glitch.

The troubleshooting tips for flashing blue light on the Firestick remote include replacing the remote batteries, re-pairing the remote, restarting or rebooting, or resetting the Firestick remote.

What does it mean when the Firestick remote is flashing blue?

The blue light flashing on the Firestick remote without pressing anything means the remote is trying to pair with the Fire TV Stick device. Typically, the remote starts flashing blue after changing batteries, a factory reset, a firmware update, and switching to a new Fire TV Stick.

The blue light also blinks while it’s listening for a command on the Alexa voice button when the Alexa button is pressed, and it is totally normal. The blue light on a Firestick remote is either flashing or remains solid, and both of these indicate different things.

It is important to note that if the blue light is constantly blinking and nothing else is working, the remote is faulty and needs replacing.

The table below has a list of Firestick remote blue light indicators with their solutions.

Blue Light on Firestick Remote	Solution
Blue light flashing constantly	Pair your remote – press and hold the “Home” button for 10 seconds.
A permanent solid blue light on the Firestick remote	Replace the batteries and clean the remote.
The solid blue light on the remote and certain buttons are not working	Replace the batteries and clean  the remote.

Why is my Firestick remote blinking blue?

The blue light on your Firestick remote serves as a communication tool, indicating various functional states. Generally, if the Fire TV remote LED is flashing blue light continuously, it means that the remote is attempting to establish a connection with the device.

However, the blinking blue light also indicates that the Alexa voice command system has been triggered and is actively listening to a command. The blue Alexa button at the top of the new Firestick remote gives you full control over the Alexa voice command system, and all it requires is a short button press until you see a solid blue light that lets you know that Alexa is listening.

Sometimes, the same blue light also indicates a low remote battery. Additionally, the blue light is also a sign of connectivity problems, and it also flashes when the remote is actively processing the voice commands.

How to fix a blinking blue light on the Firestick remote?

To fix the blue light flashing on your Firestick remote, press and hold the Alexa button for 5 seconds and then press the back button, which has worked for a lot of Firestick users, as per Amazon support. But if this solution doesn’t work for you, we recommend trying some of the troubleshooting steps that are listed below.

• Replace the remote batteries
• Re-pair the remote
• Restart the Firestick
• Reset the Firestick remote
• Check for Alexa being accidentally triggered

1. Replace the remote batteries: A low battery level in the Firestick remote also leads to the blue light sometimes, and replacing the remote batteries fixes the problem. Simply, open the battery cover on the remote back and wait for 30 seconds. Next, reinsert the new batteries and see if the blue light is gone.
2. Re-pair the remote: If the blue light on your Firestick remote persists after replacing the batteries, re-pairing the remote does the trick. To perform this, press and hold the Home button on the remote for 10 seconds or until the blue light flashes 3 times. You will also see an on-screen confirmation when the remote is paired.
3. Restart the Firestick: Restart your FireStick if the blue light is still flashing on your remote. To do this, press and hold the Play/Pause and Select buttons simultaneously until the device reboots. In case this doesn’t reboot the Fire TV device, go for other restarting methods explained in the article “4 Ways on How To Reboot or Restart Firestick“.
4. Reset the Firestick remote: Resetting the Firestick remote solves the bugs and glitches causing your remote to function abnormally. The simple way to reset your Firestick remote is to Unplug the device and press and hold the Menu and “Left” buttons for 12 seconds. Then, release the buttons and wait for 5 seconds, and perform the below given steps.
   • Remove the remote batteries.
   • Plug in your FireStick and wait for the on-screen message “TV cannot detect your remote“.
   • Then, replace the remote batteries and press the Home button.
5. Check for Alexa being accidentally triggered: The Firestick remote has a microphone button, usually with a blue Alexa icon or mic symbol. When this button is pressed, it activates Alexa voice control, and the remote shows a blinking blue light to indicate it’s listening. If the button is stuck, it is trying to activate Alexa, and therefore, the Fire TV remote is blinking blue. If the button isn’t stuck, then the remote is malfunctioning and needs replacement.

How can I tell if Alexa is listening to my remote?

If the indicator LED light on the remote becomes solid blue, Alexa is listening on your remote. A prompt on the Fire TV screen appears with the voice message “Alexa is listening”.

Why is my remote flashing blue 3 times?

If your Firestick remote flashes blue 3 times without you touching anything, and repeatedly for no reason, it indicates a stuck Alexa button, a glitchy firmware update, or the remote is starting to fail. The below listed troubleshooting steps have helped people solve this issue.

• Check if the Alexa button is stuck: Press and release the Alexa or mic button a few times and look closely to see if it’s stuck down or feels “mushy” or different than the other buttons. If it seems sticky or jammed, use a soft cloth or compressed air to clean around the button.
• Reset the remote: Press and hold the Back + Menu + Left navigation buttons for 10–15 seconds to reset the remote. Once it resets, re-pair it again.
• Check for software updates: Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for Updates and install the available updates.
• Try new batteries: Even if the current batteries are working, weak or low batteries cause weird remote behavior. Swap the old batteries with fresh ones.

If none of this helps and the blue light keeps blinking by itself, the remote is likely faulty (especially if it’s an older model or has had water/dust damage). In such a situation, replace the old remote with a new Firestick remote (official ones work best), or use the Fire TV App on your phone as a temporary remote.

What to do if my Fire TV Stick remote is displaying a permanent blue light?

If the Fire TV Stick remote is not working and is displaying a permanent blue light, use the following troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue.

1. Unplug your Fire TV and wait for 60 seconds.
2. Press and hold the Left, Menu, and Back buttons at the same time and hold them for 12 seconds.
3. Release the buttons. Wait for 5 seconds and remove the batteries from the Fire TV Stick remote.
4. Plug in your Fire TV and wait until you see the screen that says, the remote can’t be detected.
5. Put the batteries back in your remote.
6. Press the Home button.

The LED indicator blinks blue when the remote is paired successfully; if it isn’t, press the Home button for 10 seconds.

What are the other troubleshooting methods to fix the blue light on the Firestick remote?

The other troubleshooting methods to fix the blue light on the Firestick remote are listed below.

1. Update your Firestick Firmware
2. Clear cache and data

1. Update your software: Ensure your Firestick and its remote are updated with the most recent software updates. Sometimes, software glitches also trigger connectivity problems, and updating the device solves the issue in seconds.
2. Clear cache and data: Clearing or purging the cache and data on Firestick improves the device’s performance and resolves any lingering issues. To clear the cache and data on Firestick, select the “Settings” icon from the home screen, tap on “Applications“, and choose the “Clear cache and data” option.

What are the other lights on the Firestick Remote?

The other lights on the Firestick remote are yellow or orange, blue, red, and white, and all of them indicate different issues and functionality, which are listed below.

• Blue lights that blink rapidly three times: This means that your Firestick remote has found a device to pair with from DISCOVERY MODE and is ready to be used.
• A blinking yellow/orange light – A blinking yellow light means that your Firestick remote is currently in DISCOVERY MODE and is trying to pair with a Firestick
• A glowing red light – A glowing red light lets you know that the batteries in your Firestick remote need to be swapped out.