Amazon is updating Fire TV set-top boxes and Smart TVs worldwide with some clever new features, including a new way to enter passwords, search for new shows, and control playback.
Yes, if you’re tired of typing out login details or the name of your favourite actors or directors on the directional pad on the Fire TV remote —a cumbersome process, although one that’s universal to all telly remotes — the latest FireOS update should save you a headache.
That’s because Amazon will let you control Fire TV from any web browser. Loading up the website from a laptop, tablet, or smartphone will let you type with a keyboard to search for individual shows, actors, or streaming services. You can also type out login details to sign-in quickly.
The team at AFTV News unearthed the new functionality, which lets anyone type-in password, search for specific shows or actors, or navigate around parts of the Fire TV interface with a phone, tablet or laptop web browser
If your Smart TV or streaming set-top box is running the latest version of Amazon’s Fire TV software, whenever the on-screen keyboard appears, Amazon will show a QR code next to it. You can always turn a blind eye to the QR code and continue using the directional arrows on the Fire TV remote to click the on-screen keys one by one to type, but there’s currently no way to hide it system-wide.
Scanning the QR code with the camera on your tablet, phone or laptop will load a webpage in your web browser under the keyboard.amazonfiretvapp.com domain. Each QR code is unique, so you’llimmediately be able to control your Fire TV as soon as the website loads.
There’s no extra verificationstep or need to login with an Amazon account. You can just start typing.
There’s no need to be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Fire TV either. In theory, you could provide support for a struggling family member from anywhere on the planet by asking them to send over the URL for their online Fire TV remote and typing in Wi-Fi passwords, login details, and more for them from your PC, phone, or tablet.
You can also bookmark the URL from the QR code as it won’t change each time you load up the online keyboard.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do everything possible with a physical Fire TV remote using the web browser version. It only has the directional up/down/right/left buttons and a select button on-screen. When you select a text field, you’ll be able to type using your keyboard.
If you use a password manager like NordPass, 1Password, or LastPass, you can auto-fill your login details with a single click.
However, Amazon hasn’t included the Back, Home, and Menu buttons that are essential to navigating the Fire TV homescreen, downloading apps, and finding new shows to binge-watch.
First noticed by the team at Fire TV-dedicated blog aftvnews.com, there’s currently no way to revoke access to anyone with the QR code for your Fire TV or streaming dongle. If you’ve shared the URL with someone once, they’ll be able to continue controlling your device for the foreseeable.
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This is unlikely to enable anything nefarious from hackers, but it seems like an oversight from Amazon that will enable housemates and family members to prank one another.
Amazon also has a digital version of its Fire TV remote control available to download as a smartphone app on iPhone and Android. This mobile app includes all controls found on the physical remote, making it a fully-fledged replacement if you lose the remote that shipped in the box.
If you do misplace your remote, Amazon does sell replacements in its popular online store too.
