Stop juggling remotes. Here’s how to teach your Fire TV remote to control your HDMI switch and simplify your entertainment setup.

You know the feeling. You finally sink into the couch after a long day, ready to switch from streaming a show to playing a game on your PS5. You grab the Fire TV remote, but then… you have to hunt for that other tiny remote for the HDMI switch. It’s a small hassle, but it’s just enough to break the spell of relaxation. I’ve been there, and I got tired of the remote-juggling act. So I looked into a simple question: is there a way to control an HDMI switch with a Firestick remote? The good news is, the answer is often yes, and it might be easier than you think.

Your Fire TV remote is smarter than it looks. It has a hidden talent: it can speak “infrared,” or IR, which is the same language most of your home theater device remotes use. This is how it already controls your TV’s power and volume. Amazon included a feature called “Equipment Control” that lets you teach your Firestick remote to command other devices, including, in many cases, your HDMI switch.

Let’s walk through how to set it up.

Your Firestick’s Secret Weapon: Equipment Control

Before you buy a new universal remote or a fancy smart gadget, you should absolutely try this first. It’s built right into your Fire TV’s software and takes just a few minutes to configure. Think of it as turning your Firestick remote into a basic universal remote for the most common functions.

The goal here is to have the Fire TV learn the specific IR signal that tells your HDMI switch to change inputs. Once it learns this, you can use your voice with Alexa or navigate on-screen menus to get the job done.

How to Control an HDMI Switch with a Firestick (Step-by-Step)

Ready to give it a shot? Grab your Fire TV remote and let’s dive into the settings.

1. Navigate to Settings: From the Fire TV home screen, go to the gear icon to open up Settings.
2. Find Equipment Control: Scroll to and select Equipment Control.
3. Manage Your Devices: Inside this menu, choose Manage Equipment.
4. Add a New Device: Select Add Equipment at the bottom of the list.
5. Choose Your Gear: Here’s the important part. You’ll see a list of device types like TV, Receiver, Soundbar, etc. Look for Switch and select it. If you don’t see Switch as an option, try selecting Receiver, as some setups categorize switches this way.
6. Follow the On-Screen Wizard: Your Fire TV will now guide you through the process. It will ask for the brand of your HDMI switch. If you see yours, great! Select it. If not, don’t worry—we’ll get to that in a second.
7. The Test: The Fire TV will now try to communicate with your switch. It will ask you to do something to confirm it’s working, like pressing a button on your remote to see if the input on the switch changes. It might say something like, “The input needs to be switched. Let’s try it now.” It might take a few tries as it cycles through different IR codes for that brand. Be patient!
8. Success! Once you confirm that it successfully switched the input, you’re all set. You can now usually say things like, “Alexa, switch to HDMI 2,” or navigate through the Fire TV interface to change inputs.

What If My HDMI Switch Isn’t Listed?

This is a common roadblock, especially with the thousands of generic or lesser-known HDMI switch brands out there. If your brand isn’t in Amazon’s database, you still have a few excellent options.

Option 1: Try “Brand Not Listed”

Sometimes the simplest solution works. When the Fire TV asks for your switch’s brand, scroll all the way to the bottom and select “Brand not listed” or “Generic.” It will then cycle through a much wider range of common IR codes. This can take a bit longer, but it has a surprisingly good success rate.

Option 2: Use a Wi-Fi Enabled “Smart” Switch

If the direct control method fails, you can upgrade your switch itself. A smart HDMI switch connects to your Wi-Fi network and can be controlled directly through an Alexa skill. You don’t program your remote; you just enable the skill in the Alexa app and link it to the device. You can find many of these smart HDMI switches on sites like Amazon. With this, you can simply say, “Alexa, turn on the PlayStation,” and it will switch to the correct input for you.

Option 3: Get an IR Blaster Hub

For those who love to tinker, an IR blaster hub like the Broadlink RM4 Mini is a fantastic tool. Here’s how it works:

• You “teach” the Broadlink hub the signals from your HDMI switch’s original remote.
• The hub connects to your Wi-Fi and links to Alexa.
• You can then create Alexa routines to control it with your voice.

This method is nearly foolproof because it can learn the signal from any IR remote, regardless of brand. It’s a bit more setup, but it’s the ultimate solution for unifying all your remote-controlled devices.

One Remote to Rule Them All

Wrestling with multiple remotes feels like a problem from a decade ago. By using your Fire TV’s built-in Equipment Control, you can often control an HDMI switch with a Firestick and finally tuck that extra remote away in a drawer. And if that doesn’t work, it’s good to know that a small hardware upgrade can solve the problem for good. Here’s to a simpler, tidier coffee table!