The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a performance star in the Amazon Fire TV Stick lineup. Like earlier versions, it's a dongle that hides behind your TV and streams movies and TV shows from Amazon, Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and others in up to 4K HDR.

The options and accessories may vary depending on your Fire TV model, but the 4K Max is a fine choice for first-timers or experienced streamers looking for high-quality picture and sound. Here's how to set up and use the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Alexa Voice Remote.

What's in the Box?

firetv Max in the box

The Amazon Fire TV Stick typically ships with:

  • The Amazon Fire TV Stick.
  • Alexa Voice Remote Control.
  • Micro USB cable and power adapter.
  • 2 AAA AmazonBasics batteries for the remote control.
  • HDMI Extender cable.
  • Quick Start Guide.

The HDMI extender cable is a nice touch. The Fire TV Stick's dongle is wider than the standard HDMI connector port and can block other ports. With the extender cable, there shouldn't be any obstruction.

How to Set Up Your Amazon Fire TV Stick

Before you start set up, you'll need an Amazon account and to know your login credentials. The Fire TV Stick is best used with Amazon Prime. An Amazon Prime subscription includes many benefits, like complete catalogs for movies, TV shows, and music.

1. Connect Your Fire TV Stick

Connect your Fire TV Stick to your TV and the power adapter, then navigate to the appropriate HDMI port with your TV's remote.

2. Pair Your Remote

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max comes with the new Fire TV Remote Control.

firetv remote battery insert

  1. Put batteries into the Alexa Remote. Unlike most remotes, both the batteries face the same direction.
  2. Hold the remote within 15 feet of the Fire TV Stick.
  3. Press and hold the Home button on the remote for 10 seconds until the Fire TV Stick finds it.
  4. Once the remote is paired, you will see this screen:
fire tv press to start

Press the Play/Pause button on the remote to continue.

If you don't want to use the Fire TV remote, you can control your Fire TV Stick with the Alexa smartphone app or sync your Alexa device.

3. Choose Your Language

fire tv remote labels

Navigate up or down to highlight your preferred language using the navigation wheel. Click the Select center button to choose it.

4. Connect to Your Network

Setting up Amazon Fire TV Stick: How to connect to Wi-Fi network

Go left or right using the navigation wheel to highlight your preferred Wi-iFi network in gray. Click Select to choose it.

Setting up Amazon Fire TV Stick: how to type Wi-Fi password

You will see an on-screen virtual keyboard, which you will use to enter the password. Once you finish typing, press Play/Pause to connect.

5. Register Your Fire TV Stick

Remember when we asked you to keep an Amazon account ready? Now is when you use it.

Select Register - I already have an Amazon account. Type in the registered email for your Amazon account, and press Play/Pause. Then type in the password and press Play/Pause.

There is one final confirmation screen showing your account name. If it's right, press Select to continue.

6. Save Wi-Fi Passwords to Amazon

Setting up Amazon Fire TV Stick: save wi-fi passwords to Amazon?

A pop-up screen may ask if you want to save the Wi-Fi password entered on the Fire TV Stick to your Amazon cloud. Keeping the password will let any new Amazon device automatically connect to that Wi-Fi network when you set it up.

We recommend choosing No in this. It's not good security practice to store your Wi-Fi password online.

7. Parental Controls or Password Protection (Optional)

firetv parental controls

If you want to restrict what your children (or others) can watch, select Enable Parental Controls. Otherwise, choose No Parental Controls and move on to step 8.

When parental controls are turned on, a PIN password is required every time a user wants to play a video rated Teen or above or purchase an item.

The Fire TV Stick will ask you to set a PIN. You can use the navigation wheel for the digits 1, 2, 3, and 4, in clockwise formation from the top. Press the three-line Options button on the Alexa Remote, and they turn into 6, 7, 8, and 9. The Select button, similarly, is 0 or 5. Set your PIN and confirm it.

Setting up Amazon Fire TV Stick: how to enable parental controls and set up PIN for kids

Press OK in the follow-up screen that states Parental Controls Enabled.

8. Set Up the Amazon Fire TV Stick to Control TV Volume

The Amazon Fire TV Stick remote can control the volume on your TV or audio system. Be sure to turn up the volume on your TV or audio system using its remote and click Next. Note that if your TV is set up to control an external AV receiver or soundbar, the setup will work to control it the same way your TV remote works.

Screen displayed during music play

Toggle the volume up and down.

Screen for toggling the volume

9. Choose Your Streaming Services

You can install Fire TV apps and games. While you can download most streaming apps later, you can choose from popular apps to appear at the top of your home screen for easy access. When you use the apps, you will need to sign in.

Click on the apps you want or scroll right to choose sports, kids, and other app categories

Screen for chosing Fire TV apps

The second screen confirms which apps you have chosen. Icons beneath each app indicate if you need to download it if there are in-app purchases and if parental guidance is advised.

Home screen displayed for apps

The Fire TV Stick is now ready to use and will display the Home screen.

How to Use the Amazon Fire TV Stick

Now that your Fire TV Stick is up and running, it's time to enjoy all its entertainment.

How to Navigate the Fire TV Stick Menu

Amazon fire TV stick 4k max Home Screen featuring Amazonia.

Below the banner of promoted shows, your profile icon appears next to Find, Home, Live, and My Stuff submenu icons and the most popular apps you chose in setup. You can return to the home screen by pressing the home button on the remote or selecting the Home icon.

The home screen has many rows of highlighted titles in various categories starting with shows you've Recently Watched on any app, followed by Sponsored titles, Recently Used Apps, and shows suggested as Next Up For You. This is followed by Live TV On Now, popular shows in the apps you subscribe to.

Choose the Profile icon to switch between user profiles of who is watching.

The Find icon allows searches by title, genre, or actor. Tiles take you to categories with suggested shows or to refine your search. Note that the best way to search is to press the Alexa button and use voice search.

amazon fire stick 4k max Find menu display shows search bar and categories

The Live menu displays the Live TV Guide and recent shows you've watched, featured live TV apps and live TV channels, and sports, news, and other highlights.

amazon fire tv stick 4K Max Live TV menu with channel guide a suggest TV shows.

The final icon is My Stuff. This includes the titles you've added to your watch list along with any movies or TV shows you have rented or purchased.

How to Navigate a Movie or TV Show's Menu on the Fire TV Stick

Fire TV movie detail screen

Once you've clicked on a movie or TV show, you will see its details. Here you will find the IMDb rating, the movie's length, release date, MPAA rating, a short synopsis, a list of the actors, the director, and available audio and subtitles languages.

Under that, you'll find a few options to choose from. In the Amazon Prime Video app, you'll find:

  • Watch Party: Click on this to invite friends who have the Amazon Prime Video app.
  • Watch Now with Prime: This will change to Resume and Watch From Beginning if you previously started watching the title.
  • Watch Trailer.
  • Add to Watch list: This adds the title to a list of shows that will appear at the top of the main home screen.
  • Seasons and Episodes (For TV Shows only).
How to Use Amazon Fire TV Stick: Understanding a TV show's page and navigating episodes

For TV shows, if you press Select on Watch Now, it will start with the first episode of the first season. If you have already started the show, it will resume at the episode you last watched.

You can select a specific episode by going to Seasons and Episodes, where you can browse through episodes and read a short synopsis. Individual episodes can be added to the watch list.

How to Use Amazon Fire TV Stick: Related Items

Press Down on any movie or TV show's page to find a list of related titles. Here you will see what other customers also watched and other titles featuring the same director or actors.

Enjoy Your New Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a great and inexpensive way to bring streaming to your television.

Hopefully, these instructions will help you get up and running to enjoy everything the Fire TV Stick has to offer.