Use Insignia TV Without Remote(Setup/Reset/Factory Reset)

I​f you lose the remote to your Insignia Fire TV, what do you do? Can you still use the TV, or do you need to order a new remote?

You can use your Insignia Fire TV without a remote with an app offered by Amazon called Amazon Fire TV.

If you don’t have the Amazon Fire TV app, which is really convenient and simple to install, you can still control many of the functions on your TV without the remote by using the buttons on the TV, a universal remote, or by connecting a USB keyboard.

I will also walk you through how to use your TV’s most important functions, like connecting it to Wi-Fi and resetting/factory resetting it without using the remote.

Can You Operate Fire TV Without Remote?

The Insignia Fire TV can be easily operated without a remote.

Here are your best options:

• An Amazon Fire TV app that should be downloaded on your phone and connected to the TV through Wi-Fi.
• A wireless keyboard, or any other wireless device that will allow you to switch in between menu options.
• Use the buttons on the TV itself if your Insignia TV model has them, and you are happy with their functionality.
• Get a universal remote to control your TV, you might even have a spare one at home.

Amazon created an app called Amazon Fire TV that can completely replace your misplaced remote, so you never have to worry about finding it again.

I​f you don’t have the Amazon Fire TV app, the next best option is to plug a USB keyboard into one of the TV’s USB ports.

This will act as a remote for the TV, so you can set up and use the TV.

O​f course, you can also use the buttons on the TV to control most of its functions.

Buying a universal remote to use with your Insignia Fire TV will work, though some of the TV’s functions may be unavailable.

How To Set Up And Use Fire TV Without Remote?

As we discussed earlier, there are a few ways you can go about not using the remote with your Insignia TV.

Buttons on the TV

If your TV model has the buttons somewhere on the side or bottom panel, you can use those to navigate through the various TV options.

Of course, the functionality will be limited, so I have a few more suggestions for you.

An Amazon Fire TV app

This method is pretty straightforward.

1. Make sure both your TV and your smartphone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Download the app.
3. The app should discover your TV and you will see it in the list of wireless devices.
4. Connect it to your TV.
5. Now you should be able to use your phone as a remote.

I highly recommend this variant since it is pretty quick, yet effective.

A Wireless Keyboard

I​f you’ve lost the remote for your Fire TV right after taking it out of the package, you’ll need to use a USB keyboard plugged into the TV or the buttons on the TV to set it up.

I​f you’re using a USB keyboard, simply plug it into one of the USB ports on the TV and turn the TV on.

You’ll be able to type letters with the keyboard and use the arrows to navigate through the TV’s setup menu.

A Universal Remote

If you happened to have a spare universal remote lying around, why don’t we use that?

You can connect it via auto-programming, direct code entry, or brand code search.

How To Connect Fire TV To Wi-Fi Without Remote?

If your TV is already connected to a Wi-Fi network, you can skip this part.

This is the most important part, so let’s start with hooking up your TV to Wi-Fi first.

It is arguably the most difficult part of setting up your new TV without a remote.

Because your Fire TV needs to be connected to Wi-Fi before you can use the Amazon Fire TV app as a remote, you’ll need to use a USB keyboard or the buttons on the TV to access the menu and connect the TV to Wi-Fi.

1. T​urn the TV on using the power button on the TV.
2. U​se your keyboard or the buttons on the TV to scroll over to “Settings.”
3. Scroll over to and select “Network” from the menu.
4. Locate the Wi-Fi network you’d like to use to connect your Fire TV, select it, and input the network’s password.
5. After inputting the password, click on “Connect” to connect your Fire TV to the Wi-Fi network.
6. I​f you entered the correct password, the TV will show that it is connected to the Wi-Fi network.

How To Reset/Factory Reset The Fire TV Without Remote?

Resetting your Insignia Fire TV without a remote is very simple. 

Soft Reset

I will give you 2 options here, choose whichever you prefer, you can even perform both of them and see what works better for you.

Here are the steps for option 1:

1. Turn your TV off.
2. Unplug it from the power source.
3. Wait for 1-2 minutes.
4. Plug the TV back into the wall outlet and turn it on using the button on the TV itself.

That’s it, your TV is now reset, and we don’t need a remote for it. 

If you were having some TV-related issues, this method will most certainly fix it.

Alternatively, you can reset your TV through the popup reboot menu, we will talk about it in the next step.

Follow these easy steps for option 2:

1. Unplug your Fire TV.
2. While the TV is unplugged, press and hold the power button.
3. Keep pressing the power button and simultaneously plug the Fire TV back into the outlet.
4. W​hen the TV turns on, release the power button.
5. A reboot menu will pop up on the screen.
6. By default, it will be on “Reboot system now”.
7. You can select that by long pressing the power button until the menu item turns green.
8. Your TV will reset itself after a few minutes.

It was yet again a simple reset, but through the menu.

I always recommend you do it first, since factory reset is a pretty drastic measure.

Factory Reset

If you do want the factory reset option, the steps are below, but you will need to connect some of the devices we talked about before to be able to scroll.

1. Unplug your Fire TV.
2. While the TV is unplugged, press and hold the power button.
3. Keep pressing the power button and simultaneously plug the Fire TV back into the outlet.
4. W​hen the TV turns on, release the power button.
5. A reboot menu will pop up on the screen.
6. Scroll down to “Wipe Data/Factory Reset” by pressing the power button twice.
7. Once “Wipe Data/Factory Reset” is highlighted, press and hold the power button to select it.
8. T​he TV will factory reset and return to the setup menu.

If you want a simple reset, you can choose the “Reboot system now” in the popup menu as mentioned above.

Related Posts:

Why Does Insignia Fire TV Keep Restarting?(+Easy Fixes)

Insignia Fire TV Only Power Button Works(How To Fix It?)

Conclusion

The easiest way to control your Insignia Fire TV without a remote is to download Amazon’s Fire TV app, which acts as a virtual remote for your TV, allowing you to navigate through menus, make selections, and type in text boxes.

Plugging a USB keyboard into the TV or using the buttons on the TV/a universal remote will also let you use most of the TV’s functions.