The Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote Pro is easily the best Fire TV remote you can own and you can read all about everything it can do in my review. The one and only issue with the new Pro remote is that the two customizable buttons, which can be assigned to open any app or execute any Alexa command, cannot be assigned to open sideloaded apps.
When configuring the two customizable buttons on the Pro remote, you’re presented with a list of apps to pick from. The list simply does not include any of your sideloaded apps, so you can only assign the buttons to open apps that have been downloaded from the Amazon Appstore.
This is a very unfortunate omission from Amazon, which has been relatively open towards sideloaded apps up until now, since sideloaded apps appear in Amazon’s Fire TV home launcher and app grid. With any luck, this is an oversight that will be corrected in a future software update, but I have my doubts. This could be a deliberate decision to make accessing alternative home launchers more difficult.
For now, if you want to access sideloaded apps through the customizable buttons on the Pro remote, one option is to assign the button to open my “Apps” shortcut app found in the Amazon Appstore. This way, pressing the custom button will immediately display the Fire TV’s default grid of apps, which include your sideloaded apps. Another option is to assign the customizable button to open my “Recents” shortcut app, where you’ll also see sideload apps listed in order of most recently launched, along with other recent apps and content.
Update
There is now a workaround that allows you to launch any sideloaded apps using the customizable buttons on your Fire TV Pro Remote. See this guide for detailed instructions.
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I have also made an app on amazon app store, named App Opener, It could be useful for handling sideloaded apk. Check it out. https://www.amazon.com/Simon-HCM-App-Opener/dp/B08PL5NJCY
Awesome work! Thank you.
Thank You, this works great :)
When I launch your app I just get the page where I select what app to launch
When you open the app, select the app you want. The. When you assign a button choose App Opener.
Simon, your app worked great. Please make an exact second app and name it “App Opener 2” for button 2 on the remote.
This app is perfect. But I also agree with another reply… please please please add a second version of this app to the store so we can map the second button! Thanks for the great work!
Is there a way to program this remote to change the TV input? I know you can do so by holding the Alexa button and asking, but I’d prefer to do so without my voice if possible. I haven’t really found a definitive answer yet. Also, what are the up/down arrows on the right side of the remote for?
Yes, just say “Switch to HDMI 2” (or whatever input you want) into the remote. Then you can assign that voice command to a custom button. Then when you press that button it will always switch to that input without needing to say anything.
Perfect! Thank you!
But doesn’t just simply pressing home bring you back to the grid?
This feature is perfect. Save time.
Couldn’t find it by searching. I might be able to push it to the device i want in 180 days. Smh
The “app opener” app worked perfectly to assigning the shortcut of a sideloaded app to the pro remote control.
Can you clarify what application you mean by “app opener”? Thank you
The one Simon made and mentioned at the start of this thread.
Apologies, I clearly just went right by it. I am searching in the Appstore with no luck. Is it perhaps gone now? Thank you.
Must just be having a bad day. After Oh for two, I got it on the third try. Sorry, and thanks
No worries lol,glad you got it sorted now :)
Of course, unless I’m missing something, you can just use it ‘once’, say for button 1, not for 1 and 2 as you can only select the App Opener once as the choice. I guess 50% is an improvement. Thanks again
This app is perfect. But I also agree with another reply… please please please add a second version of this app to the store so we can map the second button! Thanks for the great work!