Amazon Fire TV is now easier to set up thanks to update

Image credit: Amazon

When you're setting up a new streaming device on your TV, there are few things worse than having to type in your Wi-Fi password using a remote control.

Well, if you're thinking of buying the Amazon Fire TV you may not need to do that, thanks to two new updates that add simple Wi-Fi set-up to the streaming box, similar to that offered in Amazon's newer Echo speakers like the Echo Plus

Now, if you save your Wi-Fi password to your Amazon account, the Fire TV will automatically connect as soon as it detects the network, taking the laborious process of typing in your Wi-Fi password out of the set-up equation.

So what's the catch? You'll need to own at least one device that supports simple set-up already, like the Amazon Smart Plug or Amazon Echo Show. This is because you need to have previously logged into your Wi-Fi connection with a compatible Amazon device for the feature to work.

According to AFTV News, you'll also need to purchase your new Fire TV device from Amazon, as those devices come "pre-registered to the buyer’s Amazon account, which then allows it to pull down the customer's stored Wi-Fi password during its initial setup".

Supported Fire TV devices include the Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, and the Fire TV Stick 4K – so, if you're thinking of purchasing one and you already have a compatible Echo device at home, you could be in for a pain-free set-up.

Via Engadget

Olivia Tambini

Olivia was previously TechRadar's Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she's a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She's previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.