Toshiba Fire TV Stuck On Searching For Remote? (Quick Fix)

If your Toshiba Fire TV stuck on searching for remote, don’t worry, we know exactly why!

The Toshiba Fire TV remote control communicates with the TV’s receiver using a standard IR (infrared) signal.

Hence, in case of a connection failure or transmitter issues, the TV may continuously show the “Searching for Remote”, without being able to detect the remote control.

If the error is persistent and doesn’t go away by itself, try the following:

Now, proceed with the guide for a detailed explanation of the solutions!

Toshiba Fire TV Stuck On Searching for Remote – [FIXED]

Tip: Follow the steps in consecutive order!

1. Reinsert the Remote Control’s Batteries

The first step should be reinserting the remote’s batteries, which is among the most effective solutions for communication issues with the Toshiba Fire TV. 

If you’ve used the same pair of batteries for too long, they could either be dead or you will need to reinsert them and switch their sides to refresh the power.

Follow these instructions to “discharge” the Toshiba Fire TV remote:

1. Locate the battery compartment on the remote’s underside.
2. Pull up the latch to open the cover and expose the batteries.
3. Take both batteries out of the remote control compartment.
4. Hold each button on the remote for ~3 seconds to discharge.
5. Place the batteries back in and secure the compartment cover.

Important: Verify the batteries are placed relative to the positive and negative remote terminals!

Important: Insert Brand Remote Batteries!

Well, degraded batteries can lead to persistent functionality issues with the remote and prevent it from connecting with the TV.

The Fire TV remote compartment requires 2 AAA batteries, so if you have a fresh set of AAA batteries, ensure to replace them now, to eliminate this possibility.

2. Hard Reset the Toshiba Fire TV

If the Toshiba Fire TV stuck searching for your remote after a thorough remote inspection, the fault could be with the TV instead.

So, we recommend the hard reset procedure to drain the residual electricity, restart all services, and force the Fire television system cache to reset.

Here’s how to perform a hard reset on your Toshiba Fire TV:

1. Optional: Press the physical “Power” button on the Toshiba TV.
2. Once the device powers off, disconnect the TV’s power adapter.
3. Wait for 60 seconds while the TV’s power cable is disconnected.
4. Reconnect the A/C power and press the remote’s “Power” button.
5. Check if the TV now responds to inputs from the remote control.

Tip: If the TV suffers from power-related faults, check if the adapter is secured and temporarily remove all third-party equipment from the TV’s setup.

3. Reset the Toshiba Fire TV Remote

A remote factory reset is one of the most effective methods to try if the Fire TV fails to detect the remote or if there’s a fault with the communication.

So, inputting a certain combination of remote buttons actually forces the remote to reset and refresh the connection with the respective TV.

• To reset the Toshiba Fire TV remote, press the “Left,” “Menu” and “Back” buttons simultaneously for 12 seconds. 

Then, release the buttons, wait for 5 seconds and the Toshiba Fire TV remote should be reset.

Note: Reboot the TV to check if the “Searching for Remote” message is still there!

4. Try the “Ethernet Cycle” Method

The Ethernet cycle could be an extremely effective solution for the Toshiba Fire TV stuck on searching for remote problems.

Even if your remote control is fully functional, the error can be a result of failed TV updates or system issues, which cannot be fixed via simple troubleshooting.

The Ethernet cycle involves temporarily plugging the Fire TV into your router and allowing it to download all OS updates over a wired connection.

All you need is a working Ethernet cable and an open space near the router to position the TV.

Follow these instructions to Ethernet cycle the Toshiba Fire TV:

1. Position the TV at a close distance from the network router.
2. Next, connect an Ethernet cable to the TV’s network port.
3. Install the other end of the cable into a yellow router port.
4. Download the Amazon Fire TV app on your mobile device.
5. (Note) Ensure your phone is connected to the Wi-Fi network.
6. Wait for the “Select a Device to Connect” prompt in the app.
7. Next, select your Toshiba Fire TV and follow the instructions.
8. Access the app’s digital remote control after gaining access.
9. Next, use the app to reconnect the Fire TV to a Wi-Fi network.
10. Then, unplug the TV from the router and test the regular remote.

Note: Check if the TV runs the latest OS by going to Settings → My Fire TV → About → Check for System Update.

5. Deregister the Toshiba Fire TV

Temporarily deregistering the Toshiba TV from your Amazon Fire account is another working solution that’s proven to work in case of remote issues. 

However, deregistration is only possible through the TV’s settings and this means that you would have to use the Amazon Fire TV app as a remote control during the procedure.

Follow these steps to deregister the Toshiba Fire TV in easy steps:

1. Open the Amazon Fire TV app on your smartphone.
2. Access the digital remote to operate the Toshiba TV.
3. On your Toshiba TV, navigate to the “Settings” page.
4. After that, navigate to “Account and Profile Settings.”
5. Select “Amazon Account” and choose “Deregister.”
6. Follow the necessary instructions for proper removal.
7. After that, re-assign your Amazon account with the TV.

Note: Your account’s TV-specific settings will be erased after the successful removal.

6. Force Factory Reset Without Remote

Fortunately, most Toshiba Fire TV models come with an in-built “Reset” button on the back or side panel, allowing for a full system refresh.

Holding the button for longer than 10 seconds will uninstall all settings, information, and data files from the TV and take you back to Initial Setup.

Here’s how to force the Toshiba Fire TV to reset:

1. Ensure the TV is plugged into an A/C power supply.
2. Search for a small pinhole on the rear/back TV panel.
3. Once found, insert a pin or a paperclip into the pinhole.
4. Hold the button for approximately 10 seconds to begin.
5. Release the button once the TV’s display goes blank.

Once initiated, the factory reset may take about 1–2 minutes to finish. 

Important: Do not interfere with the TV in any way before the screen becomes lit again!

7. Test with an Alternative Remote

The positive aspect of the “Searching for Remote” message on your Toshiba Fire TV is that any IR-enabled remote can be used as a substitution.

Any remote signal in a 30–40-foot distance will be picked up and recognized as a remote while the message is on the screen.

We recommend testing with an alternative remote and holding the “Power” or “Home” button on the replacement remote for more than 30 seconds to test the Toshiba Fire TV. 

If the remote has been paired successfully, the warning message should disappear immediately.

Note: If nothing works and the remote cannot be paired, perhaps it’s time for a new remote!