In February of this year, Amazon introduced a new feature for Firestick and Fire TV devices enabling remote access to the keyboard through a web browser.

The purpose of the tool was to facilitate typing long URLs or inputting usernames and passwords without the need for the Firestick remote, which lacks keyboard functionality.

Users accessed the keyboard remote tool via a QR Code displayed whenever the keyboard was opened on Firestick devices, as shown in the image below.

Upon scanning the QR Code, a webpage would open on the preferred browser for easy input of web addresses or login details. However, Amazon has now removed this feature due to potential security risks associated with it.

Visiting the page that hosted access to the Keyboard remote tool now displays it as “Under Maintenance,” indicating its unavailability for use.

The QR Code that used to appear when launching the keyboard has also been removed, reverting to its original format as seen in the image below.

These changes were implemented after Green Line Analytics, a tech firm, identified security vulnerabilities in the feature, potentially enabling unauthorized access to Firestick devices.

An individual could obtain another Firestick owner’s QR Code or personal device URL and remotely access it, installing unwanted or malicious applications without consent.

This discovery was initially reported by Elias at AFTVNews.com. Amazon responded by promptly disabling the QR feature for Fire TV customers to mitigate the identified risk while they further evaluate the situation.

We appreciate the work of independent researchers to help bring issues to our attention. While we’re still reviewing this research, we immediately disabled the QR feature at issue for Fire TV customers, which fully mitigates the scenario described by the researchers. We look forward to bringing this feature back for customers soon.

The future availability of this feature remains uncertain. In the interim, users can utilize the Fire TV Remote App on mobile devices and tablets, equipped with a built-in keyboard for convenient typing without the need for the Firestick remote.

Share your thoughts on Amazon’s decision to remove the Firestick Keyboard Remote Tool in the comments below!

Stay informed with the latest streaming updates, reviews, and tips by following the TROYPOINT Advisor, providing top cord-cutting advice for optimizing your streaming experience and more.

Don’t miss out – join over 800,000 other subscribers and get the Free TROYPOINT Advisor now!