How To Use a Fire Stick on a Monitor? Even Without Built-In Speakers

Your TV is on the fritz. You’re looking to order a new one, but in the meantime will you be left Netflix-less? 

You could watch Netflix and other streaming platforms in your monitor’s browser, but you enjoy using your Fire Stick’s remote and browsing its apps.

Suddenly it hits you: why don’t you use your Fire Stick on your monitor? 

Can Fire Sticks work on a monitor? How can you listen to your favorite shows if your monitor doesn’t have built-in speakers?

Keep reading to find out!  

Can You Use a Fire Stick on a Monitor?

Yes, you can use a Fire Stick on a monitor. 

Fire Sticks can be used on any device with an HDMI port, including a TV, projector, and yes, even a monitor. 

The setup process is the same as using it on a TV. This means that you can plug your Fire Stick into your monitor’s HDMI port, connect it to power, and use your monitor like a small TV. 

Your remote will still work as normal since Fire Stick remotes work with the devices’ Bluetooth and don’t need an infrared receiver. 

Additionally, you can use a Fire Stick on certain laptops. To learn more about which laptops are Fire Stick-compatible, check out our article Can You Use a Fire Stick on a Laptop?

For VGA or DVI Monitors

You can use HDMI adapters to connect your Fire Stick to VGA or DVI monitors. 

Is your monitor not HDMI compatible? No problem! 

There are adapters you can use (shown below) with VGA or DVI ports to allow them to receive an HDMI cable’s input, like a Fire Stick’s video feed. 

If your monitor has a VGA port, you will need an HDMI to VGA adapter, like the Amazon Basics Gold-Plated HDMI (Female) to VGA (Male) Adapter .

Note: This adapter features a built-in 3.5mm audio output port. 

VGA Adapter

If your monitor has a DVI port, consider investing in a BENFEI HDMI (Female) to DVI (Male) Adapter .

DVI Adapter

When looking for adapters, ensure the HDMI side is labeled female and your monitor port’s side is labeled male. 

While some adapters will bidirectional, others will not. So, if it’s not bidirectional, ensure the HDMI side is the input and the VGA or DVI side is the output. 

To use these adapters, plug the VGA or DVI end into your monitor’s VGA or DVI port. 

VGA and DVI ports both have pin holes and screws. Line up the connector’s pins with the port’s pin holes before pressing them firmly inside of it. 

Then, twist the screws to secure it in place. 

Next, plug your Fire Stick into the adapter’s HDMI port. You will also need to connect the Fire Stick to power. 

Some monitor’s USB ports are powered, so you may be able to plug your Fire Stick’s USB cable into your monitor’s USB. However, you must ensure it delivers enough power since Fire Sticks need 5V 1Amp to be powered properly. 

You may use a fireCable Wireless Adapter  if your TV’s USB port can not natively supply enough power. 

Alternatively, you can connect your Fire Stick’s power cable to a wall outlet. 

How To Have Sound if Your Monitor Doesn’t Have Built-In Speakers? 

You can play your Fire Stick’s sound using Bluetooth or an HDMI audio extractor. 

If your monitor doesn’t have built-in speakers, you may notice your Fire Stick’s audio is not playing from your external speakers plugging into the PC. 

So, you will need to connect external speakers or headphones via Bluetooth or an HDMI audio extractor. 

Although connecting Bluetooth speakers or headphones will be easier, connecting wired sound devices with an audio extractor will be clearer. 

Let’s learn how to do both! 

Use a Bluetooth Speaker 

Let’s learn how to wirelessly connect Bluetooth headphones to your Fire Stick connected to a monitor. 

Materials Needed: 

• Fire Stick (Any Version) or Fire Cube 
• Bluetooth Headphones or Speakers

Step 1: Set up your Fire Stick on your monitor. Ensure it’s powered and use an adapter if needed. 

Step 2: Use your remote and go to Settings.  

Step 3: Open Controllers and Bluetooth Devices. 

Step 4: Click on Other Bluetooth Devices, then Add Bluetooth Devices. 

Step 5: Turn on your Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Activate pairing mode by pressing the device’s Bluetooth button. Other devices will switch on pairing mode as soon as they are turned on. 

Step 6: Wait for your Fire Stick to discover your Bluetooth speakers or headphones, then select them when you see their name on-screen. 

Step 7: Play something on your Fire Stick to ensure the Bluetooth speakers or headphones are working correctly, and you’re good to go! 

See the video below demonstrating how to connect Bluetooth audio devices to your Fire Stick. 

Note: Although the tutorial shows how to do this when your Fire Stick is plugged into a TV, this process will still work if your Fire Stick is plugged into a monitor. 

Use an HDMI Audio Extractor

If you don’t have any Bluetooth headphones or speakers, you can use wired ones instead. 

However, you will need to connect them to your monitor with an HDMI audio extractor, like the Amazon Basics HDMI Audio Extractor .

Materials Needed: 

• Fire Stick 
• HDMI Audio Extractor 
• Speakers or Headphones
• Compatible Audio Cable (3.5mm/Optical/SPDIF/Toslink)

Step 1: Plug an HDMI cable into the HDMI audio extractor’s HDMI OUT port and your monitor’s HDMI port. 

Step 2: Plug your Fire Stick into the HDMI audio extractor’s HDMI IN port. 

Step 3: Connect the HDMI audio extractor to power using a USB power adapter. 

Step 4:  Connect your Fire Stick to power. You may use a dual-port USB adapter, like the Amazon Basics USB Wall Charger  for both the Fire Stick and HDMI audio extractor. 

Step 5: Plug your wired audio device into the HDMI audio extractor’s 3.5mm port or optical audio port, depending on which cable your speakers or headphones use. 

Step 6: Check that the sound is working correctly by playing something on your Fire Stick. 

Wrapping Things Up

Plugging your Fire Stick into your monitor is as easy as it is convenient, especially if you don’t have a TV. 

Don’t worry if your monitor doesn’t have an HDMI port, you can use a VGA or DVI convertor instead! 

Your remote will work the same and you can even connect Bluetooth headphones to it like you normally would. 

However, if you would like to plug wired headphones or speakers into your Fire Stick, you will need to use an HDMI audio extractor. 

What’s your experience using a Fire Stick on a monitor? Have you ever tried to connect wired headphones or speakers to your Fire Stick with an HDMI audio extractor before? 

Let us know in the comments below!