Amazon announced on Thursday that it is rolling out a redesigned Fire TV mobile app. Previously used only as a backup remote, the new app allows users to browse and discover content, manage watchlists on the go, and play titles directly from their phones.
“The updated app turns smartphones into a second screen for exploring what to watch next, making it simple to add a friend’s show recommendation to a watchlist even when away from home,” wrote Amazon in an email to TechCrunch. “This seamless integration between mobile and TV creates a more flexible and convenient viewing experience for Fire TV customers to find what they want to watch, fast.”
The app is being introduced in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the U.K.
Amazon states that the new design aligns with the Fire TV user interface launched last month, which emphasizes content and simplifies navigation. The updated interface features rounded corners, varied gradients, consistent typography, and increased spacing between content, along with additional space for pinned apps.
The top navigation bar is now simplified with clear icons for Movies, TV, Live TV, Sports, and News, while the search button is more accessible, located to the left of the Home tab.
Within these tabs, Fire TV displays the content you’re already watching alongside recommendations from your subscribed services, organized in rows labeled “For You.” The tabs also include free movies, top movies and shows, and other paid content you might enjoy.
The updates to the app and user interface address the growing amount of streaming content, which has made it more difficult to track what’s available on each service, requiring platforms like Fire TV to function more as discovery hubs instead of just places to launch streaming apps.