Table of Contents
- Why Should You Stop Living with That Ugly Black Screen?
- The Simple Truth About Custom Backgrounds
- Getting Your Photos Ready (The Easy Way)
- Photo formats that work
- Size matters for quality
- Screen shape stuff
- Two Ways to Upload Your Photos
- Method 1: Use Your Phone
- Method 2: Use Your Computer
- Setting Up Your Fire TV Screensaver
- Step-by-step setup
- Making It Work Just Right
- Timing settings
- Display options
- Smart Ways to Organize Your Photos
- Why This Tiny Change Makes a Huge Difference
Why Should You Stop Living with That Ugly Black Screen?
Your TV sits there like a dark hole in your wall when you’re not watching it. That empty black screen does nothing for your room. But here’s the thing – you can change that today.
Your Fire TV Stick can turn that boring screen into something amazing. Think of it as a giant picture frame that shows your best photos and art all day long.
The Simple Truth About Custom Backgrounds
When you set up custom backgrounds, magic happens. Your TV becomes alive even when it’s off.
Here’s what you get:
- A room that feels warmer and more personal
- Photos of your family cycling through all day
- Art that matches your style and mood
- A conversation starter for guests
Most people never do this. They live with that dead black screen forever. Don’t be like most people.
Getting Your Photos Ready (The Easy Way)
Your photos need to look good on a big screen. This part is simple.
Photo formats that work
- JPEG files (most common)
- PNG files (also great)
Size matters for quality
- Use photos that are at least 1080p
- Phone photos work perfectly
- Landscape photos look best
Screen shape stuff
Your TV is shaped like a rectangle (16:9 ratio). Your phone photos might be different shapes. You have two choices:
- Keep your photo as-is (you’ll see black bars on the sides)
- Crop your photo to fit the screen perfectly
Neither choice is wrong. Pick what looks better to you.
Two Ways to Upload Your Photos
Method 1: Use Your Phone
Download the Amazon Photos app. Sign in with your Amazon account. The app will ask to see your photos – say yes.
Look for “Albums” in the app. You’ll see a folder called “Fire TV Screensaver” already there. This is where your photos go.
What you can do in the app:
- Add new photos
- Remove photos you don’t like
- Crop photos to fit your screen
- Make new folders for different types of photos
Method 2: Use Your Computer
Go to photos.amazon.com on your computer. Sign in with your Amazon account.
This way works better when you have lots of photos to upload. You can also use fancy photo editing software before uploading.
The website does the same things as the phone app. Upload photos, make folders, organize everything.
Setting Up Your Fire TV Screensaver
Once your photos are uploaded, grab your Fire TV remote.
Step-by-step setup
- Go to Settings on your Fire TV
- Pick “Display & Sounds“
- Choose “Screensaver“
- Select “Current Screensaver“
- Pick the photo folder you want to use
That’s it. Your custom photos will start showing up.
Making It Work Just Right
Your Fire TV gives you control over how your screensaver acts.
Timing settings
- Set when the screensaver starts (I use 5 minutes)
- Choose how fast photos change
Display options
- Pan & Zoom (photos move slowly like in movies)
- Dissolve (photos fade into each other)
- Show or hide the time
Pro tip: Turn off the time display when showing art. It looks cleaner.
Smart Ways to Organize Your Photos
Create different folders for different moods:
- Family photos for everyday viewing
- Holiday decorations for seasonal changes
- Art collections for a gallery feel
- Travel memories for special occasions
Switch between folders whenever you want a change. It’s like redecorating without moving furniture.
Why This Tiny Change Makes a Huge Difference
This simple setup transforms your living space. Instead of a dead screen, you get:
- Constant visual interest in your room
- A way to enjoy your best photos every day
- Something beautiful that guests always notice
- A personal touch that reflects who you are
The best part? It takes maybe 10 minutes to set up. Then it runs by itself forever.
Most people never bother with this feature. Their TVs stay black and boring. But you’re smarter than that.
Your TV should work for you even when you’re not watching it. Make it beautiful. Make it personal. Make it yours.
Quick reminder: You need Amazon Prime for unlimited photo storage. But even without Prime, you get 5GB of space – enough for hundreds of photos.
Stop living with that ugly black screen. Your room deserves better, and so do you.