How to Update Fire TV Properly in 4 Easy Steps [2024]
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon- Regular updates, whether initiated manually or automatically, are critical for keeping your Amazon Fire TV device running smoothly and ensuring access to the latest features and security enhancements.
- Enabling automatic updates for your Fire TV device provides a hassle-free way to stay up-to-date, as it regularly checks for and installs available updates without requiring manual intervention.
- However, users may encounter issues such as app dysfunction or remote problems following updates, highlighting the importance of staying watchful and troubleshooting any problems promptly.
The Amazon Fire TV turns your regular TV into a smart one, letting you watch all the extensive streaming services. It’s a small device that plugs into your TV’s HDMI slot. Thanks to Amazon’s regular software updates, the Fire TV is known for being easy to use and full of features.
These updates bring new and improved functions and keep your device up-to-date, which is crucial for the best experience. In this guide, we’ll cover everything about updating your Fire TV, including common update problems, why updates are necessary, how to update the Fire TV and its remote, and how to update your apps on Fire TV.
Table of Contents
How do Amazon Fire TV updates work?
Amazon Fire TV is a streaming media device that connects to your television, allowing you to watch videos, play games, and use various apps from the internet. It comes in different forms, including Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube, providing a range of features tailored to user preferences.
Fire TV devices automatically receive updates to the software that runs on the device. These updates enhance the user experience by adding new features, improving existing functionalities, and fixing known bugs.
Amazon rolls out these updates on a gradual basis, meaning not all devices receive the updates at the same time. This release helps ensure the updates do not cause unexpected issues across all devices simultaneously.
The update process itself is straightforward and user-friendly. Fire TV devices are designed to check for software updates when connected to the Internet automatically. The device will automatically download and install an update during off-usage hours to avoid disruption if an update is available.
Users can also manually check for updates through the device settings if they wish to initiate an update immediately.
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↪ Issues with Fire TV updates?
Recent updates to Amazon’s Fire TV devices have led to significant user and developer frustrations, marked by broken apps and disrupted customizations. The basic issue breaks from the latest Fire OS update (version 7.6.6.9), which has turned off local Android Debug Bridge (ADB) connections—a tool crucial for various modifications and enhancements on Fire TV devices.
Here are some common issues users faced after updating the Fire TV:
1. App dysfunction
Post-update, several third-party apps that facilitated bypassing the default Fire OS home screen or provided other customizations no longer function properly. Notable affected apps include TDUK APP Killer and TDUK APP Cache Cleaner, among others used by the Fire TV modding community.
2. Developer challenges
The update has also introduced obstacles for developers, particularly affecting apps that modify the user interface or automate tasks via ADB commands. Amazon’s move to block these capabilities purportedly aims to enhance security but has also reduced developers’ ability to offer innovative features.
3. Restricted customization
By limiting ADB access, Amazon has effectively censored users’ ability to customize their Fire TV experience. This change impacts the functionality of certain apps and restricts users from using alternate home screens or other interface modifications that differ from Amazon’s standard setup.
4. Advertising motives
There is a rumor that these updates partially motivate Amazon’s interest in promoting its ad-supported user interface. Disabling apps that bypass the Fire OS home screen potentially increases user exposure to in-built advertisements, aligning with Amazon’s advertising strategies.
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Why does Fire TV need to be updated?
Just like how you update your phone and computer, your Amazon Fire TV needs updates too. Here’s why they’re important:
- Bug fixing: Updates fix problems that can cause your Fire TV to crash or not work right. This helps everything run smoothly.
- Interface updates: Amazon changes how the Fire TV looks and works periodically, making it more straightforward to find what you need.
- New functionality: Every update might bring new features. For example, you could set up different profiles for everyone who uses the Fire TV or Alexa more seamlessly.
- Security improvements: Without updates, your Fire TV could be at risk from new security threats. Amazon promises to send out security fixes for up to four years from when you first buy the device.
How to update your Fire TV?
Keeping your Fire TV up-to-date is easy because it usually updates on its own when connected to the internet. But if you want to update it immediately, here’s how.
- Start by going to “Settings,” which you can find at the far right of the home screen.
Open the Settings - Next, choose “Device and Software” from the menu.
Go to Device and Software
- From the options here, select “About.”
Choose About - Scroll down and select “Check for System Update” or “Check for Updates.”
Choose Check for Updates
If there’s an update available, you can choose to install it. The update will download, which might take some time, and your Fire Stick will need to restart to finish the installation.
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↪ Update Fire TV automatically
You can enable automatic updates to ensure your Fire TV device and its apps have the latest features and security updates. With this setting turned on, your Fire TV will automatically check for and install available updates whenever it’s connected to the internet.
This hassle-free option keeps your device up-to-date without manual intervention, allowing you to enjoy a seamless streaming experience with the newest functionalities and enhancements. Simply connect your Fire TV to your network, which will handle the rest, ensuring you’re always running the latest software version.
How to update your Fire TV remote?
Just like your Fire TV, the remote control has its own software that gets updates from time to time. Updating the remote’s software differs from updating the Fire TV itself. Here’s how you can check if your remote needs an update:
- Go to “Settings” on the main screen of your Fire TV.
Go to Settings on your TV - Scroll until you find “Controllers & Bluetooth Devices” and select it.
Go to Controllers & Bluetooth Devices - Choose “Amazon Fire TV Remotes” to see if there’s an update option.
Select Amazon Fire TV Remotes - If you don’t find the option to update, your remote already uses the latest software.
See if Updates are available
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How to update apps on Fire TV?
To make sure you’re using the newest versions of your apps on Amazon Fire TV, which come with the latest features and security updates, follow these steps to update them manually if automatic updates aren’t turned on:
- Go to the Home screen and look for “Apps” (you’ll see three squares and a plus sign) at the end of the menu.
Go to Apps section - Move the cursor to the app you wish to update, but don’t click on it.
Move the cursor to the app - Press the button on your Fire TV remote with three horizontal lines.
Press the button - Choose “More Info.”
Select More Info - If there’s an update available, you’ll see an Update option next to the “Open” button. Click on it to start updating.
Check if any update is available
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Final thoughts
Keeping your Fire TV up to date ensures you get the most out of your device, from streaming your favorite shows to playing games. Whether it’s the Fire TV itself, the remote, or the apps you love, staying on top of updates enhances your experience.
We’ve walked through how to check and apply updates to your Fire TV manually, troubleshoot the remote for the latest software, and keep your apps running smoothly. Updates bring new features, fix bugs, and improve security. Follow the simple steps we’ve outlined, and you’ll keep everything running well.
FAQs
No, even if your Fire TV is jailbroken, it can still get updates like normal. But remember that apps you’ve added might mess with updating and cause problems.
Amazon started with the original Fire TV box connecting to your TV. Since then, they’ve added different kinds of Fire TV Sticks, the Fire TV Cube, and even TVs with Fire TV built-in.
Not every Fire TV device can show content in 4K. You need a specific device like the Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, or Fire TV Cube for that. You need a TV that can handle 4K and a streaming service that offers 4K movies and shows.
Fire TV does not currently offer the option to schedule specific times for updates. Updates are automatically applied when your device is connected to the internet and idle, typically during off-hours to minimize disruption.
If an update fails to install, you can try restarting your Fire TV device and reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network to trigger the update process again. If problems persist, resetting your device to factory settings may help, but be aware that this will erase all your personal settings.
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon
