Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

How to update the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube

Amazon's many versions of the Fire TV Stick, along with the bigger and better Amazon Fire TV Cube, offer one of the most immersive and Alexa-friendly interfaces for connecting with all of your favorite streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, while also acting as a command center for your smart home devices (with the Voice Remote Pro. But like any do-it-all device that is web-connected, you'll want to make sure your Fire TV hardware is running the latest software.

Related Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Fire TV device

  • Your Fire TV device's remote

  • HDTV or better

  • Stable Wi-Fi connection

This ensures your Fire TV device performs smoothly, from navigation to Alexa commands, and is as hack-proof as possible when connected to your home Wi-Fi.

Fortunately, most Fire TV devices will perform automatic updates, but if you want to manually download the latest software or check to see which version your Fire TV gear is running, we've put together this step-by-step guide to teach you how.

Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED with Fire TV OS on the screen.

How to update your Fire TV Stick or Cube

While your Fire TV device should be configured to download and install software updates automatically, you can also do so manually. Here's how to check for and install an update using the latest version of the Fire TV operating system.

Step 1: On the Home screen, select the Settings icon (a gear) on the far-righthand side of the screen.

Step 2: From the list of available settings, choose My Fire TV, then select About.

Step 3: Choose either Install update (if there's an update to be installed) or Check for updates to see if there are any available for download.

Step 4: Once the update begins, do not unplug your Fire TV device. When the update is finished, your Fire TV device will automatically restart.

Amazon Fire TV New 2020 experience find screen
Amazon

Updating a Fire TV device running a legacy OS

Depending on how old your Fire TV device is, the hardware may be running an older version of Fire OS that looks and performs a bit differently, although you'll still be able to download and install software updates.

Step 1: On the home screen, choose Settings, located on the far-righthand side of the screen.

Step 2: From the list of options, select My Fire TV, then choose About.

Step 3: Like the newest version of Fire OS, you'll see an option to either Install update or Check for updates. Select which option is available, and be sure to keep your Fire TV plugged in if it's downloading and installing new software.

How to check what software your Fire TV device is running

Checking what software version your Fire TV hardware is running is just as easy as downloading and installing the updates. Here's how.

Step 1: Go to Settings, then choose My Fire TV.

Step 2: Select About.

Step 3: You'll then see a sub-menu on the right side of the page that displays what Fire OS software version your Fire TV device is running (under Software version), as well as how much storage space is available, and a few other fields.

Not sure what Amazon Fire TV device to purchase? We compared the Fire TV Stick with the Fire TV Cube to help you decide.

Looking for advice on how to update your Roku streaming device? We've got a guide for that too.

Editors' Recommendations

This 77-inch LG OLED TV just got a massive $1,000 price cut
The LG B2 OLED 4K TV in a living room.

We don't see TV deals this good every day, especially on high quality home theater setups like this LG OLED TV. Right now the LG B2 OLED TV is $1,000 off, bringing the price down to $2,300. Obviously that's still expensive, but the TV was worth it even at it's original price, so it's a steal now. Read on to see why this TV will be a fantastic centerpiece to your home theater setup.

Why you should buy the 77-inch LG B2 OLED TV
Not all families have space for a 77-inch display in their home -- you better check out our guide on what size TV to buy first -- but for those that do, the LG B2 OLED TV will let you enjoy a cinematic experience at the comfort of your own couch. The TV will let you watch your favorite content in 4K Ultra HD resolution as it's powered by LG's a7 Gen5 AI Processor 4K, which is also used by its Dynamic Tone Mapping feature for more natural colors, deeper contrast, and more lifelike details. There's also a Filmmaker Mode that makes enhancements with Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, so that you can watch movies in the way that their directors intended.

Read more
The 7 best TV deals in the Best Buy 3-day sale — last day!
The LG B2 OLED 4K TV in a living room.

If you're in the market for a new home theater centerpiece, definitely check out Best Buy. They always have some great TV deals both on-site and in-store. They're on the last day of a three day sale right now, so be sure to grab something soon. To help save you some time, we've picked our seven favorite offers currently live on the site. Check them out below, but don't take too long to decide!
Insignia 50-inch F50 Series QLED TV -- $260, was $430

Demonstrating that QLED doesn't have to cost a fortune any more, the Insignia 50-inch F50 Series QLED TV is a delight for anyone who is keeping costs down but still wants good quality. The screen offers heavily saturated and precisely defined colors so you get a vivid image at all times. There's HDR and Dolby Vision support to further help things look better. For your sound needs, DTS Virtual-X Sound provides immersion from the TV speakers while there's HDMI ARC and eARC support if you'd prefer to hook it up to a soundbar or AV receiver. Alexa voice controls and Fire TV rounds off the convenient range of smart TV options. It's easily one of the best QLED TV deals.

Read more
FuboTV is now just … Fubo
FuboTV app icon on Apple TV.

FuboTV — the fourth-largest live TV streaming service in the U.S. — today announced that it's doing what a good many folks have been doing for some time now. It's dropping the "TV" from its name and shifting its consumer-facing products to "Fubo." And because you can't change your name without telling anyone, it's enlisted the help of NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez in an ad campaign to let everyone know.

The new branding will roll out across the company's apps and other products in the coming months.

Read more