Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. Guides

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

By

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.

Recommended 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.
Digital Trends

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

Topics
Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from…
This 55-inch 4K TV is discounted from $350 to $250 for Memorial Day
The Insignia 50-inch F30 Series 4K Smart Fire TV hangs in a living room.

Memorial Day brings with it loads of discounts on all kinds of electronic appliances, which includes 4K TVs. If you've been thinking about upgrading the old screen in your living room but you don't want to spend too much, you'll want to take advantage of Best Buy's $100 discount for the 55-inch Insignia F30 Series 4K TV. It's already relatively affordable at its original price of $350, but now that it's down to an even cheaper $250, stocks are probably flying off the shelves. If you don't want to miss out on this bargain, you're going to have to be quick with your purchase.

Why you should buy the 55-inch Insignia F30 Series 4K TV
If you're not sure that you have enough space for a 55-inch screen, you should consult our guide on how to figure out what size TV you should buy. Once you confirm that you do, you should be excited for the capabilities of the Insignia F30 Series 4K TV. You shouldn't expect that such a budget-friendly TV will challenge the best TVs, but it's going to be more than enough for most families. With 4K Ultra HD resolution, your favorite shows and movies will be displayed with lifelike details, and with HDR, you'll enjoy a wider range of colors and sharper contrast.

Read more
This 58-inch TV is discounted to $258, and it’s flying off the shelves
An angled view of the 50-inch Hisense R6G 4K Roku TV.

If you think it's time to buy a new TV, you should consider the 58-inch Hisense R6 Series 4K TV. It's currently on sale from Walmart with a $40 discount that lowers its price from an already affordable $298 to an even cheaper $258. That's an excellent price for a smart TV of this size, and a lot of shoppers apparently agree with that assessment because more than 1,000 units have been sold over the past 24 hours. We're not sure if there are enough stocks to keep up with the demand, so you better make your purchase quickly because you're already in danger of missing out on this bargain.

Why you should buy the 58-inch Hisense R6 Series 4K TV
You'll be able to watch your favorite shows and movies with sharp details and vivid colors because of the 4K Ultra HD resolution of the 58-inch Hisense R6 Series 4K TV. It supports Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 to create a cinematic experience, as well as DTS Studio Sound for immersive audio. Fast-paced action such as during sports programs and action-packed movies will be lag-free thanks to Motion Rate 120 image processing technology.

Read more
Amazon’s Memorial Day sale has a 75-inch QLED TV under $900
Vizio Quantum Pro 4K QLED Smart TV.

Would you believe that you can currently buy a 75-inch QLED TV for less than $1,000? Amazon made it possible through its QLED TV deals for Memorial Day with its $102 discount for the 75-inch Vizio Quantum Pro 4K QLED TV, which brings its price down to just $898 from $1,000 originally. It's relatively affordable for its size and the technology that it packs, but we're not sure how much time is remaining before the offer gets taken down. It won't be a good idea to wait until the last minute of the holiday to make this purchase as stocks may be gone by then -- you should proceed with your purchase right now.

Why you should buy the 75-inch Vizio Quantum Pro 4K QLED TV
First and foremost, you're going to have to check out our guide on what size TV to buy before you commit to the 75-inch Vizio Quantum Pro 4K QLED TV. Once you make sure that you have enough space for this huge screen, you should start looking forward to watching your favorite content in 4K Ultra HD resolution, for lifelike details and colors. The TV also comes with an anti-reflective film on its display so you can easily see what's happening no matter what time of the day or night.

Read more