Keeping the software that runs your electronic gadgets up to date is an unavoidable aspect of modern life. And just as your phone or computer needs to be updated regularly, so too should your Fire TV Stick.
Here’s how to quickly and easily update an Amazon Fire TV Stick, and the reasons why you should.
Why Should You Update Your Fire TV Stick?
Keeping your Fire Stick updated is important for several reasons. Just like software such as Windows or iOS, the operating system on your Fire TV Stick is regularly improved.
Improvements could have been made to how the software works or how content is displayed. Updates could also include less obvious things like removing security weaknesses or boosting voice recognition capabilities.
If the software version of your Fire Stick falls too far behind, you could even find yourself in a situation where it fails to work. The Fire Stick could begin to restart and crash unexpectedly or refuse to boot up entirely.
Ensuring you update regularly allows the device to keep working as it should and helps to avoid security issues and other potential problems.
How to Update a Fire Stick
Every version of the Amazon Fire TV Stick can be updated from within the settings menu. This includes the Fire TV Stick Lite, the Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max, and the standard Fire Stick. It also applies to the Fire TV Cube.
- From the Fire TV home screen, select the Settings icon on the right side of the main app menu.
- Scroll down to and select the My Fire TV section > About.
- In the About menu, scroll down to Check for Updates and click the Select button on the remote.
- If an update is available, click Install Update and wait a few moments for the download and installation to complete.
Major updates to the OS might require the Fire Stick to be restarted, but this will happen automatically if needed.
The latest firmware updates may not be available for first-generation Fire Sticks. If you think it’s time for a hardware upgrade, here’s everything you need to know about the Fire TV Sticks that are currently available.
Updating Your Fire TV Remote
Your Fire TV remote also contains software that may need to be updated periodically. The remote software is updated separately from the Fire TV Stick software. Here’s how to check for updates.
- Navigate to Settings on the Fire TV home screen.
- Scroll down and select the Remotes & Bluetooth Devices option.
- Click Amazon Fire TV Remotes and look for the Update option.
- If you don’t see that option, it means your remote is already up-to-date.
Updating Your Fire TV Stick
Checking for and installing available Fire Stick updates is quick and easy. Simply spending a few moments in the settings can help fix existing problems and prevent future ones. There’s no good reason not to do it, and with this guide to hand, you now know exactly how.
