To turn on automatic updates for apps on an Amazon Fire TV Stick, go to Settings > Applications > Appstore and select Automatic Updates so that it reads On. From then on, apps you installed from the Amazon Appstore download new versions on their own whenever the Fire TV Stick is online.
The setting takes a few seconds to change and you only need to do it once. The rest of this guide covers the full steps, how to update a single app by hand, how app updates differ from Fire TV system updates, and what to check when an app refuses to update.
Before You Start
- Devices covered: Fire TV Stick models, Fire TV Cube, and smart TVs with Fire TV built in. The menus are shared across the Fire TV family, although labels can vary slightly by model and software version.
- Newer models: Amazon lists some recent sticks, such as the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, as running Vega OS instead of Fire OS. If a menu name on your screen differs from the one in this guide, look for the closest match under Settings.
- Internet connection: updates only download while the Fire TV Stick is connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Where the app came from: the setting applies to apps installed from the Amazon Appstore, the store built into Fire TV. Apps installed any other way are not included.
- Source note: Amazon does not have a dedicated help page for this switch. The menu path below is the one Amazon support staff give on the official Amazon Fire TV forum. The system update and troubleshooting steps come from Amazon help pages.
How to Turn On Automatic App Updates on a Fire TV Stick
- Press the Home button on your remote. The Fire TV home screen appears.
- Move to the gear icon and select Settings. A row of settings tiles opens.
- Select Applications. This menu holds the options for the apps on your device, including the Appstore and the list of installed apps.
- Select Appstore. A short list of store options appears.
- Highlight Automatic Updates and press the Select button (the round button in the middle of the remote’s ring). The word under the option changes between Off and On each time you press it.
- Stop when it reads On, then press Home to leave Settings.
There is no confirmation message. The change is saved as soon as the label switches.
How to Confirm the Setting and Turn It Off Again
To check the setting later, go back to Settings > Applications > Appstore and read the word under Automatic Updates. On means apps update on their own. Off means every app stays on its current version until you update it yourself.
To undo the change, select Automatic Updates once more so that it reads Off. Nothing is removed when you do this. Apps that already updated keep their newer version.
Turning updates off can make sense if you want to hold an app at a version you like for a while. Keep in mind that streaming services sometimes stop supporting old app versions, so an app you never update may eventually ask for an update before it will play anything.
How to Update One Fire TV App Manually
You can also update a single app without waiting for the automatic process. Amazon does not publish these steps on a help page, so treat the labels as a guide and expect small differences between models.
- Go to your apps list from the home screen and highlight the app. Do not open it.
- Press the Menu button on the remote (three horizontal lines). A small menu appears.
- Select More Info. The app’s Appstore page opens.
- If a newer version is available, an Update button is shown. Select it and wait for the download to finish.
- If you only see Open, the app is normally already on its latest version.
Amazon’s own advice for getting the newest version of a misbehaving app is simpler: uninstall the app and install it again, which Amazon says ensures you have the latest version. You will usually need to sign in to the app again afterward, so have your account details ready before you remove it. Our guide on how to uninstall an app on an Amazon Fire TV Stick walks through the removal.
App Updates vs. Fire TV System Updates
App updates and system updates are separate. The Automatic Updates switch only affects apps. The Fire TV software itself is handled by the device: Amazon says Fire TV devices automatically download software updates when they are connected to the internet.
If you want to check for a system update yourself, Amazon lists these steps:
- Go to Settings from your Fire TV menu.
- Select My Fire TV or Device & Software, depending on your model.
- Select About.
- Select Check for System Update. The Fire TV looks for a newer version and offers to install it if one is available.
The device may restart during a system update. Leave it plugged in until the home screen returns.
If an App Will Not Update
Work through these checks in order and try the update again after each one. The menu paths come from Amazon’s Fire TV help pages.
- Test the connection. Go to Settings > Network and press Play/Pause on the remote to run Amazon’s network status check. If it reports a problem, restart your modem and router. Amazon has more steps in its Fire TV Wi-Fi troubleshooting page.
- Restart the Fire TV. Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Restart, or unplug the power cable, wait a moment, and plug it back in. See how to restart the Amazon Fire TV Stick for every method.
- Check free storage. Go to Settings > My Fire TV (or Device & Software) > About > Storage. Fire TV Sticks have limited space, and a full device has no room for new downloads. Amazon’s tip for freeing space is to uninstall apps you no longer use.
- Clear the app’s cache. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications, select the app, and select Clear Cache. Be careful with Clear Data on the same screen: Amazon describes it as resetting the app, so expect to sign in and set the app up again. Details are on Amazon’s page about clearing app data and cache on Fire TV.
- Check for a system update. Amazon notes that an outdated system can cause app problems. Use the system update steps in the section above.
- Reinstall the app. Uninstall it from Manage Installed Applications, then download it again from the Appstore. This is the step Amazon recommends in its guide for apps that crash or will not load.
The Automatic Updates option is missing
Make sure you opened Applications and then Appstore, not Manage Installed Applications. If the option still is not there, check for a system update and look again. On models that run newer Fire TV software, the option may sit under a slightly different name, and Amazon has not published a help page that lists it for every model.
An app shows a cloud icon
That is not a failed update. Amazon’s Auto Offload feature removes apps you have not used for a while when storage is low, and it marks them with a cloud icon. Select the app to download it again. Amazon says your sign-in and settings are saved for offloaded apps.
The app did not come from the Appstore
Apps installed from outside the Amazon Appstore are not covered by Automatic Updates. They stay on the version you installed until you replace them yourself, and Amazon does not support them. The safest fix is to install the Appstore version of the app if one exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning on automatic updates update the Fire TV software too?
No. The Automatic Updates switch under Settings > Applications > Appstore only covers apps. Fire TV software updates download automatically on their own schedule, and you can check for one under Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for System Update.
Can I turn off updates for just one app?
The Automatic Updates switch is a single setting for all Appstore apps on the device. Amazon’s help pages do not describe a per-app option. If you need one app to stay on its current version, the only documented choice is to turn the switch off and update your other apps by hand.
When do automatic app updates install?
Amazon does not publish a schedule. Updates need an internet connection, and they happen in the background, so an app may not update the moment a new version is released. If you need a new version right away, update that app manually.
Will an update sign me out of an app?
A normal update keeps the app’s data in place. Uninstalling an app or using Clear Data is different: both remove the app’s saved information, so you should expect to sign in again.
Do I need to turn this on for each Fire TV Stick?
Amazon does not say that the setting syncs between devices, so check it on each Fire TV Stick you own. It takes less than a minute per device.
What is the bell icon on my Fire TV?
It opens your notifications, which can include messages about apps and the device. See what the bell symbol on your Fire TV Stick means.
Next Step
With Automatic Updates set to On, open Settings > My Fire TV > About and select Check for System Update once, so the apps and the Fire TV software are both current. After that, the device should keep itself up to date as long as it stays connected to the internet. For another quick settings change, learn how to turn off navigation sounds on the Amazon Fire Stick.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.