One benefit of having a device that connects to the internet is that it can stay up-to-date with the latest firmware and apps. Many users of the Fire TV Cube have had difficulty with these updates, so I have looked into all the possible reasons why it won’t update so it can be easily fixed.
The Fire TV Cube will not download or install an update due to lack of storage space on the device, a poor internet connection, a VPN in the wrong region, Amazon server failure, an incomplete installation, overheating or firmware glitches. Most of these issues can be resolved with a device reboot.
I will explain these issues in more detail below, and will also provide some other ways of fixing them when a reboot doesn’t work. It is also important to know how to install updates, whether automatically or manually.
Fire TV Cube Won’t Update
There are a number of reasons why your Fire TV Cube won’t update. Here is a basic overview of all the possible causes and their fixes.
|
Possible Problem |
Fix |
|
Not enough storage space |
Delete some apps on Fire TV |
|
Weak internet connection |
Move modem/router closer Restart modem/router and Fire TV Upgrade modem/router |
|
VPN in wrong region |
Disable VPN or change regions |
|
Amazon servers are down |
Wait 1-2 days for them to fix Call Amazon support |
|
Update not finalised |
Restart Fire TV Cube |
|
Frozen/glitches/overheating |
Restart Fire TV Cube Let Fire TV cool down Factory reset |
Fire TV Cube Not Downloading Update
Not Enough Storage Space
One of the reasons an update won’t download is insufficient space on the Fire Cube. There needs to be at least 500Mbs of space available to be able to download the update. You can check your storage space by following the steps below.
Home > Settings > My Fire TV > About > Storage
If you do need to make some space on your Fire TV, it is easy to uninstall apps that you don’t use or don’t need. To do this, follow these steps for each app you want to delete.
Home > Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > (select app) > Uninstall
Poor Internet Connection
Another possibility is that you do not have internet connection or you have a poor connection. If this has been the case from the time you got your Fire TV, it may be that your modem or router is too far away. Try moving it closer or connecting via Ethernet cable to see if this fixes the issue.
If it is an issue of poor connection due to the bandwidth, you may need a new modem/router that can support a larger signal. Before you consider this, try connecting to a phone hotspot to see if it makes any difference. If so, you know that it is most likely the signal from the modem.
You can test your Fire TVs network connection in the Settings. Follow these simple steps below, and then press the ‘Play/Pause’ button on the remote to start the test.
Home > Settings > Network > (find your network)
You might also benefit from restarting the Fire TV and modem/router. Unplug all of these from the wall, wait one minute and then plug them all back in to reconnect.
Check Your VPN Settings
A VPN is a tool that allows you to change the IP address of your device so that it can appear to be in a different country. This is sometimes used to access region-specific apps, such as accessing American TV shows from the UK.
Some people have found that certain updates are not available in their region.
If you have a VPN activated, you may also be set to a region that does not have the update yet. In that case, turn the VPN off or set to a different country to see if that allows you to download the update.
Amazon Servers
If all else fails, it is likely that the Amazon servers are down. This issue usually takes one or two days for them to rectify, so it might just be a waiting game to update your Fire Cube. You can always call the Amazon Support network to see whether this is the case.
Fire TV Cube Stuck On Finishing Updates
If your Fire TV Cube has been installing an update, but appears to freeze before it can finish, there may be a different problem. All of the problems below can generally be fixed by restarting the device. If you can still navigate through the settings, follow the steps below to restart the Fire TV Cube.
Settings > Device > Restart
If you cannot navigate through anything and the Fire TV has frozen completely, you can either hold down the ‘Select’ and ‘Play/Pause’ buttons on the remote for five seconds, or you can unplug the device from the wall. After approximately 10 seconds, you should turn the Fire TV back on to see if the update can finish.
Amazon also has recommended unplugging the Fire TV Cube’s HDMI cable from the TV when you do this.
Update Needs to Restart Fire TV
One reason why the update cannot finish is because all Fire TV updates require a device restart to finalise the update. You should be prompted to do this with a message.
In this case, your Fire TV is still working; it’s just a matter of allowing the update to finalise. This is easy to forget if you keep the Fire TV on for extended periods of time.
The Fire TV Cube is Malfunctioning
When the screen freezes, it is generally from a bug in the system which is causing the Fire TV to glitch. These are fixed with firmware updates, so you will need to persist with restarting the device to get that update installed.
The Cube may also be overheated, causing another glitch. This will occur if the Fire TV is located in an enclosed area, such as a glass TV cabinet, if it is too close to another device or if it is in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
In this instance you will need to turn off the device until it has cooled down and consider shifting its position.
Factory Reset
If simply restarting the Fire TV does not help with the issue, you might want to perform a factory reset. However, this will delete your account information and all the content you have downloaded since you got the Fire TV. So only consider a factory reset if you’re desperate.
This is quite simple. Simply hold down the ‘Back’ and ‘Right’ buttons on the remote for about 10 seconds and you will be prompted to start the factory reset. Select ‘Continue’ to begin.
Fire TV Cube Stuck On Downloading Update
You might also find that the download for the latest update does not finish. It can reach a certain point and not go any further for days. This could be a glitch or from overheating, as mentioned above, but the best thing to do is to restart your Fire TV cube.
It may also be that you have run out of space halfway through the download. The Fire TV will usually be able to detect if there is not enough space before the download, but refer to the information earlier in this article to double-check your storage space.
Fire TV Cube Stuck On Checking For Updates
This issue seems to be relatively common and could be related to any of the issues discussed above. Most likely, this is a bug that will need to be fixed by Amazon. The best thing to try is restarting the Fire TV or doing a factory reset.
How to Update Fire TV Cube
The Fire TV Cube will automatically check for updates every time it starts up. If there is a new update, it will download the update for you. You can then confirm that you want to install the update.
Note that you will need to restart the Fire TV to finalise the update. If you still want to use the device, the update will simply be installed when you are no longer using it.
How Do I Force Fire TV to Update
If your device has not downloaded the latest update, you can force it to do so by finding the system settings. These are found following the steps below.
Home > Settings > Device > About > System Update
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on April 24, 2021.
If an update is available, you will be given the option to download and install it.
How Do I Manually Update Apps on Fire TV
Apps on your Fire TV Cube can also be updated either automatically or manually. To disable the automatic updates, follow the steps below.
Home > Settings > Applications > Appstore > Automatic Updates > Off
In order to manually update an app, you will need to access the settings of that specific app. This is done with the following process.
Home > Your Apps and Games > See All
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on April 24, 2021.
Then you will need to hover over the app that you want to update and press the ‘Menu’ button (three lines) on the remote. Another small menu will appear and, if an update is available, you will find this option here. Select the ‘Update’ option and confirm this when prompted.
Related Articles
Fire TV Remote Volume Not Working
Fire TV Cube Keeps Turning On/Off TV
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on April 24, 2021.