The fastest way to update a single app
Open the Fire Stick home screen and go to Your Apps and Channels in the left menu. Find the app you want to update, highlight it, and press the Menu button (three horizontal lines) on your remote. Select Check for Updates. If an update is available, you will see an Update button instead of Open. Press it, and the app will read and install in the background — you do not need to stay on that screen.
The whole process takes about two minutes. The app will be ready to use as soon as the progress bar finishes. You will know the update is complete when the button changes back to Open.
Key Takeaways
- You can update one app at a time through Your Apps and Channels by pressing Menu and selecting Check for Updates.
- Fire Stick can update all your apps automatically if you turn on auto-update in Settings, which is the easiest method for most people.
- Updates read and install in the background, so you can use your Fire Stick while an app is updating.
- If an app will not update, restart your Fire Stick and check that you have an active internet connection before trying again.
How to turn on automatic updates for all apps
If you want your apps to update without doing anything manually, turn on auto-update in Settings. Go to Settings on the home screen, then Applications, then Manage Installed Applications. Scroll down and select Automatic Updates. Toggle it On.
Once auto-update is on, your Fire Stick will check for app updates every night and install them while you sleep. You will not see notifications or progress bars — the updates just happen. This is the method most people use because it requires no work after the first setup.
Updating apps from the Amazon Appstore
You can also update apps directly from the Appstore. Press the Menu button on your remote from the home screen and select Appstore. At the top of the screen, you will see a notification badge showing how many of your apps have updates available. Press that badge to see the full list.
Highlight any app in the list and press the Update button. You can update multiple apps this way without going back to the home screen each time. The Appstore method is useful if you want to see all your available updates at once before deciding which ones to install.
What to do if an app will not update
If you press Check for Updates and nothing happens, or if the update fails partway through, restart your Fire Stick first. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for the home screen to load. Then try the update again.
If the update still fails, check that your Fire Stick is connected to the internet. Go to Settings, then Network, and make sure you see your Wi-Fi network listed as connected. If you are not connected, select your network and enter the password. Once you have a stable connection, try updating the app again. If it continues to fail, the app may be temporarily unavailable in the Amazon Appstore — wait a few hours and try once more.
How long updates take and what happens during the process
Most app updates take between two and ten minutes to read and install, depending on the app size and your internet speed. Smaller apps like news or weather apps usually finish in two to three minutes. Larger apps like streaming services or games can take longer.
While an app is updating, you can use other apps and watch content on your Fire Stick — the update runs in the background. You will see a small progress indicator next to the app name in Your Apps and Channels. Do not unplug your Fire Stick or disconnect from the internet while an update is in progress, as this can corrupt the app and force you to reinstall it.
Checking which apps have updates waiting
If you want to see at a glance which apps need updating, open the Appstore and look at the top of the screen. The notification badge shows a number — that is how many of your installed apps have updates available. Press the badge to see the full list with app names and descriptions of what changed in each update.
You can also check individual apps by going to Your Apps and Channels, highlighting an app, and pressing Menu. If Check for Updates is available as an option, that app has an update waiting. If you see Open instead, the app is already up to date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to update an app right away, or can I wait?
You can wait as long as you want. Updates are not mandatory. However, app updates often include bug fixes and security improvements, so updating within a few weeks of release is a good idea. If auto-update is on, you do not have to think about it at all.
Will updating an app delete my saved data or settings?
No. Updating an app preserves all your saved data, login information, and settings. The update only replaces the app code itself. Your watch history, preferences, and account logins will remain exactly as they were.
What if an app keeps failing to update no matter what I do?
Uninstall the app completely and reinstall it from the Appstore. Go to Your Apps and Channels, highlight the app, press Menu, and select Uninstall. Then open the Appstore, search for the app, and select Get to reinstall the latest version. This usually solves persistent update problems.
Can I update apps on my Fire Stick from my phone?
Yes. Open the Amazon Appstore app on your phone, find the app you want to update, and press Update. The update will install on your Fire Stick remotely. You do not need to be in the same room or touch the Fire Stick itself.
Why does my Fire Stick keep asking me to update the same app?
This usually means the previous update did not install completely. Restart your Fire Stick, then try updating again. If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall the app as described above. Contact the app developer if the issue persists after reinstalling.