If you have a Fire TV devices running Fire OS 7, like the 3rd-gen Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and you sideload many apps, you’ve probably experienced the annoying bug where the icons of some sideloaded apps appear as grayed out missing icons. This bug has been present since at least early 2020 and is a result of the Fire TV home screen launcher not checking all possible locations for an app to store its icon image file. After over 2 years of Fire TV owners living with this bug, Amazon has finally addressed it in a recent update where all sideloaded app icons are now being correctly displayed.
As mentioned, this bug has only affected Fire TV models running Fire OS 7, which include the Fire TV Stick Lite, 3rd-gen Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, 2nd-gen Fire TV Cube, and newer Fire TV Smart TVs. Even though it only affects the newer version of Fire OS, the issue is related to the Fire TV home screen launcher, not the operating system, so the fix is being rolled out as a system component update, not an OS update. I can confirm that it has been fixed on the Fire TV Cube and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, but I assume the other Fire TV models running Fire OS 7 will receive it or are reeving it as well.
You check for and install system component updates the same way you check/install OS updates, which is to either use my Check For Updates shortcut app or by navigating to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for updates. As with all Fire TV updates, this one is likely rolling out slowly to select devices, so if you are still having the icon issue and don’t see an update available, all you can do is be patient and wait for your device’s turn to update. It’s a good idea to restart your Fire TV in case the update has been installed already but the launcher just hasn’t tried to refresh your app icons yet.
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I’ve got 600Mb storage free on my 4k fire stick. I go to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for updates and it says Update Error. How can I fix this ? I don’t mind using adb shell if necessary. Rather not reset to factory and have the hassle of reinstalling apps. This error is causing Prime Video not to open.
Sounds like you blocked updates at one point?
No. I haven’t. I don’t know how to do that
Yes he did lol
No I didn’t.
Do you run an alternative launcher?
@Neogeo71
No, I don’t run an alternative launcher
If you do not have a ton of side loaded apps, I would just factory reset it which should trigger any updates to latest OS.
Only other thing I can think of is your router or ISP is blocking the update?
I’ve got two 4k fire sticks. I just checked the other one and it’s updated. So not a router or ISP issie
Factory reset undertaken. Installing a third software update at the time of writing
My firesticks are not working. Says update not successful and the screen is glitchy. Tried 3 firesticks all the same. Called Amazon and says they are working on update have to wait a few days.
Hi,
I’m a bit confused now …
on one hand the advice here is to block Amazon updates on the Fire TV stick, on the other hand the recommendation in this article is to update the stick.
Are there completely no disadvantages if I update the stick now?
Launch on Boot and custom launchers are still working?
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Here my experiences regarding blocking updates:
I had block the 5 domains in my router and had to reset to factory settings (because of own mistakes).
I couldn’t get any further than FireOS complaining about missing network connection till I read here the advice to start voice assistant … yeah, that was what I needed.
After the setup the os comes with no Amazon Music and no Amazon Primevideo App … so remapping the buttons in this situation might be possible (?).
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You might take a lock at this adb command:
adb shell input keyevent 63
… interesting new feature?
Dude what on earth are you talking about?
What he’s talking about is, some have taken to the advice to block updates for stop from getting any of the messing around Amazon has been doing lately.
If you are one that did not block updates before Amazon flipped some switches, its too late. The best you can do is go ahead and do all updates and take advantage of the things they might actually fix for once.
@Nick: Thanks for clarification and understanding.
I’m running “launch on boot”, which starts my Termux app. In this (.bashrc) I start wolf launcher with adb commands.
I rempped the netflix and disney buttons to custom apps.
So all this will not possible anymore with the icon fix update?
Can this please someone confirm?
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With “adb shell input keyevent 63” I can toogle the keyboard (choose Leankey Keyboard). But this seems only possible if I start keyboard configuration in launcher manager 1.1.6 before (without changing the config). Can someone explain this? Do I need to start a service or app before (what does launcher manager do? Can I do this with adb commands?)
Sometimes after “…keyevent 63” Leankey Keyboard option is missing. After starting launcher manager as described it is there. That’s the reason for my question.
I don’t know which of your modifications will be lost if you update, but since your device is heavily modified, you shouldn’t update unless you’re okay with losing all of your customizations.
I haven’t tried this in a while, but I think it’s still possible to manually install and uninstall system app updates via ADB without root. If so, you can try backing up your current launcher (com.amazon.tv.launcher) and manually installing the newest version you can find to see if the missing icons are fixed without other repercussions. I would test installing/uninstalling/updating some other non-critical system app first, like Amazon Shopping (com.amazon.shoptv.client), to confirm that you can revert the update if needed. I’m sorry, but I don’t have the time right now to test this all for you.
@ Elias Thx a lot for your ideas. I don’t want you test all this for me. I think here are a lot of people using custom launchers. Will they all update? It would be nice to see the right icons in my stock launcher, but loosing my modifications (and launcher first of all) it’s not worth it.
Your comment stimulated me to my first try to uninstall an Amazon package. Yes, it really works (with com.amazon.shoptv.client). Installing it again works to (-i com.amazon.device.software.ota) [didn’t try other packages till now]. But the question is, where to get apk of the new com.amazon.tv.launcher.
If you update, you will lose control of mapping the home button to your alternative launcher. You can still use the launcher for most part by only using the back button but it is not as nice as being able to disable the FireTV native launcher.
If you want to keep your custom launchers such as Wolf working with no issues, Do Not Update.
I have a 2nd generation FireTv Cube current version Fire OS 7.2.8.5(PS7285/2880)
Last checked
Sunday,August 7,2022
I am still having the same issue of grayed out icons for some sideloaded apps like VLC player, Syncler, APKUpdater and CloudStream 3.
Fixed after latest update today for me.
I just don’t understand why a custom launcher is needed and updates being blocked. Amazons launcher is really good just needs a redesign. If one really needs to customize the interface get a certified Android box. This would give you a lot more freedom and control of the box or stick. I have Amazon devices, Roku, and a Mecool KM2 box that gives me all the customizations and control over the box.
Because there are no amazon ads?
Because you see no gray icons?
Because you can use widget?
Because you can customize your own launcher 100 times better than the stock launcher?
Enough reasons?
Well sure that’s enough reasons. What I was getting at is there is other Android box’s that gives more options for the user for customization and launchers. Not needing to deal with Amazons updates. Mecool Km2 or Km2 plus and they are google certified with no bloatware.
This comment makes no sense.. I currently have 3 firesticks, and 1 firetv cube running in the house. I use Wolf Launcher for the customizations and reasons mentioned and it works fine for me. That’s why we use it. I am not going to replace all those devices with other Android boxes when I am quite happy with how they are working now.
I have two 4k max. One has the icon displayed like centered in the gray box. Which is fine. The other one still has gray box
Could you please have a look which system version has the logos fixed and which not? Been waiting desperately for this to happen but none of my 4k max has been fixed yet. ;-(
FireTV Stick Lite updated this evening in France set UK English.
Now Fire OS 7.2.9.2(PS7292/2982)
Logos good at last!
I updated my Stick. Icons are good and Developer-Mode, Launch on Boot and Custom Launcher are still working.