Depending on how you look at it, it has either been a great or really bad couple of weeks for Amazon devices with MediaTek processors. First, the Fire HD 8 tablet was rooted and then the Fire 7 tablet was rooted. Just a few days ago, the Fire TV Stick 2 was rooted for the first time and now the 2nd-generation Fire TV box is the latest device to fall. Surprisingly, the rooting method that has just been discovered for the Fire TV 2 is unrelated to the method used to root the other Amazon devices. This new method is actually much easier, as it does not require opening the device or shorting circuit board points, like the Fire TV Stick 2 and Fire tablet rooting methods. There’s also the potential for this new rooting method to work on other Fire TV devices with MediaTek processors, like the Fire TV Stick 4K, which has yet to be rooted, and even the Fire TV Stick 2, to serve as a simpler rooting method than the one that already exists.
XDA forum user diplomatic recently discovered an exploit with MediaTek processors that temporarily achieves root access. Other XDA users have been slowly testing the method on various devices and figuring out how to convert the temporary root to a full root that sticks after the device is rebooted. XDA forum user el7145 was the first to verify that the exploit worked to temporarily root the Fire TV 2. Well known Fire TV rooter and ROM creator rbox quickly chimed in with an updated version of his TWRP custom recovery for the Fire TV 2 that he created back in 2016 when the Fire TV 2 was first rooted. User el7145 has verified that it worked and allowed him to flash rbox’s latest pre-rooted ROM.
There isn’t a single guide to follow for this rooting method, yet, because it was achieved by piecing together parts of multiple guides. Essentially, the process to root the Fire TV 2 is to follow these instructions to achieve temporary root. Then follow these instructions but using this file to install TWRP custom recovery. Lastly, follow these insturctions to flash the latest pre-rooted ROM.
I have not attempted this rooting method and it seems like only one person has done it successfully so far, so proceed with caution if you plan to root your Fire TV 2. This rooting method does not and will never work on the Fire TV 1. If you’re unsure which model you have, the easiest way to figure it out is to install my new Informer app from the Amazon appstore.
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
Fortune favors the bold!
I’m not a night tech person just wondering what does that mean if they had to be rooted?
More control on the hardware
confirmed working on 5.2.1.1, firetv2. no issues.
also used this exploit to recover a “bricked” AFTV2 that was stuck at the colorful “Amazon” screen. I could see it as an ADB device but could not get recovery to reset etc etc.
pushed exploit and recovery, used exploit – flashed rbox recovery, boot to recovery and pushed latest preroot firmware and the box is working again.
Could you write a guide. My fire TV 2 box is stuck on the Amazon logo after the last update bricked it. I almost threw it away, but I was hopeful someone would succeed. Looks like that’s you. So how about it? Hop on over to xda and write us a step by step?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/how-to-root-amazon-fire-tv-2-box-t3908387
This is SO EXCITING! This is Amazon’s most powerful android tv hardware. Glad to see it can be rooted…again! The next piece of inevitable news is the FireTV Stick 4K achieving root!!! I literally can’t wait to root EVERYBODY’S Amazon devices!!! Hope this software exploit isn’t able to be patched! Either way there’s now TWO options of achieving root with these MediaTek processors!
Confirmed to work, rooted a previously unrooted FireTV 2 on the latest firmware.
So your saying 5.2.6.9 the latest as of 4/4 works? Did you follow https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/how-to-root-amazon-fire-tv-2-box-t3908387 to root it? Thanks
Actually this gentlemen named Mark wrote a guide http://marksmods.com/Hack-the-Fire-TV/How-to-root-the-Fire-TV-2-on-5.2.6.8-firmware.html
If you’re on the fence about following my guide in fear that you might brick your device (contrary to multiple people who vouched success on the same thread in part due to my guide) then DO NOT even consider attempting to root your device. Not everybody is built to do it. PERIOD!
Anyone idea on how to navigate to RECOVERY MODE on Firestick 4K? My device has bootloop issues, just want to factory reset it, but can’t go to RECOVERY MODE as there are no physical button in it.
Have you tried the keyboard method I linked to in the Fire Cube comments?
This is the highlight of my day, and the best news regarding a proven method to root my AFTV2 since I acquired my device after the root-update threshold point. I will be trying this method out listed in the description to see how my luck fares. I can’t be any more happier
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/how-to-root-amazon-fire-tv-2-box-t3908387
Should those of us who rooted using the old method flash the new recovery from rbox or is that geared more toward those who rooted using this new method?
I’d ask that same question…but over on the XDA Forums. Mention @rbox in your post. It’s a VERY good question. Although, I did notice that @rbox did not update the main thread with his recovery downloads. So, I’d hold off until confirmation!
rbox uploaded firetv2_recovery_v7.zip for use with this exploit. That’s what I used and it worked fine.
Yup, but I think what “Some One” and I were wondering was, if we were rooted prior to this exploit being discovered, should we also updated to v7 of the recovery or stick with v6?
Yes, I understand that, but @Nate is asking “If we’re already rooted and have ‘firetv2_recovery_v6.zip’ currently installed, is it safe to update to firetv2_recovery_v7.zip?”
I did.
We just need someone to have a custom ROM we can flash to the FTV2 . lol
Preferably Android Oreo.
But, this will probably kill Netflix HD capability .
Another thread (the stick root thread) a guy said 4k and 1080p still work.
Are there any pre-rooted roms for the firestick?
Ok Mac users I wrote up a highly-detailed guide on how to do this. Thanks of course go out to everyone involved in this exploit – diplomatic for finding the exploit, rbox for updating the recovery file and providing the new pre-rooted 5.2.6.8, and urbanman2004 for writing the Windows tutorial this is based on.
http://marksmods.com/Hack-the-Fire-TV/How-to-root-the-Fire-TV-2-on-5.2.6.8-firmware.html
You’re welcome Mark
Do you know if this method works with 5.2.6.9 ? thanks
I responded to your comment on AFTVNews.
Finally Rooted my fire TV2. But i am unable to install Gapps. when i try to install Gapps i am getting 70 error code.
How install Google Play store in Latest rooted version.
Please help.
WIll this work on 5.2.6.9?
Try it and find out. What do you have to lose?
Confirmed working, so go right ahead: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79060070&postcount=185
So this truly works perfectly with 5.2.6.9 ? I replied on the xda fourm but no answers yet. Thanks
Yes it is confirmed to work on v5.2.6.9, and comes with an accompanying rom by way of rbox.
will this allow one to use the new remote (with power and volume) on the ftv2 box? that’s really the only reason i stopped using mine.
Rooting the fire tv 2 box instructions.. worked on fire os 5.2.6.7 fire os 5.2.6.8 both tested and worked
the steps i followed rooting two of my fire tv 2 boxes.. i used windows 7 i havent tested on others windows i assume it be the same
1. install adb on your computer https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=48915118#post48915118
2. Download the current mtk-su zip file to your PC….. Current Version Release 5 https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4719111 “mtk-su_r4.zip” and extract and copy the “arm64″ folder in ADB install directory (C:\adb).
3. On your fire tv 2 box make sure ADB debugging” and “Apps from Unknown Sources” ARE enabled in developer options
((((((TYPE COMMAND LINES BETWEEN THE STARS ***))))) DONT ADD THE STARS
open command prompt and type or copy&paste) *** adb connect 192.168.X.X *** press enter (THIS MUST BE YOUR FIRETV IP ADRESS) REPLACE THE .X.X WITH YOUR NUMBERS
((SHOULD GET A POPUP ON YOUR FIRE TV 2 BOX THAT SAYS ***ALLOW USB DEBUGGING?***
CHECK MARK THE BOX THAT SAYS ***ALWAYS ALLOW FROM THIS COMPUTER*** THAN PRESS OK
than type or copy&paste) *** adb push C:/adb/arm64/mtk-su /data/local/tmp/ *** press enter
than type or copy&paste) *** adb shell *** press enter
than type or copy&paste) *** cd /data/local/tmp *** press enter
than type or copy&paste) *** chmod 755 mtk-su *** press enter
than type or copy&paste) *** ./mtk-su -v *** press enter
than type or copy&paste) *** getenforce *** press eneter
((( STILL LEAVE COMMAND PROMPT OPEN )))
****carefully READ (((usb hub))) is required if using usb method****
INSTALLING TWRP & SLOANE (((IF USING USB STICK MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A USB HUB CAUSE YOU NEED EXTRA USB PORTS FOR MOUSE AND KEYBOARD TO NAVAGATE THROUGH RECOVERY MODE.. I USED LOGITECH K400R KEYBOARD WITH BUILT IN MOUSE
1. Download rbox’s TWRP custom recovery and the latest pre-rooted ROM from your PC and copy it to the root of a USB stick [or microSD card]. ***MUST BE FAT32 FORMAT*** AND THAN RENAME sloane-5.2.6.8-rooted_r1.zip TO rom.zip ON ROOT OF YOUR USB STICK OR MICRO SD CARD
the 2 zip files should look like this below on the root of USB STICK OR MICRO SD CARD
firetv2_recovery_v7.zip
rom.zip
2. Connect the USB stick [or microSD] to your AFTV2.
LATEST ROM IS February 10, 2019 – 5.2.6.8_r1 (md5sum: bd0daa677635e04e368d1b2b235e03e9)
(((BACK TO COMPUTER.. COMMAD PROMPT )))
(((IF USING A MICRO SD CARD THAN FOLLOW THESE STEPS BELOW IF YOUR USING USB STICK SKIP THESE STEPS AND MOVE ONTO USB STICK STEPS)))
than type or copy&paste) *** cd /storage/sdcard1 *** press enter
than type or copy&paste) *** sh /storage/sdcard1/firetv2_recovery_v7.zip *** press enter
(((IF USING USB STICK FOLLOWS THESE STEPS BELOW)))
than type or copy&paste) *** cd /storage/usbotg/ *** press enter
than type or copy&paste) *** sh /storage/usbotg/firetv2_recovery_v7.zip *** press enter
than on fire tv go into settings find where it says My Fire Tv scroll down where it says restart and than restart the box.. once fire tv 2 reboots a recovery screen will pop up press right button on keyboard to select launch recovery… once recovery is loaded up
select INSTALL TAB WITH MOUSE THAN SELECT YOUR STORAGE WITH YOUR ROM.ZIP FILE
IF YOUR ROM IS ON USB THAN SELECT USB IF YOU USED MICRO SD THAN SELECT MICRO SD THAN HIT OK
THAN DOUBLE CLICK YOUR ROM.ZIP FILE THAN USE YOU MOUSE TO SWIP TO COMFIRM FLASH
IT WILL CONTINUE TO FLASH YOUR BOX ONCE DONE SELECT RESTART… now thats it you have a rooted firetv 2 box
OTHER FIRETV 2 ROOTING TUTORIALS FINE WHAT BEST OR EASIER FOR YOU
1. https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79060070&postcount=185
2. https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/how-to-root-amazon-fire-tv-2-box-t3908387
The rooting worked well. Does anyone have a working way to install the Play Store?