If you are blocking updates, the Fire TV Stick will not allow you to complete the initial setup. The video above and instructions below will show you how to get past the forced update in order to complete the initial setup without updating.
The reason you might want to avoid updating is to ensure your Fire TV Stick is as compatible as possible with a potential future rooting method. While the Fire TV Stick currently cannot be rooted, staying on an old software version gives you the most flexibility for future rooting and mods.
This method works on Fire TV Stick’s running the oldest software version, which is version 54.1.0.0_user_100211520. Our experience with the Fire TV has shown us that different software version will handle failed updates differently. If your Fire TV Stick is running a newer software version, this method may not work for you.
This method involves cutting the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection at a precise moment during the initial setup. In my video I use my computer to share its internet connection with the Fire TV Stick so that I have full control of the connection. You don’t have to do it this way. Instead, you can use your routers settings to stop the connection, or even just pull the power to your modem or router.
You should be blocking updates. You can try to follow this method without blocking updates, but be aware that the Fire TV Stick continues to try downloading updates in the background, even after you pass the “Checking for Updates” screen.
- Follow my guide to block software updates.
- Power on your Fire TV Stick.
- Press “Play” when prompted.
- After the Fire TV Stick scans for networks, you should now be on the wifi selection screen.
- If your Fire TV Stick skips the wifi selection screen because you already configured your network from a previous boot up, just let it reach the update error screen and then press the back button. You should then be on the wifi selection screen.
- Select and configure your network, but do not press the “Connect” button yet.
- Prepare yourself to kill the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection. You can do this in several ways, like using your routers configuration, or even physically cutting power to your router or modem. The next few steps will happen quickly, so you should read ahead to know what to expect.
- Select the “Connect” button on the Fire TV Stick’s network configuration. The Fire TV Stick will display “Connecting to [NETWORK NAME]”.
- The instant you see “Connection Successful”, cut off the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection.
- You’ll next see the “Checking for updates” screen. There is a brief moment when this screen first appears that you still have time to kill the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection if you didn’t do it fast enough on the previous “Connection Successful” screen.
- If you see the “Downloading the latest software” screen, then you didn’t cut the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection soon enough and need to start over. You can press back when you see an error message to start over.
- After the “Checking for updates” screen you should be taken to the registration screen. Once here you’re in the clear. You can now turn the internet connection back on. Once the internet connection is back on, it’s best to let the Fire TV Stick sit on the registration screen for a few seconds to ensure it has reconnected to the internet. If you go past this screen without an internet connection, you will be taken back to the network configuration screen and will have to start the process over.
- Complete the rest of the setup process. You can check your software version under Settings > System > About.
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my router was set up to block amazon updates on my Fire TV. So the Fire Stick was stuck at “checking for updates” forever. I never turned off my wifi, but just backed out a couple times and retried. After a few attempts, it just skipped the update and I was up and running on 54.1.0.0
then I noticed that Netflix didn’t work, just locked up. Everything else ran great, even TVMC.
So I unblock the update and let it do its thing. On 54.1.0.1, Netflix worked perfectly.
So…might not want to block that initial update.
by the way, this thing is pretty slick for $20, wish I could pick up a few more at that price as gifts. But at $40, its getting a bit harder to pull the trigger. I got a brand new Fire TV for $54 with a staples coupon, so it would be hard to pay full price for the stick.
Staples & maybe Best Buy too will have the Fire TV Stick for $24 From Sunday to Wendsday. And Staples will have the Fire TV for $74 on Thurs-Fri. If I remember the ads correctly…
My fire stick is stuck at the registering screen and I can’t get it off this screen, do you have any advice
did you ever get an answer, I have the same problem. After Amazon firestick starter screen, it goes to the registration page, where it asks if you have an account, or want to create a new account. I can’t choose either option, and it won’t budge off of this screen.
Where can i find such a coupon?
This isn’t working for me. I’ve setup a wireless access point on my PC, and have my fire stick connnecting to it. The moment it connects to the access point saying “Connection Successful” I pull power to my switch, but it also seems to be able to check for the update almost instantaneously.
I’ve tried like 10+ times, even trimming the time it takes to connect and trying to anticipate it before it displays.
Can this still be done once it has already done an update check at least once?
It appears if you fail to prevent it from checking for updates at least once you need to powercycle the fire stick… or it seems to remember.
2 Questions:
The FireTv stick cannot rooted with it’s “shipping” firmware?
Can I pull a XBMC backup off a FireTv and install it on the FireTv stick?
Love the site!
1. Correct, no version of the Fire TV Stick can be rooted.
2. Yes, you can backup XBMC from a Fire TV and restore that back on a Fire TV Stick.
Thanks… and wow! The site has come a long way in such a short time…. multimedia and all … who’s better then you!
Haha, thanks! I try. I’m still getting used to making videos, but some subjects are just covered so much better in video form that I had to go that route to deliver good content.
Could you please share “how to install XBMC on FireStick” ?
Download the ARM version of XBMC from xbmc.org, then follow this guide to install it: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-sideload-apps-to-your-amazon-fire-tv-using-a-windows-pc/
How do you restore to the Fire TV Stick? Every time I try using abdFire it fails. I can’t even make a backup of the Fire TV Stick.
You can do this by making sure that xbmc is not running on firetv stick. Make sure you exit xbmc. In adbfire type in IP address and connect.
Does anyone know any brewser app work i mean navigate by remote control not mouse?
i have wifi through my apt and the wifi prompts you to accept the terms and conditions before you can connect. the firestick will not connect to this internet because i am never redirected to a screen to accept the terms and conditions. HELP!
Is there a way to disable updates on the FireTV stick?
Answering my own question. But I see now that we needed to root the FireTV to disable the updates. And there is no way of rooting a FireTV Stick as of now.
I went ahead and let firetv stick download all updates. I had zero problems loading xbmc Gotham 13.2
VICTORY!! After days of trying to the &^%^%$%$ download software update, giving up – thinking there was an issue with the stick itself – I called Amazon and they sent me a new one. I asked them to please ensure the new stick has the software already pre-loaded. Got the ‘new’ stick today and just my luck, the system tried to download latest software update on this one, too. Thank goodness I found your very helpful article! Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that my router will allow me to block domains or URL strings so your ‘disconnecting wi-fi” work-around worked perfectly. THANK YOU!
Thank you very much for the detail instruction. My stick is stuck during the bypass procedure; I missed “that moment” to unplug the WAN connection and I tried that more than 5-6 times. Now it always stops at “Connect to your network” screen and does not proceed to “Scanning the network” screen. Did I brick it already? Is there a way to hard reset the stick? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
My Fire TV Stick’s running the version 54.1.0.0_user_100211520. But how come under “developer option”. There is only one option for “adb debugging” no “app from unknow” showing?
That option was added with the 51.1.0.1 update. See here: http://www.aftvnews.com/overview-of-fire-tv-stick-software-update-54-1-0-1_user_101016220/
I need help nothing seems to be working I tried to disconnect the internet and nothing is happening what do I need to do it still says unable to update
I blocked the update sites & string on my router. I connected to my wifi. It said checking for updates for about 15 seconds. I yanked the device out of the hdmi port. After plugging it in it was at the welcome screen. After the video i went to the settings and found i’m at 54.1.0.1
its a good deal if you get it under 25 dlls, but its a shame you cant use it without internet, Of course you canthink why would you want one without internet? , but i use it exclusively for streaming my local media thru PLEX, wich only needs my local network, and the stick wont let me open any app plex if i dont have an internet connection, so if that is your plan get roku or something else
Worked fine here. Thank you for the great tutorial!
I just ordered & received 2 of the Amazon Fire TV sticks. But I cannot connect to the Internet. It wants the password. I have entered what I thought was the password – apparently I am wrong. It will not connect.
What am I doing wrong?
it is the password printed on the back of your reuter not you r password
make sure when entering password its not in capital letters
you need a Bluetooth keyboard with mouse or just the mouse otherwise it wont work. QQ-Tech Mini Bluetooth Keyboard
I am really green at all this techno savvy stuff…please forgive me as this question may seem obvious to many…I have Verizon for Internet and it is a capped data plan…does the stick run through your home internet or is the box/stick a separate internet connection through Amazon?
Yes, the Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick use your home internet.
If you’re worried about your data cap, you should be cautious with the Fire TV because it has a feature called ASAP (Advanced Streaming and Prediction) which pre-loads content in the background in order to reduce the amount of time it takes to start a video. This means that, just browsing Amazon’s video library will consume a non-trivial amount of data.
I have purchsed 2 Fire TV Sticks and neither will connect to my network. I enter my router’s WPA2 password and it starts to reach out then stops and states it was unable to connect. I register’s a strong signal. What am I doing wrong?
use only small letters when entering reuters password
Is there anyway around the registering part of the initial set up? I deregistered my friends to sign in on mine and now there are all kinds of buffering issues. when watching a movie it buffers and the screen goes black. Am I going to have to purchase a new one? how can I avoid this in the future, I plan on giving them as gifts and I don’t know what to do? thank you!
Can you deregister the Firestick and then reregister using a different name and password?
I blocked updates on the Firestick so they wouldn’t update during the night and ruin Kodi but I forgot that I blocked the Firestick and decided to rest to factory default and guess what?
It stops at update and goes to the unable to update screen. Does anyone have any idea how to get past my screwup? I know, it’s my fault but I’m old and don’t follow instructions.
any one know how I can get on my firestick, its saying network connection lost go to network settings but I cant as my remote control don’t work either.
any help
Hey guys,
I just received a brand new Fire TV 4K. I want to prevent my device from updating to the newest version, so that I can get root easily. However, when I use this guide in order to skip the initial update procedure it continues to show me the error message instead of jumping to the registration screen. I set up my router to block the domains according to the guide and I turn of my Wi-Fi router the moment “connection succesful” appears on the screen. Any ideas how to fix this?
Did u check this link:
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-complete-the-fire-tv-initial-setup-without-updating/
just got firestick, my problem is I can not get wfi to connect, I have a very good signal but instead of connected I get disconnected
So in order to use the fire stick I need internet or WiFi is this correct and I also have to use the computer to set it up my firs stick is plugged in the the HDMI on my tv but I don’t know what I am supposed to put my TV on lease help me
I USE TO HAVE A WAY TO DEREGISTER MY FIRESTICK AND IT WOULD STILL DOES ANYONE NO THE NAME OF THE PROGRAM IM THINKING OF? THANK YOU
I still cant take it pass the unable to update your fire TV stick
Help please I’m stuck on unable to update your fire tv stick
will this auto update kill command work for the current 5.2.4.0 version of fire stick as of 10/1/2017?
Can’t get past the update screen any ideas please some one help I have no idea
Cannot get passed the update screen either… Tried cutting the power after wifi connection numerous times and still cannot get to the registration screen.
This is the 2nd Gen firestick with alexa and it is brand new.
Please im getting frustrated.
some one please help me i bought a fire stick tried to set it up went through registration questions to keep getting sent back to name.it was asking for letters to be entered as on a challenge ? i saw in a group other people with same question which were told it was needed to register on a laptop first and then go bk on t to login but im stuck dont know how to create account on a laptop? do i pug the stick into laptop? or what is the address to createe an account ?
I can’t get past connections successfully what to do
I tried this 20 times and all different times it still won’t work help pleas
I tried this a lot of times and it’s really frustrating. Brand new Firestick w/ Alexa. I even factory reset “right button and back button”. Please any idea what were doing wrong?
I set up the wifi, click connect, once I saw the connection I unplugged my wifi router. Then still takes me to “unable to update please unplug the power for a few seconds”
Hi to all I purchased a brand new fire stick 4k but in setting up I’m stuck in at the unable to update screen as I’m new with this item. I have tried everything that was said on here but still no luck in bypassing as to the version I’m not sure
Please let me new information keep me posted