Both the Amazon Fire TV Voice Remote and Game Controller are capable of receiving software updates. These updates come packaged inside the main Fire TV software update, meaning they are not downloaded separately. After your Fire TV updates, it’s important to check if a remote or controller update is available because remote and controller updates are not installed automatically. In this guide, I’ll show you how to check for a remote or controller update, and how to install it if it is available.
- From the Home screen, scroll down to Settings
- Scroll right to Controllers
- Select the controller type you want to check/update, either Amazon Fire TV Remotes or Bluetooth Game Controllers
- If an update is available, it will say “A software update is available” on the right side.
- To install an available update, press “Select” if updating the Voice Remote or press “A” if updating the Game Controller.
- Ensure your remote or controller has good batteries and is within 10 feet of your Fire TV, then select “Continue” to start the update.
- Wait for the update to transfer to the remote or controller.
- Wait for the update to be applied to the remote or controller.
- Once the update is complete, press “Continue” to exit back to the Fire TV settings screen.
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Thank you for this site. I visit it every day and I’m so glad you are pushing forward. I consider this my only place for Fire TV news and info. Thanks!
Agreed.
I also agree.
I’ve been having terrible battery life with my AFTV Voice Remote. A week max then they’ve got to be replaced. I’m on firmware version 351 on the remote and 511070220 on the box.
Anyone else have this problem?
Strange. I just replaced the batteries for the first time on my primary Fire TV remote. They lasted for 5 months of daily use. They didn’t even die, it just said they were low so I replaced them just before doing the latest remote update.
I’d contact Amazon support and see if they’ll send you a replacement remote for free.
why is my remote still at version 349 after I installed the pre-rooted 51.1.1.0_511070220-rooted.zip firmware? It also does not show any update available. I did disable the auto update function using the adb disable method… is this why my FireTV is not seeing the remote control update detection? And if that is true, then if I re-enable the amazon auto updates, wouldn’t that risk the chance that it will update to the latest firmware and I will lose root! ??? These instructions steps don’t mention if we should have amazon auto update enabled or disabled when performing the above steps! Please add such detail to make it more clear. Thank You!
The firmware version you are running didn’t probably have a remote update yet. You need to update to the latest pre-rooted version (http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-update-a-rooted-amazon-fire-tv-to-the-latest-version-without-losing-root/ )
I am having the same problem. I have the latest pre-rooted version installed; however, there are no remote/controller updates available.
Like you, I did disable the auto update function using the adb disable method. I also have update websites blocked at the router level.
My understanding was that remote/controller updates are included with the pre-rooted firmware, but I have no updates available. Were you able to solve this problem?
Doing a controller update does Not effect rooted device?
Correct. Remote updates do not affect root.
I too am having awful battery life issues. Even expensive Duracell batteries are draining in a week… Suboptimal, really.
My remote fails to update it says there is one available but then says failed to authenticate or that it couldn’t connect to Amazon.
I have the same issue. Received a fire TV with 51.1.1.0 version and rooted it using the starters guide. Everything went well but the only issue I have is – voice remote software is still 349 and fails to authenticate/connect to Amazon when trying to upgrade.
Ditto. Says there is a controller update, then fails when trying to install it. “Device Authentication Failed”
My FTV is rooted and I wanted to make sure it’s safe, to update the game controller and remote? I read the two post under my post and I wonder if there is an issue….can someone confirm this?
its safe man. the remote update doesnt affect root.
i just updated mine.
I just performed the update for the remote. I have replaced my batteries 3 times already since buying the Fire TV about 3 weeks ago…I may return mines on Monday to Staples just in case my device is defective.
This is for everyone getting the error: “Device Authentication Failed” when trying to update the Fire TV remote’s firmware. I was getting the same error until I configured the Fire TV to use DHCP instead of a static IP address. I have a wired connection to the Fire TV, not wireless/wifi. I don’t know why this worked, but here’s what I did: Navigate to Settings > System > Network > Configure Network. On the right side it should show “Wired (Connected).” Press the 3 parallel lines button on the remote to “forget this network” then press the select button to confirm. Restart the Fire TV and then follow the steps in the guide above to update the remote. This worked without disabling either of the update blocks in this guide: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-block-ota-update-for-amazon-fire-tv-and-keep-root-access/ It worked for me. Good luck!
The voice search function on my AFTV remote stopped working all of a sudden. Has anyone else had this problem and is there a solution?
I received a message on my screen to update the remote and had 4 letter code on to enter somewhere but the remote would not respond at all to, changed batteries still not responding, thought may be it was the cable company box
they send me a new one still nothing, all i can see are the icon’s on the screen and advertisement running across the screen for upcoming movies but I can get a response from the fire stick remote, any ideas ????