Those of you with rooted first generation Fire TVs can now update to the latest 5.2.1.1 software version because rbox has released a pre-rooted ROM version. You can download the ROM at the usual place and install it using TWRP. I had a bit of a hiccup with my update capturing setup, which is why a ROM for the Fire TV 2 is not available yet. I was able to finally capture the Fire TV 2 update this morning and have passed that on to rbox, so hopefully he’ll find time to release a pre-rooted ROM for the Fire TV 2 soon.
If you have the means, be sure to show your support by donating to rbox. Rbox has made some progress on TWRP and ROMs for the Fire TV Stick during the last couple weeks, but there’s still no word on when those will be released. As always, these pre-rooted ROMs are released so that those with rooted devices can update to the latest software version without losing root. Your device must already be rooted to install these ROMs, so therefore, they will not help you root an unrooted device. To see if your Fire TV 1, Fire TV 2, or Fire TV Stick can be rooted, see my rooting starters guide.
Any compelling reasons to upgrade to 5.2.1.1 from 5.2.1.0 on FTV1?
Here’s the changelog from the software updates section:
”
Notes and Known Changes
QuadRooter Vulnerability is still present on the Fire TV 1
New Advertising ID options allow for opting-out of ad tracking
New parental control option will prompt for PIN when launching blocked apps
Fire TV Stick rooting method blocked
“System Status Monitor” menu renamed to “Developer Tools Menu v1.40”
“Not In My House” app blocking mechanism added
Contact Us section in settings area slightly changed
“
Right, I read that too. To me, it really doesn’t look like much of a reason to upgrade. Is there something important here that I didn’t notice?
Might be worth adding a link which anonymously allows people to donate, unless he’s giving some kind of benefit to donators.
Do we still need to patch the SuperSU so we can access /sdcard as root? Do we block updates the same way? What about disableing the “Not in My House” service? Is it off by default?
To disable “Not in My House”
pm disable com.amazon.tv.nimh
Source: http://www.aftvnews.com/fire-tv-update-5-2-1-1-contains-new-not-in-my-house-system-app-for-more-sophisticated-app-blocking/
That wasn’t what I asked.
You asked about disabling NIMH and he responded with how to do it…
Read it again, but this time more carefully.
Ain’t gonna tell ya.
“What about disableing the “Not in My House” service? Is it off by default?”
To me, that’s two questions as indicated by the question mark. One was about disabling it while the other was about whether it was enabled by default.
How would you answer just the question, “What about disableing the “Not in My House” service?” It has no context without the followup.
It has enough context to allow me to answer imo even without the latter question.
I didnt answer whether it was enabled by default because i couldnt, but i knew it can be disabled.
My advice in the future would be to not use a question mark where a comma would be more appropriate for the response you desired to avoid such potential interpretations.
SuperSU still needs to be patched. Install bueller-fixsusdcard.zip along with 5.2.1.1
I used the launcher APK version of SPMC with 5.0.5 with no issues.
I finally updated to this load and the launcher APK no longer works. I tried reinstalling the APK (the launcher one) but pressing home buttom always goes to the Amazon home screen, not SPMC. Anyway around this?
That is normal behavior. You probably were using Xposed with RBox’s launcher module. You’ll have to reinstall both if that was the case.
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-install-xposed-framework-on-the-fire-tv-1-or-2-running-fire-os-5/
Note that AFTV1 uses ARM and not ARM64 builds.
RBox modules:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786618
Make sure your recovery environment works, and make some TWRP backups of system and data in advance just in case Xposed makes Android unbootable.
I rooted my Fire TV 1 back in May (5.0.5.1 I think) and I use Fire Starter (v3.2.3). Will the latest ROM affect FireStarter? I use it as my main interface and can go back to the Amazon interface with the Home button.
http://www.aftvnews.com/tag/firestarter/
Doesn’t look like adb home button detection works after 5.2.1.0, even with the internal ADB client re-enabled:
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-restore-internal-adb-client-capabilities-on-a-rooted-fire-tv/
Though, xenyz says that RBox’s Xposed modules can provide the same benefit:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786618&page=30
So that means we can get back the Firestarter’s old home button behavior with rbox’s xposed module? Is this confirmed?
I updated from 5.0.5 on AFTV 1 to 5.2.1. After the upgrade the xposed framework was disabled! I reinstalled it and enabled the Rbox’s xposed module and miraculously the Firestarter still worked and home button detection is still working too!
What does this mean for fire tv stick owners? I had no clue it downloads and updates itself without asking or input from the user. So now I’m on 5211.
Does this new rooted rom mean that FTVS users on 5211 will get root soon?
All the Fire TV devices attempt to automatically update as soon as they have an internet connection, which is why it is important to block the update site names and addresses and / or disable or hide the update services.
If your Fire TV stick updated to stock 5.2.1.1 there is no known software root. You would need root to be able to install a custom ROM. These pre-rooted ROMs are for people who already obtained root at some point and want to update without losing that access. You always have the hardware root method, but it’s not for the faint of heart or unsteady hand… Keep checking here and XDA for news, I guess.
Rooting guide:
http://www.aftvnews.com/start/
Thanks Elias, much appreciated.
I installed update 5.2.1.1. I noticed it installed SuperSU as part of the install. I already had SuperSU 2.76 installed. Is that OK? does it overwrite the 2.76? Do I need to do something? Also, can I update SuperSu to version 2.78?
Background:
FTV 1
Original 51.1.0.1_user_510055620
April 2015
Done
– Unlock the Amazon Fire TV Bootloader
– Install ClockworkMod Custom Recovery on the Amazon Fire TV (ClockworkMod Custom Recovery by rbox 6.0.5.1.4a)
– Pre-Rooted Stock ROM version 51.1.4.0_514006420 updated
How do I update to this latest 5.2.1.1 and do I need to install TWRP first? or do I need to uninstall ClockworkMod Custom Recovery? so confused, please help.Thanks.
What pisses me off is that every time I upgrade it messes up xposed installation and patch for su access to /sdcard. These things need to flashed again and again.
I updated to 5.2.1.1 on my Fire Tv 1st Gen it went through the install and when it came back up there was no internet connection so I went to restart the Fire TV using the remote(held down select+play). The Fire TV acted like it was rebooting however it shut off and now it will not power on. I have tested the power adapter and it is reading 5v. Any idea what could have caused this or if there is any fix at this point. Thank you.
I am in the same boat as Rafael Garces. After reboot, no LED, no video, nothing. Did you solve your issue?
Did anyone experienced strange behavior like:
– Netflix suddenly stops and back to the movie page
– Kodi exit the movie and the FireTV goes to sleep
This never happened on 5.0.5_r1