The 5.2.4.1 software update for all Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick models is continuing to roll out to all devices. Those of you with rooted Fire TVs and/or Fire TV Sticks, who have blocked software updates in order to not lose root access, will be happy to hear that the 5.2.4.1 update packages for the Fire TV 1, 2, and Stick have all been captured. I was able to intercept the Fire TV 1 update last week, XDA forum user XDA_h3n grabbed the Fire TV 2 update with my help, and user to_b sniffed out the Fire TV Stick 1 update this morning.
The update packages are essential to creating pre-rooted versions of the latest software update. Without pre-rooted ROMs, it’s not possible to update to the latest software version without giving up root access. Now that all three necessary update packages have been acquired, work can begin on creating the pre-rooted ROMs. I’ve been in touch with rbox, who creates the pre-rooted ROMs for the Fire TV community, and have sent him all of the update packages. They can also be found on my software update history page. Rbox has told me he has started working on creating the pre-rooted ROMs.
Assuming rbox has the free time, and everything goes smoothly, we’ll hopefully see pre-rooted 5.2.4.1 ROMs released for all three previously rootable Fire TV models soon. The Fire TV Stick 2 has never been rooted, so a pre-rooted ROM for it has never been created. If you’re interested in rooting your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, you should take a look at my rooting starters guide to see if it’s possible with your current software version.
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this is great news, will you be taking into account the frame rate problem people have had with the newer update.
rbox doesn’t modify the fireware other than pre-rooting it.
Oh, and the firmware, he doesn’t modify that either…
sigh.
And only the few of us with FTV1’s with unlocked bootloaders would be able to take advantage of any mods. Since the problems is kernel based.
We’ll all have to wait for Amazon to fix the issue.
So in summary, avoid the pre rooted 5.2.4.1 rom unless you like video problems in Kodi.
Oh well.
Unless your display can’t use 24 FPS anyway, or you never plan on using the 24Hz mode anyway. 3:2 Pulldown is still an option. It’s not horrible.
Any news on rooting the firmware 5.2.1 yet?
Kingroot don’t seems to be working.
No. New rooting methods usually appear out of the blue. It’s rare that there is ever any news that precedes the rooting method.
Which is a good thing. Jailbreaking in the iphone world is especially annoying when developers tease you with demonstrated jailbreaks using exploits that never get publicly released.
If it’s causing issues with Kodi it’s a bad update to add. I’d rather he pre-rooted the last stable update that included Alexa.
There is already a pre-rooted ROM for the latest software versions prior to this new 5.2.4.1 version, so if broken 24p playback is a dealbreaker for you, you already have the last stable version right now.
i believe there is an error on playback on this version? shouldnt we wait for amazon to update its error before push for the new rooted version?
+1
I disagree. There’s no way to know how long it will take Amazon to fix the issue. Plus, it only affects 24p playback within 3rd- party apps like Kodi, MrMC, and SPMC. Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, SLing TV, PlayStation Vue, and all other streaming services are not affected.
all pretty academic, as UK now has Alexa in this enabled in version but hey ho guess what, Kodi’s busted. Its a busted flush.
Not even sure my CRT supports 24Hz, so I think I’ll be fine. I just hope YouTube doesn’t break.
Does this mean this won’t affect most folks on a regular flat screen if it doesn’t do 24MHz anyway ?
I’d have to look into how it handles 24p anyway. Does it change the display mode to 24Hz? Does it use 60 or 30Hz but use a special pulldown?
PS: I assume you mean 24Hz, not Megahertz.
Kodi/MrMC/SPMC will change the output video to 24p, meaning your TV will go black for a second as it switches. No special pulldown. The issue does not affect 50Hz and 60Hz, which is what all streaming services use. If you haven’t explicitly gone into Kodi/MrMC/SPMC and changed the refresh rate settings from default, then you wouldn’t even know there was a problem.
Where do we even find a refresh rate setting in Kodi? I don’t see anything.
Soon as I saw the Pre-rooted I thought this was ready to download lol. Great news non the less.
Nice to see rbox back in action and so many chipping in to get these firmware updates sniffed out. Waiting patiently for the 2nd Gen Stick root, but loving the stock experience for the most part too thanks to the built in OTG support. 2nd Gen Stick plus 128gb tiny flash drive = sick little media device.
Agreed. That’s my go to setup when traveling. The only thing that would make it better is a built in microSD or full USB port, but that’s probably asking too much.
I’m way behind with a FTV1 rooted from the start. I have it running 51.1.63_516012020 with CWM (6.0.5.1.4a) which seems to the the latest for this and installed. That is as far as I went. All was running well. Until now. Wanting to catch up, and am unable to find any of the old instructions on adb and the like. Are they available? Reading through what is their and working to install twrp, but that is so out dated, for “ME” that it is getting confusing. So, I’ll work from the beginning if I can find it. Thanks for any thoughts. I’ve been searching here and on XDA-developers.. Have 23 pages open. Thank you.
This is still the go to guide for updating from FireOS 3 to FireOS 5.
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-install-twrp-custom-recovery-on-a-rooted-fire-tv-1/
All the links are there on a step by step format. Just minor things have changed. Like version of TWRP. Also make sure you do Method 5 & Method 1 of update blocking. The router & OpenDNS methods are not full proof or can block more then just updates.
Thank you for you reply, really appreciate your time.
np, just sharing the knowledge that Elias shared with us. With a touch of our experience. I should really do a walk-thru of this guide with my notes added for clarification.
When should all firesticks have the newest update? By what date?
We don’t know. Amazon doesn’t tell us that information. Based on what I’ve seen and read, the Fire TV Stick are updating the slowest, but I expect them all to receive the update by the end of April.
Thank heavens! I have a couple of Gen 1 FireTVs and was actually thinking about just giving up root to get the latest ROM and the features they bring.
Now I will wait. Hopefully someone can also figure out a way to mount external storage to internal RAM as we were able to do with FireOS 3(rooted).
What kind of things does one do with RAM storage on an Android device? How much RAM does the Fire TV have?
AQK is refering to this very old guide form 2014: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-use-a-usb-drive-as-the-fire-tvs-internal-storage/
The only way that is coming to FireOS 5 is if someone knowledgeable ports the base for this to lollipop.
That mod was based on:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1716124
If I update fire tv 2 from 5.0.5 to rooted 5.2.4.1 and want to go back Is it possible? I ask as I had another box that came with 5.2.1.0 when the rooting method came out, I tried to downgrade that to 5.0.5 and that was the last time it ever switched on!
I believe in the history of PreRooted FW for FTV(S)’S with in the same FireOS’s downgrading has always been an option. But you must be rooted & on a PreRooted FW & with a good install of TWRP. You also have to be aware that you might need to request an updated older PreRooted FW since some of the older PreRooted FW might have older versions of TWRP included. As you can see RBox has in the past release older FW with a newer TWRP. Normally they have a r2 in its name. Accidently downgrading TWRP is never recommend.
Yes, 5.0.5 to 5.2.4.1 and then back down is fine. It’s only devices that have ever had the stock 5.2.1.0 or later software (e.g., ones that started with 5.2.1.0 and were then rooted) that cannot downgrade.
I just asked rbox for a bit more info about this and will probably post something about it to let people know. Sorry you had to find out the hard way.
Thanks. Is there a hardware difference in them newer devices then?
No, I don’t think so. There’s something about stock 5.2.1.0 software that makes 5.0.5.1 ad older not run. I’m still trying to figure out the specifics.
So if we went from FireOS 3 to PreRooted v5.2.1.2 we should still be able to go down to PreRooted v5.0.5r2 right ?
That’s correct.
how to download Pre-rooted 5.2.4.1 ROMs for the Fire TV 1 ?
Easy, but only do that if your having a prob your self. Right know there isn’t a Pre-rooted 5.2.4.1 out there.
You just go into TWRP & flash the lower version PreRooted ROM. Just make sure they both include the same version of TWRP.
He said “download” not “downgrade” ;-)
LOL, sorry, need to pay more attention when reading things around midnight.
Once the 5.2.4.1 ROM for the Fire TV 1 is released (which it has not been yet), it will be linked here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/prerooted-stock-images-t2882337
Rbox told me the ROMs are all created but need to be tested, so it’ll be a few more days at least.
Great, seems we should be doing some new FW flashing by the weekend. Baring any surprises.
BTW, It seems Amazon did worked on MirrorCasting this time around. One of the FTVS1’s I gifted updated to the latest FW. And my friend tested casting again & this time it worked. He retested a few days later & it seems fast & stable. In the past the same device on the same FW did not even registered. Neither did other devices. He owns the same daily phone as me on the same FW so it seems they fixed part of the problem. Our phones are on Marshmellow v6.0.1. Hope to verify this on my phone & test a Nexus flashed 7″ Fire tablet once the PreRooted update is released.
bricked. Read through steps 3 times verifying steps. Seemed to have been fine, Firetv 1 rebooted got to black screen white amazon LOGO. Dead. Will not do anything. None of the reboot methods work. keyboard, remote, and USB A to A cable. Is it dead?
You’ll need to be more precise. Which of the 2 sections where u following? Had you comply & verify all the requirements? After which step did you reboot? Etc ?
This was the link.
this twrp: bueller-twrp_3.0.0-7
latest Pre-rooted rom: bueller-51.1.4.0_514006420-rooted+updated
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-install-twrp-custom-recovery-on-a-rooted-fire-tv-1/
Followed all the way through. Added TWRP to sd, remaned added prerooted rom. Verified that root, CWM installed, and MD5. All commands worked as they were supposed w/ correct result per the thread, all the way through to adb reboot recovery FTV restarted went black, then white Amazon logo. I don’t get it. I know the files weren’t corrupted, so I’m guessing that I may have had the incorrect TWRP. After some reading, I decided to let it just sit, and did for two days. Nothing.
It is a pain. Really don’t want to get a FT2 or stick, and the “only” reason I updated is because many recommended to make sure to run the latest KODI for obvious security reasons. Couldn’t load SPMC either.
Then followed this to try and unbrick, after waiting for three days for an A to A cable.
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-unbrick-and-prevent-bricking-an-amazon-fire-tv/
None of these worked. Including power down and restart connected with the cable. I am currently at the Black screen w/ White Amazon logo and a slow flashing white power light on the front. Still unable to force a restart even with the remote.
THANK YOU FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN HELP WITH. NOT to mention your time.
Some recommend leaving the device on for a few days in case it gets past the problem.
One very important thing you did not mention was whether your bootloader was fully unlocked or not ? This is what changes what TWRP file to install & how.
Would be best we continue this @ XDA-Developers. PM there to get to the bottom.
Im running the latest version on my aftv2. Can i upgrate this prerooted firmware to my device? Thanks
Rbox’s 5.2.4.1r1 is out 1st May, see xda.
and it works. Rooted my FTV1/TWRP and and now using Alexa on it in the UK…sweet. Is it worth it for the new gui…….meerrhh maybe not.
i have an amazon fire tv 1 version and it updated to 5.2.4.1 and know in the apps menu its all blank the previous version the apps was on the sides and when i clicked the apps folder all my apps i sideloaded are inside
my amazon fire tv is not rooted am i still possible to downgrade
my amazon fire tv?
or not?
or is there a way to see all my apks i installed in the apps folder on version
5.2.4.1
i think xd ayyy com has now rooted custom rooms for 5.2.4.1
Hi,
I had a aftv2, used your guide successully to root it and was running perfectly. Just the other day however, it only gives we a black screen, and the message ‘unsupported’ as it hit the keyboard or controller. I have tried different hdmi cables, power off, going into recovery, and still nothing, i even tried a different tv… but i get the same issue.
From what i have read it might be a HDCP issue, but its strange it just started, isnt it? I have firmware sloane 5.0.5.1
Any idea what i should do?