A new 5.2.4.1 software update has just started rolling out to all Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick models. This is the update that 1st-generation Fire TV and Fire TV Stick owners have long been waiting for because this update finally adds the all new Fire TV interface to those older devices. The new “cinematic interface” was released to 2nd-gen devices at the end of last year, and now it is finally coming to the Fire TV 1 and Fire TV Stick 1.
Like all Fire TV software updates, this 5.2.4.1 update is slowly rolling out in stages. Only a small number of devices will receive the update at first, but as the days and weeks pass, more devices will be updated. You can go into your device settings to check for updates, but if it is not your device’s turn to update, there is no way to force or manually install the update. You just have to wait patiently.
I expect this update to be one of the slowest rollouts we’ve had with several pauses/halts along the way. Amazon rolls out updates to a few devices at a time in order to catch any major issues that would require a halt of the update and a quick fix. With a major interface overhaul like the one in this update for 1st-gen devices, there is a huge potential for unforeseen issues to arise.
When this new interface began rolling out to 2nd-gen devices, it was temporarily halted to investigate server load concerns and then resumed. Since the new interface has been out on 2nd-gen devices for a few months now, hopefully things will go smoothly with the rollout for 1st-gen devices, but those devices, especially the 1st-gen Fire TV Stick, have much weaker processors, so they need special consideration.
As always, I’ll be digging through the update to uncover all the changes and features it brings. Let us know in the comments below when you receive the update, which model it arrived on, and if you notice anything new.
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Since someone always asks, yes, sideloading and Kodi work fine with this new update.
Actually they don’t, kodi will no longer Download through previous methods.
New krypton works fine using apps2fire as a sideloader, i have had the new interface update
Can you show us how you to do this please in case I can’t upload kodi
OMG OMG OMG!! :)
Do you have the image and is rbox informed?
No, I do not have the image yet. Since I informed the world about this 10 minutes ago, I’m guessing rbox does not know yet ;-)
Sit tight. I’m sure we’ll get the image and rbox will make a ROM eventually.
Besides the new interface on gen one units, are there any other new updates?
Yes. Writing up a post now. Stay tuned.
Thanks!
Not wanting this. Just another way to make the gen1 boxes more sluggish.
Wondering why this needs to be pushed to Gen2 boxes, if all it adds is the newer GUI to Gen1?
Bullet Point 2!
Notes and Known Changes
Adds new interface to Fire TV 1 and Fire TV Stick 1
Data usage monitoring added
That list will grow as I find more things. When I wrote this post, the list only had the first item.
Elias, Please check Screen MiraCast compatibility with Android devices. I a hopping they did a little work on the back end of the FW to help with phones on newer FW like Marshmallow & Nugget to be able to Screen Share on FireOS 5. This is a basic thing that has been broken or motly missed than hit on FireOS 5 for a long while.
It doesn’t seem like screen mirroring has changed, at least not for my devices. This type of thing is very difficult to test though, since it varies so much depending on the device doing the mirroring, so you may see different results with your particular phones and tablets.
What Ichijoe said. Hope there’s more to it than just data usage monitoring added, since I’d bet most users have no need of it.
Well, the main purpose of this update is definitely to add the new interface to 1st-gen devices. 2nd-gen devices are getting it too because there are a few extra new things, and Amazon can now once again have the same software version on all Fire TV models.
As long as it doesn’t mess with my setup I have now (including Kodi) I’m good.
None of my three FTV2s got the update yet, which is odd since one of them normally gets the updates very early.
I expect this will be the slowest rollout we’ve ever seen, since there is so much potential for things to go wrong. You’ve got a completely new interface for 3 year old devices and a voice assistant for 2 new countries, all in this update. This update will probably take all month to roll out to 100% of devices.
Data monitoring!!
Finally! Thanks for the good news!
Would have been cooler had the pushed an actual Nougat Update.
You’re lucky if people signed up as developers will see that on gen 1 within the year, if at all. It’s not a power problem though. My tablet has pretty much the same specs and runs LOS Nougat just fine.
Soooooo will it also FINALLY bring Alexa to my UK first gen Fire TV?
Wonder if the fire TV stick 1st Gen finally will get the VPN libraries that the gen 2 has so you can sideload openvpn on it and have it work?
If there’s a easy way for me to check that, let me know it and I will check. I’ve never used a VPN, so this isn’t something I’m familiar with.
You can probably try one of the free VPN Apps from the PlayStore.
This looks like a good free one…
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=free.vpn.unblock.proxy.turbovpn
Then using a browser, go to DNSLeakTest.com to check your IP & check any DNS leakage.
If your able to stay logged in thru that VPN for a while without the app crashing or disconnection. Then they probably fixed the issue.
Just double checked & that Turbo VPN “Encrypts data using OpenVPN protocols (UDP / TCP).” So if it works then any OpenVPN App & other VPN apps should work too.
First thing I did after receiving the update on my first generation firestick was to enable the VPN which was already loaded and checked the IP Address. But sorry,it hadn’t changed!
I read somewhere that the problem is something to do with the hardware configuration on the 1st gen.stick.
You’re crazy if you want to run a VPN on the first gen fire stick.
Why? I was wanting to do just that.
I have the updates blocked for my fire tv for the moment I will stay in version 5.2.1.2 if for this we do not have imaginary root for another recently arrived, just for the change of aesthetics I will not complicate things more I will follow the both of this subject see what happens.
Will wait for RBox to do his magic :)
Did they fix the “Screen Calibration” setting on the Fire TV Stick 2 this time? Amazon “assured” me they were working on the fix for the “next update” 6 months ago…
I haven’t received the update on a Fire TV Stick 2 yet, but I will certainly be checking for that first thing when it arrives on those devices. Please let me know if you (or anyone else reading this) gets the update on a Stick 2 before me.
I just had a FS2 update yesterday. I can check it out and report back.
Definitely not there
I had the update today and still shows the text for you to check your tv overscan.
Bummer
Yay, my 1st Gen box received the update yesterday.
What absolute trash. Either the Amazon reps are told to lie about this, or the devs are totally incompetent. At this rate it wouldn’t surprise me if they retroactively removed the option from 1st gen sticks as well. Guess I need to ask them for a refund since they obviously don’t care about fixing their devices.
FINALLY! It’s been an excricating wait for this update to come to my first-gen Fire TV. Checked for the update today (5th April, UK) and not yet available. Knowing my luck Amazon will halt the rollout before I get the update and we’ll have to wait another 3 months.
Thanks for keeping us updated Elias.
Fingers crossed for USB OTG on the 1st gen!
Elias, can you check if apps like FireStarter are still blacklisted as before. You had mentioned they had added & then gotten rid of the “not in my house” app in a prior FW version. Wonder if they are still kept that in this time around.
And please check Screen MiraCast compatibility with Android devices. I a hopping they did a little work on the back end of the FW to help with phones on newer FW like Marshmallow & Nugget to be able to Screen Share on FireOS 5. This is a basic thing that has been broken or motly missed than hit on FireOS 5 for a long while.
Thanks.
I can’t imagine they’d ever unblock FireStarter. Best to just give up on that. I replied to your other comment on mirroring. In short, I didn’t see any changes regarding mirroring.
Thanks for your quick work…
Any idea if this update is coming from the same Amazon Domains as previous updates?
I am currently on Version 5.0.5 (Build 537174420). Do you think it’s time to upgrade to the latest update? Do you think it will improve my device or should I just stay where I am at? I am still using Fire Starter.
If you update, FireStarter will stop working. You can check my version history and see if there are new features that you care about.
If you have root!? Why can’t fire starter work on newer os5 version?
Amazon blocked it in Fire OS 5
IMO, update to Version 5.2.1.0 (Build 550145120). I was using 5.0.5 with firestarter but Amazon broke something with Prime video streaming using the slightly older interface. The 5.2.1.0 interface is slightly newer and works properly and firestarter isn’t really needed since kodi shows up in recent apps, so less ram used without firestarter running anyway. Lesson learned, never buy Amazon hardware again and avoid dealing with this nonsense.
Are there any changes in API so that passthrough in Kodi will work again?
I’m using a shitty- version of Kodi to make passthrough available right now.
Use spec not kodi
What is “spec”?
SPMC sorry spell check
http://troypoint.com/how-to-update-kodi-on-fire-tv/
anyway to sideload the update? I hate waiting forever to get them…
Yes, but first you need what is essentially the ROM image.
I can’t wait for the ROM!
I guess I will have to buy a Chromecast for my RV to enable casting prime movies from my smart phone to the RV TV?
That or DisplayLink via a powered USB hub via an OTG adapter. I don’t think the MSRP for the DisplayLink adapters are under 20 or 50 USD, but I’ve had good luck with finding them for under 5 USD at second hand stores.
But will we be able to OTG with the version 1 with this update?
I have neither the update or want to buy the accessories if it’s not possible, hoping someone has them laying around who would be willing to see.
I thought you meant streaming from your smart phone. Sorry.
In Dec when they pushed out Prime video 2nd gen interface on Roku and it completely just trashed the ability to use it.It still completely freezes screens and if lucky will reboot TV after only a few minutes or if not you sit and stare at a blank screen. Months on now Amazon still non responsive to problem. See Amazon forums IE Interface sucks and Buffering problems among others. I wouldn’t now piss on amazon or their products if they were on fire and am cancelling prime and all things amazon. Good luck with update you’ll need it.
This is a site is for the Fire TV and Stick, not Roku. Did you mean to post this on Yelp and got lost?
Had you first gen gotten this? Mine hasn’t yet.
One of mine has, other not yet
Haven’t got the update yet, Can’t wait. So many new features. My favorite is voice search for youtube…..AMAZING.
So, I discovered my Fire TV Stick was updated to 5.2.4.1. I also discovered that my app list is completely blank (nothing in it) & I can find no way to force the apps I have installed on the Fire TV Stick into that list. I checked by looking in the application manager in setting & my apps are still loaded to the device. I opened a couple successfully through the application manager. So, I can access my apps but it is through a long, convoluted series of clicks. Has anyone else had the issue of your apps list being empty & if so, did you find a solution for getting apps into it?
Open and load the apps a few times each. I think if you hold center button down you may see it or options to move apps to recent list.
I am not able to sideload any verison of kodi or spmc with the new update. Via sideload i get error “Install Failed No matching Abis”… but Im able to sideload other apks. I also tried installing with es file explorer and i get “app not installed”
Any news on the passthrough API used in this release? I’m hoping this fixes the issues kodi/mrmc/spmc have with DTS passthrough.
Thanks.
No update yet got my first gen in the US.
Still no update here yet on 12th April 2017 in the UK.
Been checking for updates daily.
Knowing my luck, I’ll get the update in December :(
I’m in the UK as well. Going by that 5.2.4.0 was first discovered 30/11/2016, going by this site. My Fire TV gen2 which I bought at launch, didn’t get the update until 16/12/2016, I’m guessing it’s going to be closer to the end of next week before we’ll even start to see updates here.
I live in Germany and I got the update on the 12th of April and now have alexa which works great.
My firestick has updated here in the UK to 5.2.4.1
It should now support IPVanish VPN
Woop Woop!
Still waiting for my Fire TV gen2 here in the UK.
Still no update.
Btw it was my 1st gen stick that updated.
I still have 2 other sticks that have not been updated yet to it, i guess its all on a slow staged rollout.
Still no update
Still no update
Do you have an updated 1st-gen fire tv stick? Does it now support IPVanish vpn? Mine’s updated, but not sure it can use a vpn. Thanks.
No update on my gen 1 fire stick yet
man still no update!! I even did a factory reset on my 1st Gen firestick this weekend to try and get the update but nothing :(
Has anyone on the 1st generation stick recieved the update and then tried using a VPN?
Did it work with a VPN and your location changed?
Thanks in advance
No update on my gen 1 fire stick yet.
..Still
Well looks like i answered my own question. I came home from work to the 5.2.4.1 update on one of my 1st gen sticks. I tried a couple of free VPNs and i am sad to say they did not work
i have the update an have tried 3 different VPNS including Nord ia openvpn and none will change my IP Address
I have had the update on 1st gen stick but still waiting for my 1st gen box to update.
I too am waiting for the update on 1st Gen Fire TV.
I have had this update, but my apps screen is now blank and its not letting me load the appstore properly by pressing the Home button.
Any idea how to fix it?
So weird that our main Fire TV Stick in our living room got the update the other day, but the secondary one in our bedroom (which is actually a Fire TV box) hasn’t yet! What a strange roll out method! I guess it comes down to activity so I’ve been trying to turn our secondary one on more.
I just received the update on a 1st gen Fire TV box in Germany.
Did u get the new home screen?
Just received the update on one of my three 1st gens and the DTS passthrough is still borked. Very disappointed that Amazon didn’t fix this.
Disappointed in amazon with there updates and service. I’m thinking next time we’ll do Nvidia shield TV box…
Me too, I hate it when a company continues to release updates for old generations of products. These continued updates to the thing I bought years ago are annoying. Why can’t I just never get updates so it’s easier for me to decide to buy the new product?
How can you determine if a fire stick is a first or second generation device?
Still no update for a Fire TV box gen2, based in the UK.
Hello mate,
You might want to hold off on the update. Turns out that the update is producing poor video playback due the refresh rate not functioning like the current version.
Hi,
Is this info from gen1 sticks or faster gen2 boxes?
I can see the new menu system being too much for the older gens.
Whoops – just read the new article on the matter. Seems to be for third party players like Kodi. I don’t use that myself.
Can you send me the link or posted please
Are we still using kodi to watch films
No idea. Currently Kodi is my last resort for playing videos. I just use MX Player.
Just got it on my first gen fire stick in US
Finally got the update here in the UK for Fire TV Gen2.
My 1st gen stick updated yesterday and everything is working just as it did,my app’s etc are all there and working, one thing i did have in mind that the update would bring was Alexa integration with prime music, for some reason i had it in my head that i would be able to use Alexa to search and play prime music but if try to search music it only searches my music folder, either i am doing it wrong or it was never intended to do this
I just found out that the music integration is for Amazon Unlimited and not Prime, at least here in the UK that is as the person i spoke to was not sure about other countries
I’ve recently started using my FireStick again (it was in a drawer for the best part of a year) it has the new software but I cannot get my DNS services to work. The provider says it’s an IPv6 issue but my broadband provider assures me that they don’t support IPv6 yet. I use the same DNS on an AppleTV on the same network.
Has something changed with this update, or a previous update that blocks the DNS service?
I have a gen 1 and recv the update. I have tried several times with a couple different files to get Kodi and I am having no luck ! Help ?
Use apps2tofire app on your phone or tablet to pysh over. Also hv unknown sources checked and 3rd party apps. I dont tkink you need adb debugging checked anymore, this now shops the use of the USB port.
Apps2fire
Install Downloader from the Amazon app store.
Then open app, and use this link.
http://bit.ly/downloadkodi171
Sideload kodi with appsfire app on your Android phone or Android tab. Make sure you have unknown sources and sideloaded or 3rd party apps checked off on aftv box or stick. With the newer software updates the ADB debugging option may cause you an issue with external hard drives on firetv os. Meaning if you use an external hard drive is application storage our picture, music, videos, and data storage it may not work with ADB checked.
How can I remove movies etc from recents list?
May be you can’t but you can hide recent list. For that you will need help of google.
After firestick update allcast doesn’t recognize allcast receiver on firestick. I get the message please install allcast on firestick. Any help to this problem?
I have the same problem after my 1st Gen Firestick updated today. Mega Cast for Fire TV also doesn’t work.
Any ideas how to sort this out.
Amazon rep confirmed that there’s a problem with the latest update and casting. Apparantly a patch will be released soon.