How can I reinstall Firmware on FireTV? - Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi everyone,
I received a FireTV box from a friend who didn't want it anymore. The model # on the back says DV83YW. I believe this is FireTV 2nd Gen, correct?
Anyways, the FireTV box was working when I received it, but it would not install the YouTube app from the app store. I attempted to do a Firware update but it would not install that either.
After contacting Amazon support they told me to do a factory reset which completed successfully. However, now, after connecting to the internet and selecting language the firmware automatically goes into firmware update and fails. It looks like it fails to even download the update. Then, Amazon support basically told me that the FireTV box is bricked and they can't help further.
Is there any way to flash the latest firmware via the USB port to get it working again?
Thanks in advance for the help!

omairkha said:
Hi everyone,
I received a FireTV box from a friend who didn't want it anymore. The model # on the back says DV83YW. I believe this is FireTV 2nd Gen, correct?
Anyways, the FireTV box was working when I received it, but it would not install the YouTube app from the app store. I attempted to do a Firware update but it would not install that either.
After contacting Amazon support they told me to do a factory reset which completed successfully. However, now, after connecting to the internet and selecting language the firmware automatically goes into firmware update and fails. It looks like it fails to even download the update. Then, Amazon support basically told me that the FireTV box is bricked and they can't help further.
Is there any way to flash the latest firmware via the USB port to get it working again?
Thanks in advance for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can root your FireTV via this, i think
https://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-fire-tv-2-box-running-latest-software-version-has-been-rooted/
After that flash TWRP, from there flash latest prerooted System Images.
If the prerooted images don't have updates blocked, when a system update is available then it will download it f for you which will be in update.bla.bla.bin format, copy that from your data partition to internal storage
This will be your stock rom, you can use TWRP to wipe the system and flash Stock if you want

SweenWolf said:
You can root your FireTV via this, i think
https://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-fire-tv-2-box-running-latest-software-version-has-been-rooted/
After that flash TWRP, from there flash latest prerooted System Images.
If the prerooted images don't have updates blocked, when a system update is available then it will download it f for you which will be in update.bla.bla.bin format, copy that from your data partition to internal storage
This will be your stock rom, you can use TWRP to wipe the system and flash Stock if you want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I'll give this a shot but not sure if it will work. As it stands now, the Fire TV halts at the firmware update error screen after I select the language and connect to a network. I can't get into home screen or settings to enable the ADB Debugging. Hopefully it's already enabled, or is there another way to get into the settings via the remote?

So just as I thought I can't connect to the FireTv through adb since I can't get to the home screen or the settings. Any other ideas?

Also cannot update fire tv 2 sloane
omairkha said:
So just as I thought I can't connect to the FireTv through adb since I can't get to the home screen or the settings. Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will not help you but i am in a very similar predicament.
Got Fire TV 2 from friend on 5.2.6.0 which is OLD firmware, and i cannot get it to update. Many factory resets.
Amazon support is COMEPLETELY useless, but i would suggest contacting Amazon and beg them to return it for another.
On this one, although i AM able to access UI screen and use it, i cannot update it, in turn i cannot install Youtube TV - the one with cable tv channels not regular youtube. The primary purpose for me having this.

For anyone with a similar problem in 2022 , the fire tv 2 box aka sloane
had its last update at 5.2.8 I think . don't hold me to that lol.
Basically you aren't going to find that ROM update around after you unlock and flash the
box, its only shared on Amazon as source code and the available roms you would use
to restore are all pre rooted which usually blocks updates .
WHAT you NEED to do is search xda for unlocking and rooting fire tv 2 Sloane .
The process involves opening your box and shorting certain pins while you execute
Linux command and software .
Amazon purposely wants to phase out the usefulness and functionality of the fire tv Sloane , so this leaves users with a problem .
Closest ROM you can probably get to flash in twrp would be 5.2.7.6
For anyone looking to update the ROM beyond that , you would have to contact the
devs for help on a specific method to allow the updates again .
I'm sure there's a way to do it
I'm not a dev though , I just enjoy guiding people to see they find the help they need.
Peace.

Related

FTV 1 - How to cancel an update that wants to run??

I have a rooted AFTV1 with RBox's boot menu and root installed. I had all Amazon updates blocked via my router's firewall, but when I did a firmware upgrade on it.......it reset my configuration and the FTV was exposed to the update servers. When I realized this, I went to my FTV and it said that it was ready to install an update with a countdown. I was indeed lucky I caught it, and I immediately pulled the power. I was wondering how I should proceed to prevent this update that had been downloaded from running? Will a re-flashing of Rbox's pre rooted rom through the boot menu delete the Amazon update or where are the update files held (located) so I can find and delete them before they have a chance to execute?
I did power back on to be sure the boot menu was still there, but I don't want to fully boot this box again until I know how to prevent losing root & open bootloader for good. I know I should have disabled the update service in the firetv as a backup, but hindsight is 20/20. Thanks in advance.
This fellow deleted his.
HTML:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/firmware-update-5-0-5-1-t3351203#6
Adaptel said:
I have a rooted AFTV1 with RBox's boot menu and root installed. I had all Amazon updates blocked via my router's firewall, but when I did a firmware upgrade on it.......it reset my configuration and the FTV was exposed to the update servers. When I realized this, I went to my FTV and it said that it was ready to install an update with a countdown. I was indeed lucky I caught it, and I immediately pulled the power. I was wondering how I should proceed to prevent this update that had been downloaded from running? Will a re-flashing of Rbox's pre rooted rom through the boot menu delete the Amazon update or where are the update files held (located) so I can find and delete them before they have a chance to execute?
I did power back on to be sure the boot menu was still there, but I don't want to fully boot this box again until I know how to prevent losing root & open bootloader for good. I know I should have disabled the update service in the firetv as a backup, but hindsight is 20/20. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have the boot menue installed correct and running a pre-rotted image it should fail installation. Rbox build in stock image installation protection in his released pre-rooted images.
bula1ca said:
If you have the boot menue installed correct and running a pre-rotted image it should fail installation. Rbox build in stock image installation protection in his released pre-rooted images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a post on AFTVnews that says that is not the case.
HTML:
http://www.aftvnews.com/twrp-custom-recovery-will-not-reject-a-stock-amazon-update/
2WhlWzrd said:
There is a post on AFTVnews that says that is not the case.
HTML:
http://www.aftvnews.com/twrp-custom-recovery-will-not-reject-a-stock-amazon-update/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are confused, bud. This tread is about a Firetv 1st gen.
Post from AFTVnews is referring to a rooted Firetv 2 not 1 what I posted was regarding 1st gen Firetv. FYI rbox fixed recovery for FireTv2 as well in his latest TWRP release.
Adaptel said:
I have a rooted AFTV1 with RBox's boot menu and root installed. I had all Amazon updates blocked via my router's firewall, but when I did a firmware upgrade on it.......it reset my configuration and the FTV was exposed to the update servers. When I realized this, I went to my FTV and it said that it was ready to install an update with a countdown. I was indeed lucky I caught it, and I immediately pulled the power. I was wondering how I should proceed to prevent this update that had been downloaded from running? Will a re-flashing of Rbox's pre rooted rom through the boot menu delete the Amazon update or where are the update files held (located) so I can find and delete them before they have a chance to execute?
I did power back on to be sure the boot menu was still there, but I don't want to fully boot this box again until I know how to prevent losing root & open bootloader for good. I know I should have disabled the update service in the firetv as a backup, but hindsight is 20/20. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have ClockworkMod installed, the update should fail to install. That said, to be extra safe, I would boot into ClockworkMod and then connect to the device via ADB to have access to the file system. Then, with ADB shell, look for a .bin file in /cache or in /sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.device.software.ota/files/
If you find one, delete it with the "rm" command.

Want to upgrade my rooted fire TV Gen 2

I got a Fire TV Gen 2 rooted Firmware is 5.04 536116920. I need to upgrade the firmware and want to keep root Mainly because of the the Netflix glitch. I tried to follow the the guide http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-upda...tv-to-the-latest-version-without-losing-root/ but I am getting nowhere
I do not think I got ClockworkMod installed but even for this I got permission error Chmod seems to be applied but no luck!
guliver365 said:
I got a Fire TV Gen 2 rooted Firmware is 5.04 536116920. I need to upgrade the firmware and want to keep root Mainly because of the the Netflix glitch. I tried to follow the the guide http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-upda...tv-to-the-latest-version-without-losing-root/ but I am getting nowhere
I do not think I got ClockworkMod installed but even for this I got permission error Chmod seems to be applied but no luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Head over to AFTVnews.com again and look for his guide on fire tv 2.
You probably be best to install TWRP recovery and then the latest pre rooted ROM. Making sure after all steps you wont update it. As soon as your back into the os run the command to block updates.
Another good suggestion is to make a backup (preferably to micros sd card for space reasons) as soon as you can. Then after you have everything setup.
I just updated my fire tv 2 earlier today very simple to do when you have TWRP. The pre rooted roms are linked in his guide also.
The link you have been looking for is not what is used.
sconnyuk said:
Head over to AFTVnews.com again and look for his guide on fire tv 2.
You probably be best to install TWRP recovery and then the latest pre rooted ROM. Making sure after all steps you wont update it. As soon as your back into the os run the command to block updates.
Another good suggestion is to make a backup (preferably to micros sd card for space reasons) as soon as you can. Then after you have everything setup.
I just updated my fire tv 2 earlier today very simple to do when you have TWRP. The pre rooted roms are linked in his guide also.
The link you have been looking for is not what is used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you got it right I Finally updated to 5.2.1.0 and added TWRP following this guide http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-root-the-amazon-fire-tv-2 for a while I was scared since the amazon app was saying update in progress I even rebooted several time to prevent it and stop my rooter but everything is fine and I added the "pm disable com.amazon.device.software.ota"
I Just need to install fire starter if it is working with this version
I just updated today from the out-of-box (i think 5.0.1) version that I rooted to the latest images from April 2016 (TWRP as well), and firestarter has been lost for me. I ran a suggested adb line to enable the app (apparently the OS blocks firestarter by name, and has the ability to blacklist/block apps like that without OTA updates). Even though the app showed back up, it's functionality is lost. I've tried firestopper as well, but the FireOS seems to break the homebutton detection, which is why I used the app. Fortunately, I enjoy the new FireOS ability to double-tap home button and see a list of apps, which is where Kodi actually shows up for me, since it won't show in the Recent Apps. Good luck, just wanted to post my anectdote!

AFTV1 Downgrade issue

I've seen that some people were able to successfully downgrade AFTV1 after rooting with Dirtycow. I'm able to get root, but downgrade doesn't seem to work and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.
I have an amazon fire TV V1 with 51.1.4.0_User_514006420 software version. I downloaded the 51.1.0.2_user_510058520 update, renamed it to update.zip, followed the guide (here: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-manually-upgrade-or-downgrade-the-amazon-fire-tv/) for changing the ROM. When I do adb reboot recovery I get this message:
“System update was not successful. Your amazon fire tv will restart in a few minutes and should resume normal operation.”
When it restarts, it’s still on the same version I had. I’ve tried pushing the stock recovery image like the bottom of the upgrade/downgrade guide suggested, but it doesn’t seem to work. Does someone have any other ideas on how to get this to work?
I checked that the update checks out with the md5 hash. I just can’t get it to work. What should I try to do next? Is there a better guide? I'd like to install a pre-rooted ROM.
On the off chance that Amazon changed the 51.1.0.2 image they are serving, try downloading and using the one from here. Then follow my guide here to install it. You should also check the md5 hash value of the 51.1.0.2 image AFTER it has been transferred to the FTV1 by following this guide.
If you still have problems, copy and paste your entire ADB/shell text here so I can see if you did anything wrong.
@AFTVnews.com thanks for the response! I checked the md5 and it seemed to have matched. I re-ran through the steps an it appears I may have put command in cache instead of cache/recovery. It pushed successfully.
Now... it seems like that version of AFTV is strange. It has a lock screen and my aftv remote won't allow me to unlock it. Here is an image of what I see: Locked Amazon fire TV Screen so I can't open it to run towel root. Any ideas?
Update: I was able to get passed the lock screen by clicking a bunch of buttons on the remote at the same time. I'm rooted again! I'll continue the guide! Thanks for your work on this!
Update2: I'm running the latest version of the rooted software. Thanks for the guides!
uofirob said:
@AFTVnews.com
Update2: I'm running the latest version of the rooted software. Thanks for the guides!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Glad it worked out.
Last night, I stopped after the custom latest rooted version of the ROM was installed. I keep getting "Amazon is unable to connect to the service" when going to the different menu options. Do I have to disable my firewall rules on my router, or was it just an oddity?
AFTVnews.com said:
Awesome. Glad it worked out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I confirmed that I'm still getting the unable to connect to service last night. Should I just do a factory reset? Would that help? At this moment, the only way for me to launch apps is to go through System -> Manage Applications and it's really annoying. I was able to confirm that Kodi was able to connect to the internet, so I know that it's not the connection.
uofirob said:
I confirmed that I'm still getting the unable to connect to service last night. Should I just do a factory reset? Would that help? At this moment, the only way for me to launch apps is to go through System -> Manage Applications and it's really annoying. I was able to confirm that Kodi was able to connect to the internet, so I know that it's not the connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you're rooted and on the latest prerooted ROM, you should remove the domain blocks on your router/firewall. It sounds like that's the issue. Just be sure you have done method 1 at the very least from my update blocking guide. You can also do method 5 to be extra safe.
I tried removing the firewall blocks but I still get "We are currently unable to contact our servers." Should I re-add the firewall blocks and factory reset?
UPDATE: I was able to resolve this by signing in to my amazon account. Apparently for some reason it signed me out. Thanks for all of your help!
AFTVnews.com said:
Since you're rooted and on the latest prerooted ROM, you should remove the domain blocks on your router/firewall. It sounds like that's the issue. Just be sure you have done method 1 at the very least from my update blocking guide. You can also do method 5 to be extra safe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Firetv2: need help unblocking updates, unrooting, etc

Hi guys. I have a FireTV 4k box. The 2nd gen one.
When I bought it way back upon release a few years ago, I rooted it, used it for a bit, and put it in a box. Just recently I took it back out and started using it again.
Whatever method I used to root it etc is unknown, as it was afew years ago, and I can't find anything similar anywhere online. At the time, downloader wasn't a thing, and you had to adb in and sideload apps.
I am currently on 5.2.6.3
The box won't update at all.
I adb' into the box, and found SU doesn't work. I was able to get temp root via mtk-su and successfully ran the pm unhide com.amazon.device.software.ota and pm enable com.amazon.device.software.ota commands.
The firetv will now at least SEARCH for updates (where it wouldn't before) but doesn't find any to install.
The manage_recovery command to check status won't run. Says manage_recovery not found.
I'm not sure what to do next.
I just want it back to completely stock.
I'm having issues with apps working, but upon restart of the firetv the somehow get transferred to a non-existent sd card and will no longer run.
Netflix in particular.
Can you guys give any guidance here?
zx7ninja said:
Hi guys. I have a FireTV 4k box. The 2nd gen one.
When I bought it way back upon release a few years ago, I rooted it, used it for a bit, and put it in a box. Just recently I took it back out and started using it again.
Whatever method I used to root it etc is unknown, as it was afew years ago, and I can't find anything similar anywhere online. At the time, downloader wasn't a thing, and you had to adb in and sideload apps.
I am currently on 5.2.6.3
The box won't update at all.
I adb' into the box, and found SU doesn't work. I was able to get temp root via mtk-su and successfully ran the pm unhide com.amazon.device.software.ota and pm enable com.amazon.device.software.ota commands.
The firetv will now at least SEARCH for updates (where it wouldn't before) but doesn't find any to install.
The manage_recovery command to check status won't run. Says manage_recovery not found.
I'm not sure what to do next.
I just want it back to completely stock.
I'm having issues with apps working, but upon restart of the firetv the somehow get transferred to a non-existent sd card and will no longer run.
Netflix in particular.
Can you guys give any guidance here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know you wish to go back to stock but perhaps you may wish to use the new and improved root (Magisk or Supersu) and upgrade your box that way.
The Sloane 2nd generation Firetv Box can now be fully unlocked. This will allow you to upgrade your box to a more recent firmware.
A simple step by step guide can be found here :
[UNLOCK][ROOT][TWRP][UNBRICK] FireTV 2 (sloane)
Read this whole guide before starting. This is for the 2nd gen Fire TV (sloane) Current relase: amonet-sloane-v1.1 NOTE: This process does not require you to open your device if you're already rooted or you have TWRP. NOTE: If something goes...
forum.xda-developers.com
Hope this helps
Regards
That is a good idea, and may work. I'll give it a shot and see what happens, thanks!
Hopefully it fixes whatever bug is causing apps to flag as installed on a non-existent SD card and no longer run.
All I'm looking for, really.
zx7ninja said:
That is a good idea, and may work. I'll give it a shot and see what happens, thanks!
Hopefully it fixes whatever bug is causing apps to flag as installed on a non-existent SD card and no longer run.
All I'm looking for, really.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's just really old firmware tbh so the cert.zip and/or the ota update apks are probably deprecated.
Goto unlock root twrp unbrick Sloane thread here :
[UNLOCK][ROOT][TWRP][UNBRICK] FireTV 2 (sloane)
Read this whole guide before starting. This is for the 2nd gen Fire TV (sloane) Current relase: amonet-sloane-v1.1 NOTE: This process does not require you to open your device if you're already rooted or you have TWRP. NOTE: If something goes...
forum.xda-developers.com
Just have a read through the OP on page one and familiarise yourself. Follow it to the letter and you'll be able to update your box no problem.
If you need any help just ask and someone will be around to help you out if need be.
Regards
Is there an advantage of doing this over the pre-rooted rooms flashed in TWRP? I have a rooted fire TV v2 that I have done periodic updates on but it seems like it always has another update to do. Updates are blocked but it pops a message randomly saying there is and update giving 60 seconds to respond or it reboots trying to update. Would this method of root/updates be easier or more up to date?
ottoguy said:
Is there an advantage of doing this over the pre-rooted rooms flashed in TWRP? I have a rooted fire TV v2 that I have done periodic updates on but it seems like it always has another update to do. Updates are blocked but it pops a message randomly saying there is and update giving 60 seconds to respond or it reboots trying to update. Would this method of root/updates be easier or more up to date?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely unlock Sloane with this new method.
IMO you have FULL control over the box. Also you have more easier management of your root access (Magisk Manager)
OTA can be handled easily either by adb command or use an app such as luckypatcher to disable/enable ota onscreen.
I would recommend this unlock to anyone wanting a more upto date root and fireos.

Rooted Firestick 4K reboots after opening Prime Video

My 4k firestick is attached to my Sony Android TV and I haven't tried using Prime Video on the Firestick for quite some time as I usually watch Prime Video via Android TV on the Sony. When I recently tried Amazon Prime on the Firestick I had audio for about 10 seconds but no video and the the Firestick rebooted. On a second try there was 10 seconds or so of audio and no video and then the firestick froze. There was no response to any button on the controller and I had to physically disconnect power to get it to reboot. I'm on the latest version 6.2.8.1 of the OS.
My firestick is rooted and I've extended the internal memory onto a USB. I have also installed the Launcher Manager and the Wolf launcher.
Oddly, Amazon Prime will play trailers but not the main video ?? Other streaming sources such as the BBC iPlayer work fine.
Has anyone else experienced this or can offer an explanation/fix for this ?
This is discussed in other forum post also,
Just update TZ via twrp.
Download TWRP flash package from
Fire TV Stick 4K 6.2.8.1 r3_4054 Fully Patched Rom
Here's the latest release 6.2.8.1_r3_4054 of the pre-rooted rom I've combined into one patched ota removed zip which packs the downgraded older interface with accessibility settings working again. After flashing, clear data in...
forum.xda-developers.com
Thank you for your prompt response. In the meantime I installed mantis-6.2.8.1-rooted_r2.zip but it has led to the disappearance of TWRP so I can't try your solution. Thank you all the same.
fourlans said:
Thank you for your prompt response. In the meantime I installed mantis-6.2.8.1-rooted_r2.zip but it has led to the disappearance of TWRP so I can't try your solution. Thank you all the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing rbox's prerooted rom in no was can remove your TWRP.
If you flashed his rom on top of older roms (i.e <8.0) then your efuse should be intact. By judging that you are able to boot your stick means you haven't performed any modifications. Also means you haven't disabled OTA on your stick.
I think you should try to unlock once again, after that disable OTA.
SweenWolf said:
Flashing rbox's prerooted rom in no was can remove your TWRP.
If you flashed his rom on top of older roms (i.e <8.0) then your efuse should be intact. By judging that you are able to boot your stick means you haven't performed any modifications. Also means you haven't disabled OTA on your stick.
I think you should try to unlock once again, after that disable OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try the unlock again. Thanks again for your advice

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