How to Update Fire Stick Apps Before They Break Your Binge

This article explains how to update apps on your Fire Stick, which is important for fixing bugs and getting new features. The easiest way to ensure you always have the latest version of your apps is by turning on automatic updates, but you can also manually update them.

How to Update Apps on Fire Stick Automatically

Turning on automatic app updates means you won’t have to remember to check for updates. This is the best way to ensure that your Fire Stick has the latest apps.

From your Fire TV’s Home screen, select Settings (gear icon) to the far right of the horizontal menu.

Select Applications.

Select Appstore.

Select Automatic Updates to toggle it on.

How to Update Apps on Fire Stick Manually

If you don’t have automatic updates turned on, follow these instructions for each individual app you want to update manually.

From the Home screen, select Apps (three squares and a plus sign) to the far right of the horizontal menu.

Highlight the app you want to update (don’t select it).

On your Fire TV remote, press the button with three horizontal lines on it.

Select More Info.

If an update is available, select Update beside the Open button.

How to Update Sideloaded Apps on Fire Stick

Sideloaded apps are apps you’ve downloaded from outside of Amazon’s Appstore. Because they’re unavailable from Amazon, you can’t update them as easily as official apps, but you can use a third-party program on your computer to get around it.

First, make sure your settings are configured properly on your Fire TV. From the Home screen, select Settings (gear icon) to the far right of the horizontal menu.

Select My Fire TV.

Select Developer Options.

Turn On ADB Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources.

Press the back button (arrow) on your Fire TV remote.

Select About.

Select Network.

Write down your IP address on a piece of paper.

Visit the adbLink web page on a computer, which you’ll use to link your Fire Stick to your computer.

Scroll down the page and select the appropriate link to download and install adbLink for your computer. For example, if you’re on Windows 11, choose the Windows link.

Once installed, open adbLink and select New.

Enter a Description like “Fire Stick” and your IP address in the Address field, then choose Save.

From the Select device dropdown, select the Fire Stick you just added, then select Connect.

If the connection is successful, you’ll see your connected device and connection status appear in the boxes at the top.

Download the APK file for the app you want to update.

Choose Install APK to select the APK file from your computer and then select Yes to install it.

Your app will be updated the next time you access it from your Fire TV.