If you are blocking updates, the Fire TV Stick will not allow you to complete the initial setup. The video above and instructions below will show you how to get past the forced update in order to complete the initial setup without updating.

The reason you might want to avoid updating is to ensure your Fire TV Stick is as compatible as possible with a potential future rooting method. While the Fire TV Stick currently cannot be rooted, staying on an old software version gives you the most flexibility for future rooting and mods.

This method works on Fire TV Stick’s running the oldest software version, which is version 54.1.0.0_user_100211520. Our experience with the Fire TV has shown us that different software version will handle failed updates differently. If your Fire TV Stick is running a newer software version, this method may not work for you.

This method involves cutting the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection at a precise moment during the initial setup. In my video I use my computer to share its internet connection with the Fire TV Stick so that I have full control of the connection. You don’t have to do it this way. Instead, you can use your routers settings to stop the connection, or even just pull the power to your modem or router.

You should be blocking updates. You can try to follow this method without blocking updates, but be aware that the Fire TV Stick continues to try downloading updates in the background, even after you pass the “Checking for Updates” screen.

Follow my guide to block software updates. Power on your Fire TV Stick. Press “Play” when prompted.

After the Fire TV Stick scans for networks, you should now be on the wifi selection screen.

If your Fire TV Stick skips the wifi selection screen because you already configured your network from a previous boot up, just let it reach the update error screen and then press the back button. You should then be on the wifi selection screen.

Select and configure your network, but do not press the “Connect” button yet.

Prepare yourself to kill the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection. You can do this in several ways, like using your routers configuration, or even physically cutting power to your router or modem. The next few steps will happen quickly, so you should read ahead to know what to expect. Select the “Connect” button on the Fire TV Stick’s network configuration. The Fire TV Stick will display “Connecting to [NETWORK NAME]”.

The instant you see “Connection Successful”, cut off the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection.

You’ll next see the “Checking for updates” screen. There is a brief moment when this screen first appears that you still have time to kill the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection if you didn’t do it fast enough on the previous “Connection Successful” screen.

If you see the “Downloading the latest software” screen, then you didn’t cut the Fire TV Stick’s internet connection soon enough and need to start over. You can press back when you see an error message to start over.

After the “Checking for updates” screen you should be taken to the registration screen. Once here you’re in the clear. You can now turn the internet connection back on. Once the internet connection is back on, it’s best to let the Fire TV Stick sit on the registration screen for a few seconds to ensure it has reconnected to the internet. If you go past this screen without an internet connection, you will be taken back to the network configuration screen and will have to start the process over.

Complete the rest of the setup process. You can check your software version under Settings > System > About.



ShareTweetShare+1