Amazon Fire TV Cube Stuck On Finishing Update: How To Fix [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated September 26, 2023

I have been using the Amazon Fire Cube for a while now and I love it.

A unique feature of such standalone streaming devices is the support the developer provides. Amazon is very prompt with the updates which steer the devices clear of any bugs and errors.

And that's where our issue lies, updates. I have had my fair share of waiting for the updates to complete. But that's not the case when the process gets stuck almost at the end, right?

If your Amazon Fire TV Cube gets stuck at the end of the update, check the internet connectivity and restart the device. Check for updates and remove unwanted apps. The ultimate solution would be to reset the device. The problem arises mostly due to unstable internet connection or inadequate storage.

However, Make sure to leave the device to update for at least 3 hours before jumping to conclusions.

For me, the issue came into action because of a lack of storage. Removing a couple of unused apps freed up a lot of space, enough for the updates to be complete.

Here how's to troubleshoot this issue.

Restart the Device and Then Try Updating

The Fire TV Cube automatically searches for updates and installs them right at startup. If you face the "getting stuck" issue while updating at startup, try restarting the device.

You can restart the device in a couple of ways.

The easiest and the most convenient one is unplugging the device from power. It might also be a good idea to disconnect the HDMI cable.

After a few minutes, plug back in the device.

Another way by which you can restart the device is by pressing and holding the Select and the Play/Pause button for a few seconds.

Wait till the screen turns OFF, signifying the start of the process.

Once you have restarted the device, you can update the device by following these steps.

1. On the Home screen, navigate and open the Settings tab.

2. Click on Device/My Fire TV and then select the About option.

3. Select System Update to check and download any remaining updates.

The device will automatically restart after completing the process. If this tip wasn't helpful, check out the next one.

Check the Internet Connectivity

Obviously, you'll require a stable internet connection to download and install the updates. Having an internet connection doesn't necessarily mean that you have good enough speed.

Try checking your internet speed using a speed-testing software, like speedtest.net, on your PC or mobile. Make sure you have a good enough speed and low latencies.

You can also verify your internet connection on your Cube using the following steps.

1. On the Home screen, navigate and open the Settings tab.

2. Click on Network and then select your connected network.

3. Press the Play/Pause button, as instructed on the screen, to check the status of your network.

You can now verify your internet connection and check the speeds.

If the speed or the latency is not satisfactory, try rebooting your WiFi router/modem. Unplug the router from the power outlet and plug it back in after a few minutes.

Check the speed once more, and then try updating the system.

Switch to a Higher Bandwidth Connection

The traditional 2.4 GHz connection is shrouded with problems when the network traffic is high.

Latencies seem to fluctuate and overshoot the threshold when the number of devices connected is high.

And the answer to such a predicament is to connect to a higher bandwidth network. A 5 GHz network doesn't have any latency issues even under heavy load.

The Fire TV Cube does support dual-band WiFi connections. And it would be wise to connect to the 5 GHz band if your Router supports it.

To change your connection, follow these steps.

1. On the Settings screen click, and open the Network option.

2. Click on the 5GHz band network and enter the password.

Try updating the device now.

Turn OFF VPN and Other Masks/Filters

If you have a VPN or any other filters enabled on your network, turn them OFF and then try updating the device.

VPN restricts bandwidth allocation and hence causes latency issues and reduced speeds. Similarly, other filters like Pi-holes and IP masking software also cause hindrances while updating.

Most of these filters can be disabled from within the host PC; others may require your ISP to disable it for you.

Restart the Router/Modem after making the changes, and then try updating the Fire TV Cube.

Storage-Related Fixes

Most of the time, an update stops halfway, or in our case at the end, because of insufficient storage space.

The Cube has a storage space of about 16 GB, and about 10% of this space will be taken up by the OS and its ancillary files.

Make sure to leave at least 1 GB worth of storage free for updates and other firmware patches. Failing to do so will result in the said issue.

You can check your storage by following these steps.

1. In the Settings tab, click and open the Device/My Fire TV option.

2. Click on About, and hover over the "My Fire TV" option to view the storage status.

Now that you have an idea of the available storage, you can verify whether the issue is with the storage or not.

If you have insufficient space, try uninstalling a few unused apps.

Uninstall the Unwanted Apps

The best way to free up some space on your Fire TV cube is to remove any and all unwanted apps.

A cluttered app tray may make you feel superior, but it also eats up a lot of storage. This precious storage may be the very reason for your present perturbation.

Eventually, you will have to remove these apps if you want new ones, don't you? Why not remove them now? Here are the steps for uninstalling apps on your Cube.

1. On the Settings tab, click and open the Applications option.

2. Click on Manage installed apps.

3. Highlight the app you want to uninstall and then press the menu button on the remote to bring up an options tab.

4. Scroll and select the Uninstall option. Confirm the selection.

Similarly, uninstall all the unnecessary applications and then restart the system. Try updating now.

Disable the App Updates

If you don't want to delete a specific app, try disabling its updates. This way, you can retain the application and still save up memory.

Albeit, disabling the updates will make the app outdated, and eventually, it will lose developer support.

Moreover, disabling the option has been reported to solve the issue nonetheless, so it is indeed a win-win situation.

To disable the automatic updates for your apps, follow these steps.

1. In the Settings tab, select the Application option.

2. Click on the Appstore option and select Automatic Updates.

3. Make sure to turn OFF the option.

Factory Reset the Fire TV Cube

Lastly, try hard resetting the Cube. A factory reset will remove every app along with all your personal preferences on the device. It will also reset the system settings back to the factory default.

Resetting will also revert the system version to the factory release version, so keep that in mind. This also helps if your Fire TV cube is running slow.

You can reset the Cube in a couple of ways. First, let's see how to reset the device when the screen is frozen/stuck.

Follow these steps to reset the TV using the remote commands.

1. Press and hold the Back and the Right button together for about 10 seconds or until a pop-up message appears on the screen.

2. The message will inform you of the reset process and ask for your confirmation.

3. Click on Continue and follow the onscreen commands for resetting the device.

You could also use the interface commands on the device if you can access them. Follow these steps to do so.

1. On the Settings tab, click and open the Device/My Fire TV option.

2. Scroll down and select the Reset to factory defaults option.

3. Select Reset and then wait for the next step.

4. Press the Play/Pause button to initiate the process.

Try updating after resetting the device.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, a comprehensive guide for the "getting stuck" issue on the Fire TV Cube.

Other tips that you could also give a try include moving the router a little bit closer to the device, or vice-versa, for better reception.

If your device is heating a lot, try replacing it to a different location, one with a little more ventilation.

Try not to use the ESPN app on your Cube because it is known to cause update issues in the past.

If none of these remedies and fixes seems to alleviate the issue, it's high time you contact the customer services of Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Fire TV Cube take to update?

Usually, the wait time on applying updates on the Cube depends on the size of the update. You can expect anywhere from 5-20 minutes of wait time. But some updates may get delayed by a lot, owing to a bad internet connection. Give it a good couple of hours before pulling the plug on the update.

Does the Fire TV Cube automatically search for updates?

All Fire TV products, including the Cube, search and install any leftover updates upon startup. You can skip this step if you want and update the device at a later time. The Cube may also download the update and leave it stored in the device so that all you have to do is install the downloaded update. Follow the steps from the Restart and update section above.

What apps are available on Fire TV?

You can download and use hundreds and thousands of streaming and gaming apps along with other miscellaneous apps on your Fire TV Cube. Streaming apps like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, etc. form the frontier to this category. You can even use PLEX on your device, though only as a client device. Gaming apps like Asphalt, Hill climb racing, Crossy Road, etc. are also available on the Cube.

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