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If you have a Fire TV Stick plugged into the back of your telly – you're in for a treat.
Amazon has just unwrapped the most substantial interface overhaul to its FireOS in years during a presentation at the CES technology tradeshow in Las Vegas, alongside its latest Smart TV. The Seattle-based firm's teams have completely reworked the underlying code, and the results seems very impressive. According to Amazon, when you install the new FireOS update, you can expect a performance boost between 20 – 30% immediately.
But this isn't just a way to supercharge performance on your current Fire TV Stick, the incoming update brings a visual refresh to every corner of FireOS. The teams at Amazon wanted to update the visuals for a more contemporary look, introducing rounded edges instead of sharp corners, redesigned colour gradients, new fonts, and better use of screen space. Speaking to Variety, Vice President of Fire TV, Joshua Danovitz said the new user interface is more “modern” — cleaner, faster, and better organised.
Alongside the updated visuals, Amazon has increased the number of apps you can pin to your home screen from 6 up to 20
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The new FireOS isn't unrecognisable, but it's a little more refined. The artwork for individual shows, documentaries, sports fixtures, and blockbusters occupies more space on the main menu.
There are also practical changes introduced by the update that change how you organise your apps. Instead of being limited to just six apps in your favourites bar, you'll be able to pin up to 20 different streaming services and applications.
This means your most-used apps can all sit at your fingertips without endless scrolling.
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The redesign tackles one of streaming's biggest headaches: finding something to watch when you've got multiple subscriptions.
When you browse for films or television programmes, you'll see content pulled from every service you've subscribed to, all displayed together in one unified view. Rather than hopping between Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and your other apps individually, the new interface gathers everything from your subscriptions into organised categories.
Whether you fancy a film, a TV series, live sport, or the latest news, you'll see what's available across all your apps at once.
Everything looks familiar, but it has been refined to make use of the screen real estate
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This is something we've seen from the likes of Sky Stream, Apple TV, and Roku.
Jumping around FireOS is faster than ever. Just press the Menu button to quickly switch between Games, Art & Photos, and Ambient Experience.
Amazon has also added a shortcut panel you can access by long-pressing the Home button on your remote. It gives you quick access to the most-used controls on Fire TV, including audio and display settings, your connected Ring cameras, and smart home device management.
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It's not just FireOS that's received a major overhaul, with the teams at Amazon also reworking the mobile app.
Until now, if you've downloaded the Fire TV app to your phone, you've probably only used it as a spare remote control when yours goes missing. But that's changed dramatically. This upgraded version lets you browse through available content, maintain your viewing list, and actually start playing programmes on your television — all from your Android or iPhone.
The iOS and Android apps have added a slew of new features, so if someone recommends a series over lunch, you can add it to your queue straight away, ready to watch when you get home
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The mobile app will mirror the fresh design language of your TV interface, creating a consistent experience across both screens. You'll be able to use your phone as a secondary display for discovering new content to watch.
Perhaps most useful is the ability to update your watchlist whilst you're out and about. If a friend recommends a series over lunch, you can add it to your queue straight away, ready to watch when you get home.
The rollout begins next month in the United States, though you'll need to check whether your particular device makes the first wave.
If you've got one of these models, you'll receive the update starting in February 2026:
- Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
- Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series
Amazon confirmed the update will arrive as a free software download for these devices. You won't need to purchase any new hardware or pay for the improved interface.
The company demonstrated the new system at CES in Las Vegas this week, giving journalists and technology enthusiasts their first proper look at what's coming to living rooms across America next month.
If you're reading this in the UK, you'll need to exercise some patience. UK-based British Fire TV owners won't see the new interface arrive until later in the spring, several weeks after the American launch.
When the update does reach these shores, it will extend beyond the initial three device models.
The rollout will include the latest Fire TV 4K streaming media players alongside Amazon's own television sets. That means if you own a Fire TV 2-Series, Fire TV 4-Series, or Fire TV Omni QLED Series telly, you're on the list for the update.
All these models will receive the upgraded interface at no cost.
The expansion also covers televisions from Amazon's manufacturing partners. If you've purchased a set running Fire TV software from Hisense, Insignia, Panasonic or TCL, you'll receive the update soon. Amazon hasn't provided a specific date for when UK devices will start receiving the upgrade, only committing to sometime in the first half of the year.
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