Amazon doesn’t want you to know about this Fire TV exploit

One benefit of owning a Fire TV Stick is that it operates on Fire OS, which is built on Android. This enables you to modify your device in ways Amazon might not officially support, and this new exploit is a clear example of that.

A recently exposed exploit for Amazon’s Fire TV devices and Fire tablets allows you to unlock system user privileges on your device, enabling you to perform actions such as adding a custom launcher, accessing system files, disabling system updates, and bypassing Amazon’s app blacklist, all of which you can’t regularly do on a Fire TV device since Amazon has it so locked down.

The exploit was posted on the XDA forums by a user named Pro-me3us and works on any Fire TV or Fire tablet running Fire OS 7 or 8 (via AFTV News). To perform it, you’ll need to use an Android Debug Bridge (ADB) on your Fire TV device through a connected PC or Mac and run some commands.

The exploit can make or break your Fire TV device

Amazon is likely aware of the exploit and is working on a fix to roll out

One key advantage of this exploit is that it allows users to disable Amazon’s default home screen launcher and install a custom one, transforming the look and features of their Fire TV device. Achieving this is not possible without system user privileges, which this exploit unlocks.

To be clear, the powers you gain with system user privileges aren’t as extensive as those with root access, but you can still perform some useful tasks that you’d otherwise be unable to do. For example, you can disable certain system apps and block OTA updates on your Fire TV device. When you restart your Fire TV device, you will lose system user privileges, but the changes you made will stay in place. So, if you set up a custom launcher with system user privileges, it will still be there after a restart. Disabling system OTA updates also makes sure that a future update won’t overwrite all your customizations.

A word of warning: if you’re thinking about trying this exploit, there’s a chance you could accidentally brick your Fire TV device. Be sure to follow the steps carefully from the XDA forums, since missing just one command could cause your device to enter a boot loop and become unusable. Keep in mind that making these changes will also prevent your Fire TV Stick from receiving official updates again.

Lastly, it’s important to note that this exploit has been around since September 12, so Amazon is likely already aware of it and working on a fix. The e-commerce giant definitely doesn’t want people making modifications like this to its locked-down Fire TV devices. Therefore, the window of opportunity to try this is limited.

Personally, I enjoy using my Fire TV Stick 4K Max as it is straight out of the box, and I’m fine with its default home screen. But if you’re technically inclined and want to maximize the capabilities of your Fire TV Stick, this exploit is possible for now, as long as you’re willing to accept the risks involved.