· Firestick.io Team · Guides · 11 min read
How to Update Stremio on Firestick (Latest Version — May 2026)
Stremio was removed from the Amazon App Store in January 2026. Here's how to update to v1.9.4 on your Firestick by sideloading the APK — settings and add-ons stay intact.
I went to update Stremio on my Firestick 4K Max last month and the Amazon App Store just… didn’t have it anymore. No update prompt, no listing — gone. Turns out Stremio was pulled from Amazon’s store on January 15, 2026, along with the Apple App Store, leaving Firestick users in a bit of a lurch. The good news: the app itself is still very much alive (v1.9.4 dropped February 7, 2026), and updating is straightforward once you know you need to sideload it.
The even better news — installing the new APK over your existing install preserves every add-on, every Real-Debrid token, every setting. You’re not starting from scratch.
Stremio is no longer on the Amazon App Store, so you must sideload the update. Install the Downloader app, visit stremio.com/downloads, grab the Android TV APK (32-bit for most Firestick models), and install it over your existing version. The current release is v1.9.4 — your add-ons and settings survive the update intact.
Why Updating Is Different Now
Before January 2026, updating Stremio was the usual Fire TV routine — open the App Store, hit Update, done. Amazon pulled the app because Stremio supports third-party add-ons, and platform moderators don’t love that. Same reason it briefly disappeared from Google Play before returning there in mid-January.
So now Firestick users are in the same boat as Kodi users: sideloading is just part of the deal. It sounds scarier than it is. If you’ve ever installed an APK manually, this is identical. If you haven’t, I’ll walk you through it below — the whole thing takes under five minutes.
What You Need Before You Start
- The Downloader app installed from the Amazon App Store (it’s still there — Amazon only pulled Stremio, not the sideloading tool)
- Apps from Unknown Sources enabled in Developer Options
- About 5 minutes
If you’ve never sideloaded an app before, check out our complete Firestick jailbreak guide — it covers enabling Developer Options and Unknown Sources in detail. Or read on; I’ll include the steps here.
Method 1: Update via Downloader (Recommended)
This is the method I use. Downloader remains in the Amazon App Store and works perfectly for grabbing the Stremio APK straight from the official source.
Update Stremio on Firestick via Downloader
7 stepsEnable Apps from Unknown Sources
Go to Settings → My Fire TV → Developer Options → toggle Apps from Unknown Sources to ON. On newer Fire OS versions, you’ll enable this specifically for the Downloader app rather than system-wide — either approach works.
Open the Downloader App
From your Firestick home screen, find and launch the Downloader app. If you don’t have it yet, search for “Downloader” in the Amazon App Store and install it — it’s free.
Navigate to the Stremio Download Page
In Downloader’s URL bar, type: stremio.com/downloads and press Go. The official Stremio downloads page will load.
Select the Android TV APK
Scroll to find the Android TV download option. Select the 32-bit APK — this is the correct version for Firestick 4K, 4K Max, Fire TV Stick Lite, and Fire TV Cube. Use your remote’s D-pad to click the download button.
Wait for the Download to Complete
The APK is around 40–50 MB. On a decent connection it downloads in under a minute. A progress bar will show in Downloader.
Install Over Your Existing Version
When the download completes, the installation menu appears automatically. Click the down arrow icon and select Install. Fire OS will ask you to confirm — select Install again. Your existing Stremio data, add-ons, and settings are fully preserved.
Open the Updated Stremio
Once installation finishes, tap Open to launch Stremio. You’re now running v1.9.4. Your Torrentio, Real-Debrid, or other add-on configurations will be exactly where you left them.
Method 2: Update via Send Files to TV
If you’d rather download the APK on your phone or computer and transfer it across, Send Files to TV handles this cleanly. Download the Stremio Android TV APK from stremio.com on your phone, then use Send Files to TV to push it to your Firestick. Installation works the same — just navigate to the transferred file and tap Install.
This method is handy if you’re on a slow connection on the Firestick itself or if you’re updating multiple devices at once.
What’s New in Stremio v1.9.4
The February 7, 2026 release is mostly a bug fix update — the 1.9.x series has been about polishing the overhauled player that shipped in 1.9.0. Here’s what changed:
- Fixed: Subtitles not disabling when turned off
- Fixed: Subtitle font size not applying correctly
- Fixed: Audio/video track changes not resetting delays
- Fixed: Player type reverting between sessions
- Fixed: Catalog images failing to load on older Fire TV hardware
- Fixed: Track menu items being difficult to read
- Fixed: Incorrect timestamp when opening content in an external player
The 1.9.1 update (which rolled into 1.9.3 and 1.9.4) also added a device clock display in the player, an option to hide non-preferred subtitle languages, and title labels under catalog items.
Stremio at a Glance
Stremio
- 100% free — no subscription, no paywalled features
- Add-on ecosystem (Torrentio, Comet, MediaFusion) for on-demand content
- Cross-device progress sync — resume on Firestick where you left off on desktop
- Real-Debrid integration for premium cached streaming
- External player support — launch in VLC or MX Player
✓ Pros
- Completely free with no subscription required
- Simpler setup than Kodi — Torrentio + Real-Debrid takes 10 minutes to configure
- Cross-device sync keeps watch progress consistent across Firestick, phone, and desktop
- Modern, clean UI that's navigable with a Firestick remote
- External player support for launching in VLC when the built-in player misbehaves
✕ Cons
- Removed from Amazon App Store — every update requires manual sideloading
- Autoplay broken above v1.6.12 on Android TV — a significant annoyance for binge-watchers
- Add-on ecosystem can be fragile: Torrentio rate limiting and add-on churn are real issues
- Audio-continues-after-pause bug on Fire TV Cube has persisted for several versions with no fix
Stremio vs. Kodi vs. Plex — Quick Take
All three are free media centers. They serve slightly different audiences.
Kodi remains the power user’s choice — more customization, more add-ons, and more active development history. If you want granular control and don’t mind maintaining builds, Kodi still wins on paper. For most people, though, the setup complexity isn’t worth it when Stremio gets them to the same content in a fraction of the time.
Plex is the right pick if you have a local media library. It’s a genuinely polished media server — sync your rips to a home server and stream them anywhere. Plex doesn’t do the add-on/torrent thing that Stremio does, so they’re not really competing for the same use case.
Stremio is the main recommendation for average cord-cutters in 2026 who want Torrentio + Real-Debrid without a configuration tutorial. Clean interface, cross-device sync, and the add-on system covers most of what people actually want to watch.
Getting Real-Debrid Working Again After an Update
If your Real-Debrid setup stopped working after the update, you almost certainly don’t need to re-authenticate. Stremio preserves your add-on configurations through in-place installs. If something looks off, open Stremio → navigate to your Torrentio or Comet add-on settings → verify the Real-Debrid token is still listed. In my experience after updating to 1.9.4, everything was exactly as I left it.
If you haven’t set up Real-Debrid yet — it’s the companion service that unlocks premium cached streams through Stremio’s add-ons. At around $3/month, it’s the single biggest upgrade you can make to the setup. Our complete Real-Debrid guide for Firestick walks through the whole configuration.
Get Real-Debrid — ~$3/Month
→Troubleshooting Common Update Issues
“Install blocked” or “Unknown sources” error Go back to Settings → My Fire TV → Developer Options and make sure Apps from Unknown Sources is toggled ON, or that Downloader specifically is enabled. This setting can revert after a Fire OS update.
APK download fails in Downloader
Try typing the URL again — a single typo will land you on an error page. Make sure you’re navigating to stremio.com/downloads, not a search engine result that might redirect somewhere unexpected.
Add-ons showing “no streams found” after update This is more likely an add-on ecosystem issue than an update problem. As of January 2026, Torrentio has experienced intermittent rate limiting. If Torrentio is returning nothing, try Comet or MediaFusion as a redundant add-on — the community has largely shifted to a “Trinity” setup using both.
App crashes when opening certain titles This is a known v1.9.4 bug related to logo image handling on specific title pages. It doesn’t affect playback — only the details page for certain movies. No workaround yet beyond waiting for the next patch.
How to Check Your Current Stremio Version
Not sure if you’re already on 1.9.4? Open Stremio → go to Settings (gear icon, top right) → scroll down to find the version number. If it shows anything below 1.9.4, the steps above will get you there.
Related Guides
- How to Install Stremio on Firestick (2026 Guide) — Full setup from scratch, including first-time sideloading
- How to Set Up Real-Debrid on Firestick — Pair Real-Debrid with Stremio for premium streams
- How to Install Kodi on Firestick — If you want the power-user alternative
- Best Free Movie Apps for Firestick — Other options if Stremio’s add-on situation frustrates you
- Firestick Downloader Codes — Shortcodes for popular sideloaded apps
Get Surfshark VPN — Protect Your Stremio Streams
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Last updated: May 2026
