Although it’s not a particularly well advertised feature, the Amazon Fire TV and the Amazon Fire TV Stick allow for sideloading of Android applications. With a little effort you can easily load apps on your Fire TV that aren’t available in the Amazon Appstore.
Amazon Fire TV: HOW-TO:Install Kodi on Fire TV: This page describes some of the methods to install Kodi onto an Amazon Fire TV (box) or Fire TV Stick. Enable the ADB on the Fire TV as mentioned above and there will be a TV server of CetusPlay installed automatically on your TV. Sideload Apps to Amazon Fire TV & Stick using ADB The sideload apps to Fire Stick and Fire TV process can be completed in 3 easy steps. These include downloading the required software, preparing the Amazon device and sideloading the APK files.
Note: This tutorial covers the sideloading of Android applications on Fire TV devices and not Amazon’s line of Kindle Fire tablets; if you’re here looking for a way to sideload apps on your Kindle Fire please refer to this guide.
Why Do I Want To Do This?
The Amazon Fire TV and TV Stick are both robust Android-based streaming devices that pack a lot of power into a small footprint. Make no doubt about it, however, that Amazon designed the devices to be very Amazon-ecosystem centric and there is a strong push toward you only using apps from the Amazon Appstore.
While the Amazon Appstore has a wide selection of applications there are two big issues Fire TV owners bump into. First, despite the size of the Appstore it doesn’t compare to the Google Play store and there are many, many, apps only available via Google Play. There are many developers who simply haven’t opted to port their apps over to the Appstore (or the apps contain some element that Amazon vetoed).
Second, even when the app you want is available in the Amazon Appstore if it isn’t approved for use on the Fire TV line then you can’t download it. Kodi, the media center software formerly known as XBMC, is a perfect example of this. It’s in the Amazon Appstore as a general Android download but you can’t download and install it onto the Fire TV devices (but those devices can in fact run it).
Fortunately for you, us, and anyone else looking to load apps on their Fire TV we can take advantage of the developer options included with the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick to load any Android application we want.
What Do I Need?
There are two approaches for sideloading apps onto your Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV stick both of which rely on different implementations of the Android Developer Bridge (ADB).
The first technique involves using the command line interface on your computer to send Android installation files (APKs) right to your device. This approach is handy if you’ve archived APKs on your computer and/or you’ve download an APK from a developer’s website and wish to load it directly from your computer to your Fire TV.
To follow along with the command line technique you’ll need a copy of ADB installed on your computer. To install the developer kit, which includes ADB, and the appropriate drivers check out our tutorial How to Install and Use ADB, the Android Debug Bridge Utility.
RELATED:How to Install and Use ADB, the Android Debug Bridge Utility
The second technique is a rather clever and convenient one: using a helper application on a device running Android to shuttle installed apps right from your device to the Fire TV. From a convenience standpoint you really can’t beat the ease of just picking the app right from your phone or tablet and installing it onto your Fire TV.
There are a handful of applications in the Google Play store that offer Android-to-Fire transfer, but we had the best luck with the application Apps2Fire; you can download it here. Although you never see it directly in action, Apps2Fire and similar applications are just wrappers for ADB.
Both techniques get the job done it’s just a matter which technique works best for your situation. If you already have the app ready to go on your phone (or you can easily download it from the Play store) it makes sense to use Apps2Fire and transfer it right from your device to the Fire. If you downloaded the app from the developer’s website or a development forum like XDA Developers, it makes more sense to fire up ADB and transfer it over from your PC.
Let’s look at how to prepare your Fire TV for sideloaded apps and then at how to use the two techniques. All the steps in this tutorial are completely interchangeable between the Amazon Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick; the only difference between the two is that the Fire TV has more processing power than the Fire Stick and will offer superior performance for any CPU-hungry applications you send over.
Preparing the Amazon Fire TV
Although the ability to sideload apps onto the Fire TV devices isn’t particularly promoted in anyway, it’s not difficult to enable the ability to do so. Boot into your Fire TV and navigate to Settings -> System.
Within the System menu, scroll down until you find the sub-menu entry labeled “Developer Options.” Note that the subtext highlights exactly what the Developer Options are for “Enable ADB connections over network.”
Inside the Developer Options menu you’ll find two toggles that need to be set to On: “ADB debugging” and “Apps from Unknown Sources.”
The first option turns on the ADB link so that you can remotely bridge the Android debugging client to your Fire unit. The second toggle allows for the installation of non-Appstore applications (all apps you transfer over the ADB link will be treated as from “Unknown Sources” regardless of whether or not they are one-off apps you made yourself or approved apps from conventional Android application stores).
Finally, before you leave your Fire unit you’ll need to check the IP address of the unit. The easiest way to do so is to navigate to Settings -> System -> About and then select “Network.”
Make note of the “IP Address” entry as this is the address you’ll need for both of the following techniques. Also note that if you restart your Fire device and you have not specified a static IP address for it, this address may change if the DHCP server assigns a new one. Any time you’re pushing new applications over to your Fire device make sure to check this section and confirm the IP address.
After you’ve toggled both of the above settings and identified your device’s IP address it’s time to turn to loading applications. Let’s look at the two methods in detail.
Sideloading with ADB
If your application is located on your computer it’s easy to sideload it with ADB. Let’s look at using the command line to start up the ADB server, connect to the Fire unit, and remotely deliver the APK payload. All the following steps presume you already have ADB installed (and if you do not, please refer to our guide here).
Load a command prompt in the directory where your APK is stored (e.g. /Documents/Downloads/) and enter the following commands where X.X.X.X is the IP address of your Fire unit on the local network and someapp.apk is the actual filename of the APK you wish to install on the device.
adb kill-server
adb start-server
adb connect X.X.X.X
adb install someapp.apk
Note, if you get the error “Error: more than once device or emulator,” which occurs if there is more than one device connected to the ADB (such an Android phone tethered to your computer) you can narrow down the command like so.
adb install -s X.X.X.X:5555 install someapp.apk
Once you issue the command, sit back and relax. It can take anywhere from a few seconds to 10 minutes or more depending on the size of the file. When the process is complete you’ll get an echo-back of the APK name, the average transfer speed, and a “Success” message.
If you receive the error message INSTALL_FAILED_OLDER_SDK this is because the APK file you attempted to install on the Fire device is for a higher version of Android than the Fire is running. As of this tutorial the Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick are still running Fire OS 3.0 (which has app compatibility with Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2).
Before we take a look at what to do next on the Fire side of things, let’s look at how to accomplish the same thing by transferring an app from your Android phone or tablet to your Fire.
Sideloading from Your Android Device
One of the biggest complaints we hear is that people already have an app on their phone or tablet and they want to have it on their Fire device. The whole parallel Amazon Appstore/Google Play store paradigm certainly is frustrating and this trick allows you to easily shuttle an app right off your phone to your Fire.
First, download and install Apps2Fire from the Google Play store here. Launch the app and then tap on the menu button in the upper left corner.
Within the menu select “Setup” and on the follow screen enter the IP address of your Fire device.
Once you click save you’ll have two options for transferring apps. First, you can click on the + symbol in the upper right corner of the screen and select any APK file on your Android device via the file browser. The APK you select via this method does not need to be an application already installed on your device which means any APK you downloaded and saved to your device is fair game.
The second method involves selecting an app you’ve actually downloaded and installed from the Google Play store. To do so tap on the menu button again and select “Upload Apps.”
Select any app by tapping on it and it will transfer automatically.
Unfortunately unlike the command line ADB tool the Apps2Fire app has no feedback mechanism for version failure; if you upload a new app that isn’t compatibility with Android 4.2.2 there is no error message and you only know the installation failed because the app never appears on the Fire device.
That said, it’s a really easy way to transfer apps with no command line work necessary. Let’s take a look at where to find your apps once you’ve transferred them to the Fire device.
Launching Your Apps on the Fire TV
Once the apps are installed on the Fire TV it’s just a matter of finding them. Alas they don’t appear in the top-level “Apps” category in the main Fire TV menu. Instead they in the Settings -> Applications menu.
Once there select “Manage Installed Applications” to pull up a list of all installed apps. Browse to the application you pushed over (either via the ADB command line or the Apps2Fire app) and select it by pressing the center button on your Fire TV remote (or enter on your keyboard if you’re using one).
From the application submenu, select “Launch application.” Your application will launch just like it would on any other Android device.
That’s all there is to it! Not every application makes the jump smoothly from a touch-based device like a tablet to the TV-centric Fire TV system but many apps work just fine without any adjustment (while others require the use of a controller or keyboard for full functionality). It costs nothing to try an app you already have out, however, so if you’d like the app on your TV via way of the Fire give it a shot.
Have a pressing question about the Fire TV, Chromecast, or other streaming media device? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to help.
READ NEXT- › How Do Smart Homes Work?
- › What’s Going to Happen to Your Huawei or Honor Phone?
- › Will a Smart Plug Pay For Itself?
- › Hardware Security Keys Keep Getting Recalled; Are They Safe?
- › Google Drive and Photos Are Splitting: What You Need to Know
Amazon Fire TV Tips, Tricks and Hidden Features: 12 secrets you might not know about the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, including all the best hacks you need to make the most of your new streaming gadget.
Amazon’s Fire TV has quickly become one of the best ways to turn a dumb TV smart. The cheap Fire TV Stick, which recently got a 2017 update, makes any HDMI-enabled television much more capable than even £2,000-plus sets in terms of services and apps, while the Fire TV box can take the place of a games console and is now capable of 4K streaming.
There’s more to these ultra-accessible gadgets than you’ll appreciate when you first take off the cellophane and jam in the remote’s AAA batteries, though.
Here are 12 tips, tricks, hacks and secret features you might not know about the Fire TV family.
Fire TV vs Fire TV Stick – choosing the right device for you
First of all, let’s explain the key differences between the Fire TV box and its more affordable sibling, the Fire TV Stick.
While the Fire TV box may be twice the price, it’s a lot more powerful and has access to more games as a result.
You’ll see some slow-down in 3D games at times with the Stick, for example, as it uses a remedial dual-core CPU. It’s fine if you want a cheap media machine, but it is no console-replacer.
The Fire TV Box is a lot more powerful, with a 64-bit MediaTek 8173C CPU that has two Cortex-A72 cores and two Cortex-A53 cores – equivalent to the power of a very good mid-range phone. It also has more connections, with an Ethernet port, optical audio output and a USB. Finally, it can output in 4K where the Stick’s max resolution is 1080p.
The “all-new” 2017 Fire Stick has a much more powerful processor and is absolutely fine for streaming TV shows and films.
However, if you’ve not yet bought a Fire TV device and want to play games, you’re better off with the box version. It supports many more games because it has that extra power on tap – the likes of Minecraft: Pocket Edition, Asphalt 8 and many others simply don’t work on the dual-core Fire TV stick, even if you sideload them.
More on that later, but now it’s time to look at how you can make the most of your Fire TV.
1) Find shows in Netflix and iPlayer with voice control
When the Amazon Fire TV with mic first launched, it would only look up Amazon goodies: movies from Amazon and apps from the Amazon Appstore.
This was annoyingly limited, but now it’s actually quite useful as it’ll look up videos in Netflix and iPlayer, too, and we’d expect Spotify support to be incoming soon.
Related: A guide to BBC iPlayer in 4K
2) Make gaming better with a gamepad
Some titles don’t work all that well when gaming with the Fire TV’s remote. It’s just too simplistic for console-style games, but you can get a Fire TV gamepad that makes these titles much more fun.
Here are some of the games that really benefit from a gamepad – some of them won’t work without one, in fact.
- GTA: San Andreas (gamepad required)
- Minecraft: Pocket Edition (gamepad required)
- Asphalt 8
- The Bard’s Tale (gamepad required)
- RipTide GP2
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (gamepad required)
Buy Now: Amazon Fire TV Game Controller
3) Adding voice support to non-mic TV sticks
As we’ve explained, Amazon’s Fire TV games controller is a lot like the pads you get with an Xbox One or PS4. However, it has one extra special feature.
As well as mirroring the controls seen on the Fire TV remote, including playback buttons, there’s a mic that lets you talk to the media box directly.
Get a gamepad and you can pretty much relegate the remote to a drawer, if you like.
4) …Or buy a voice remote separately
If you bought one of the cheaper Fire TV Sticks and regret it, it’s worth knowing that you can buy a voice remote separately.
As well as having an inbuilt mic, the higher-end remote is longer and more ergonomic. It just feels better-made in general, as where the entry-level remote is made of cheap-feeling plastic, the voice remote has a nice soft-touch finish and higher-grade buttons.
Buy Now: Amazon Fire TV voice remote
5) Third-party controllers that work with Fire TV
You don’t have to buy the official £40 (RRP) Fire TV games controller to get a complete gaming experience with the Fire TV, as loads of third-party pads are supported.
Many wired remotes work with the full-fat Fire TV just by plugging them into the box’s USB port. The most interesting of the lot are console controllers, as many of you may already have one of these lying around. The PS4’s DualShock 4 works, as do wired and wireless (with the USB adapter accessory) Xbox 360 pads.
Xbox One pads don’t work without hacking the Fire TV. We wouldn’t recommend this as you’ll void your warranty at best, and brick your Fire TV at worst, but if you’re intent on rooting your device, you can find instructions over on the XDA Developers Forum.
The simpler option? Check out a decent quality, cheaper alternative like the Nyko PlayPad Pro.
6) Sideload apps for greater choice
Fresh out of the box, the Fire TV’s app library can seem limited, particularly if you have the TV Stick rather than the larger Fire TV. However, you can sideload apps, which means to install them manually. It’s easy too.
Go to Settings > System > Developer Options and enable ADB Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources. Next, download Apps2fire on your phone.
This lets you install APK files (Android application packages, or Android apps to you and I) directly on your Fire TV from your phone.
Large apps take quite a while to load, so it’s best to set your phone’s screen to dim only after about 10 minutes to avoid the app closing.
Related: How to install Kodi on a Fire TV Stick
7) Alexa is here!
Amazon’s smart voice assistant has now landed on UK Fire TV devices, meaning you can now do loads of stuff without lifting a finger, like asking for the weather, getting read out information from Wikipedia, and hearing sports results.
We’re hoping that in time we’ll be able to control our smart home gear too – things likes Philips Hue lights – right from the Fire TV remote or games controller.
However, when Amazon really wants you to buy an Echo or Echo Dot as well as a Fire TV, so we’ll have to see whether that pans out.
Related: Amazon Echo tips and tricks
8) Use your phone as a Fire TV remote
One of the neat side features of the Fire TV is an official phone app that lets you use your iPhone or Android as a replacement for the remote. It’s particularly useful if the Fire TV remote keeps ending up under the sofa, in the kitchen, or inexplicably down the loo.
The app is free and also lets you talk to your Fire TV or Fire TV stick using your phone’s microphone.
Get it for iOS here or Android here.
9) Send music to your Bluetooth headphones
The Fire TV is fantastic for solo late-night movies if you own a pair of Bluetooth headphones. You can connect a set in the Bluetooth part of Settings, with the two hooking up just like a phone and wireless headphones would.
It’s a fantastic feature given how popular wireless headphones are, yet very few home entertainment devices offer standard Bluetooth streaming – the PS4 and Xbox One don’t, almost all TVs don’t, and only the very latest home cinema receivers do.
It’s all a bit silly, really, so enjoy the fact your new Fire TV does!
Related: Best wireless headphones
10) Mirror your phone’s screen on the Fire TV
A Fire TV can take whatever’s on your phone’s screen and pass it over to your TV using mirroring. This isn’t an Amazon tech, it’s Miracast, so you can use it with most phones.
Just long-press the home button on your Fire TV remote to get to the quick-access menu, where you’ll see a mirroring option.
Now, you just have to find the corresponding mirror option on your phone. It’ll be in the Settings menu, and may be called Miracast, Mirrorshare or screen mirroring, depending on your model.
In our experience, it’s far from perfect, with lag and lots of image break-up, so you wouldn’t want to watch a movie or play a game like this.
However, if your home internet is fast at both uploads and downloads you may have better luck, and things like showing off your latest holiday snaps should work just fine.
11) Add to your storage
Fire TVs only have 8GB storage – aka not much. However, there are a couple of ways to add to this.
For one, you can insert a microSD card, which will merg with the device’s internal storage, letting you install apps as if it is part of the system’s core databank.
You can also plug USB sticks or drives into the Fire TV box. These can then be used as storage for videos and other media, but they can’t be merged with the internal storage in the same way, so microSD cards are probably your best bet, depending on your needs.
12) Delete the voice recordings Amazon stores
If you’re worried about your privacy, using Amazon’s hardware isn’t a great idea – it loves knowing more about you so it knows what it can sell you next.
The Fire TV automatically records everything you say though the mic, allegedly so it can use the info to make your voice searches better. Whatever the real intent, it’s still damn creepy, but it’s easy enough to negate.
You can wipe your Amazon voice recording history by going the company’s website, and then heading to your “Account” page.
From there, go to “Manage Your Content and Devices”, then find your Fire TV under the “Devices” tab. In this page, you’ll see a link called “Manage Voice Recordings”.
Click this and you’ll see the option to delete all those sneaky recordings.
Which you consented to, of course, because you didn’t read Amazon’s T&Cs, did you?
What are your favourite Fire TV tips and tricks? Let us know in the comments below.