Sideloading apps on the Fire TV Stick is not as easy as it seems. However, with our easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, anyone can get the most out of their Firestick. So, even if you’re a beginner and have yet to jailbreak your Firestick, you won’t find it difficult to sideload applications.
Sideloading apps on Firestick allows you to install the ones that aren’t available on the app store. Though there are a number of apps on the official app store, there might be a lot of others that you won’t find there. By sideloading, you can improve the potential of your Firestick device. You might consider installing apps like Allcast and Kodi and even a few OS emulators.
Downloading and installing apps from the official store is easier than sideloading apps on Firestick. But since it uses the Android OS, it is a bit easier to sideload apps and APKs that allow you to stream content.
While there are other ways to sideload apps on Firestick, Downloader is the best app to get it done fast. Therefore, in this post, we’ll explain how to sideload apps on Firestick using the Downloader app.
Before sideloading apps using Downloader, you must make your device ready for installations from unknown sources. Fire TV devices have a security feature that doesn’t allow them to sideload apps unless you make changes to a particular setting. It is a very simple process, which you can do using these steps:
Step 1: Go to ‘Settings’ of the Firestick device found on the home screen.
Step 2: Click on ‘My Fire TV.’
Step 3: Go to the ‘Developer options.’
Step 4: Turn on ‘ADB debugging’ and ‘Install unknown apps.
Since Downloader is available on the Amazon app store, you don’t have to sideload it! Installing this app is very easy. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to the home screen of Firestick and click on ‘Find.’
Step 2: Then go to ‘Search’ and type ‘Downloader.’
Step 3: A list of suggestions will appear. Choose ‘Downloader.’
Step 4: The Downloader app will appear in the ‘apps & games’ section. Click to open its page.
Step 5: Now, click ‘Download’ to install the app on your Firestick.
Now that you have Downloader on your Firestick, you’re all set to get more apps on your device. You can access it by going through your app list. But since this is time-consuming, it’s best to add it to your home screen for easy access. Follow these steps to have Downloader on your home screen:
There’s one last setting that you need to consider before we get ready to sideload the apps using Downloader. By enabling Javascript, you’ll be able to download or sideload all types of apps and files properly. Here are the steps:
Finally, you’re ready to learn how to sideload apps and files on Firestick using Downloader. We will discuss two main methods for sideloading apps on Firestick. The first procedure uses direct URLs, while the second method will be for downloading through websites. Without further ado, let’s explore the methods.
The Home option on the Downloader app allows us to acquire the files using the URLs. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to the ‘Home’ option of the Downloader app.
Step 2: On the right side, you’ll see the bar saying ‘Enter a URL or Search Term.’ Go to this bar and click on it so that the cursor appears there.
Step 3: Enter the URL of the file which you want to download. If you don’t know the URL, you can just type the name of the app you’re looking to download. For example, we wrote ‘cinemahd’ in the search bar.
Step 4: The download will start once you click on ‘Go.’’
If the app is an APK file, it will require special access. Choose ‘Install’ here. The file will start installing like this:
Step 5: After the download is complete, you’ll get the Status report. Click ‘Done’ if you want to open the app later or ‘Open’ to launch the app.
Step 6: When you select ‘Done,’ you’ll get a message on the interface. Choose ‘Delete’ to remove the APK file from your file storage. Remember that once the app is installed, you no longer need the APK file.
Step 7: You can confirm whether the file is deleted or not by going to the ‘Files’ option on the left in the Downloader app. If there are no files in this section, the option will say ‘No files found in download folder.’
The Downloader app also allows you to use the browser. With this method, you’ll be able to download any app or file through the built-in browser of Downloader. Follow these steps to download from the web pages:
Step 1: Go to the browser option on the left of the home screen of the Downloader app.
Step 2: Highlight the address bar by clicking on it.
Step 3: Type the URL in the bar and click on ‘Go.’ For example, here we entered ‘Syncler’ in the address bar:
Step 4: A page will open where you’ll see the links to download the app. If the page doesn’t open properly on the browser, you can click the three horizontal lines (the hamburger menu) next to the address bar. Choose the ‘Fullscreen mode’ from the options.
Step 5: You’ll see the download links on the page. Click on the download link to download the file. Use the remote control’s up and down keys to navigate on the page.
The app will start downloading in this way:
Step 6: You’ll see an app installation notification. You can either choose ‘open’ to launch the app or click ‘Done’ to go back to Downloader.
Sideloading is a process through which you enable the unknown sources on your device to download and install apps. The enabling of unknown sources is done to install apps and APKs that are not found on the app store.
Downloader is developed by AFTVnews. It allows you to download content from the internet to your Firestick and other Fire TV devices. The app has a built-in browser that you can use to enter a URL and open a page to download the files. You can download the files directly without opening the web page as well. Downloader enables you to browse the internet and bookmark and favorite the pages just like any other browser.
It is mostly used for sideloading and downloading the APK files of the apps you won’t find on the official store. Once you’ve downloaded the APK file, it will start downloading the app. Downloader also allows you to navigate Firestick using the remote. It is a lightweight app and doesn’t consume much space on your device. Also, you can download it for free.
Unfortunately, Downloader is not available in all regions. This is perhaps the only reason why you can’t find it on the Amazon app store. You might be able to solve the problem if you deregister your existing Amazon account and then sign in again with a universal account. The universal account has all the apps in its store, so you should be able to find Downloader.
To deregister your current Amazon account, you just have to sign out from it on your Firestick. You now have to register again on Amazon.com for a new account with a new email address. This email address should be different from the one which you used for the previous Amazon account. Also, when you’re registering for your new account, select USA as your region.
However, we don’t always recommend this method, as deregistering your Amazon account will make you lose all your data. When you deregister, all the apps, history, and data are lost. With the new account, you have to do everything from the start. However, it won’t be of much concern if you have just started using Amazon Firestick. If you’ve been using the device for quite some time, then it can be a bit frustrating. Therefore, it’s best to consider things carefully before you finalize the deregistration.
Deregistering your current Amazon account and signing up with a new one is easy. Follow these steps to do so:
Yes, it’s 100% legal and safe to sideload on Firestick. Sideloading allows you to install numerous apps that are not present in the Amazon app store. However, some apps available from the Internet might be dangerous and could make it easy for others to steal your personal information. The best way to prevent this is to get a secure VPN service for Firestick. We recommend ExpressVPN, as it is currently the best VPN for Firestick, sideloading, and just about everything streaming-related.
You are now ready to dive into the world of sideloading on Firestick! With the Downloader app, you can get countless apps and files on your Fire TV device. Therefore, installing all the apps that are currently not available on Firestick (or in your region) is now possible. The best thing about it is that you can do all these without harming your device or being concerned about legality (if you make use of a good VPN). Sideloading is safe and legal and allows you to use your device to its fullest potential.
Downloader has quickly become popular among Firestick users because of its ease of use. It allows you to download your favorite apps in just a few clicks. Also, with our easy-to-follow instructions, you can get the Downloader app and use it for sideloading apps and files on your Firestick within minutes. For us, this app is a must-have for your Firestick device.
So, did you find your favorite app through Downloader?