How to Sideload Apps on FireStick/Fire TV

Hello Everyone, I am Poppy and in this guide, you will learn how to sideload apps on FireStick & Fire TV. The methods discussed in this guide work well on other Fire TV devices, Android TV Box, Mi Box, Nvidia Shield, TiVo Stream 4K, Smartphones, and more.

Sideloading is a method that allows you to install third-party apps that are not available on the official Amazon app store. It lets you unlock the true potential of your FireStick device. In simple words, side-loading makes it exceptionally convenient for you to get unrestricted access to any app you want.

Now that you understand what side-loading is, let’s look at the ways we can sideload apps onto our FireStick devices.

How to sideload apps on FireStick/Fire TV

As mentioned earlier, apps that are not available on the official Amazon store need to be sideloaded; which means we need to install them from a third-party source.

In this guide, we are going to use the three easiest methods to sideload apps Fire TV device:

• Via Downloader app
• Via FileLinked
• Via Aptoide

Enable Apps from Unknown Sources

Regardless of the method, you are going to use, first of all, you need to do is prepare your FireStick device for sideloading. Since we are getting the apps from a third-party source, as a prerequisite, you need to enable Apps from Unknown Sources in the FireOS settings. This is a fairly easy process, simply follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Fire TV Home Screen

2. From the Home Screen, then navigate to Settings on the far right

3. Click My Fire TV

4. After that, select Developer Options

5. Click on Apps from Unknown Sources

6. A security warning will be shown, click Turn On

Sideload Apps on FireStick with the Downloader app

In the first method, we will use the Downloader app to sideload apps on FireStick. While you use the Downloader app to download any file or even to browse, it is mostly used for side-loading the third-party apps that you won’t find on the official Amazon Store. Once the APK file is downloaded, you can start the installation process from within the app.

The best part is that the Downloader app is available on the Amazon Store. So, here are the steps to get the app:

1. From the Home Screen, find the Search icon located the top left of the screen, click on it

2. You can either use the on-screen keyboard or the Alexa voice search key on your FireStick remote to search for the word ‘Downloader’. Select the Downloader app from the search results

3. Click on the Downloader app

4. To begin the installation process, click on Download

5. Hit Open to run the Downloader app

6. Click Allow to give necessary permission and after that, click OK

7. Click on the URL field on top using the OK key on your FireStick remote

8. Enter accurately the following link to sideload apps on your FireStick:

https://www.toptvtricks.com/cft

You can also enter the short version of the URL: toptvtricks.com/cft

💡 Use the FireStick Remote App for mobiles to type faster and easier

Note: For the demonstration purpose, I am using the APK link for CyberFlix TV, you can pretty much replace it with any other APK link for the app you would like to download

Hit GO

Now, if the URL points to an APK file, the file will begin to download on your device. If the URL points to a website, you will see the website in a built-in browser.

9. At this point, you should see the file getting downloaded.

10. Wait, the downloading may take some time

11. Next, choose INSTALL

12. Wait until the APK is installed

13. You will see the pop-up window showing App installed notification, click Open

That’s about it. Now, you can browse and play your favorite on-demand content online using the app.

Sideload Apps on FireStick with FileLinked

FileLinked is another popular side-loading tool for FireStick and Fire TV devices. It offers you an extremely convenient way to download third-party apps– all you need to do is, enter a numeric code and you will be able to download and install that file. One of the biggest benefits that FileLinked offers is that multiple apps can be downloaded and installed from a single code.

Unfortunately, FileLinked isn’t available on the Amazon app store, so we will use the Downloader app to install the FileLinked App on FireStick first. For detailed steps, check out our guide How to Install FileLinked on FireStick. Here, I am giving you the quick steps to install and use FileLinked:

1. First of all, install the Downloader app by searching for the Downloader app using the Search feature. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app. (We have detailed steps to install the Downloader app in the previous section)

2. Once installed, run the app and then click on the URL bar that reads http://

3. Enter the following URL:

toptvtricks.com/fl

💡 Use the FireStick Remote App for mobiles to type faster and easier

And click Go

4. Click INSTALL and then once installed, click OPEN

5. On the home screen of the app, you will see Enter Code! Click and use the on-screen keypad to enter the code for the download link and then click Continue

6. Click the Download button to initiate the downloading process. Then you can install the app(s) from within the FileLinked app.

Sideload Apps on FireStick with Aptoide

Aptoide TV is a popular Google Play Store alternative that gives you access to a wide range of Applications. It features several apps that aren’t available on the official Amazon Store. The app is compatible with a variety of devices such as Amazon FireStick, Mi box, Smartphones, Nvidia Shield, Android TV Box, and more.

For step-by-step installation process, please visit our guide on How to install Aptoide on FireStick and Android TV Box.

You will find a whole host of app categories including Social, Games, Education, Finance, Communication, Shopping, Entertainment, news and more in Aptoide.

You can also use the search feature to look for any app that you might want to install.

Conclusion

With Downloader, FileLinked and Aptoide app, you can easily sideload apps on your FireStick. These three apps have quickly become popularly used tools to install third-party apps on FireStick. All these apps are exceptionally easy to use and are must-have apps on every FireStick device. You can unlock a whole new world of streaming possibilities with them.

You can use whichever option you find most suitable. Let us know which app you prefer to sideload apps on your Fire TV devices.