Basic Guide
Sideload Apps on Your Android TV
Download the APK package file of the app you want to sideload on your phone (do not install it it on your phone). Ensure you follow the correct architecture. Use the Send Files to TV app to transfer the file to your Android TV. Then, use the FX File Manager to install the APK, just like you would on a smartphone.
Type/Paste Links or Configs on Your TV with Your Phone
During your journey, you might need to paste a link, config, or text into your Android TV. Typing it manually can be time-consuming, especially with the TV remote, and may lead to mistakes. Use the Google TV app (compatible with most Android TVs) or your TV vendor’s app to connect your TV with your phone or even BT Remote. You can then control and type on your Android TV using your phone’s keyboard.
Control What Your Remote Can't Reach
Sometimes, while using sideloaded or even native apps, you might encounter elements on your Android TV that are difficult to navigate with your remote. In such cases, instead of buying a separate mouse for your TV, you can use the amazing free and open-source app BT Remote on your phone.
Tools/Utils
AIDA 64
This app, similar to CPU-Z but for you TV, provides various information about your TV's hardware. The most important detail is the CPU architecture under "CPU." Look for Supported ABIs
; most TV CPUs use armeabi-v7a
or armeabi
. Confirm this and download the correct APK files. The app is available on the Google Play Store for Android TV.
Send Files to TV
This app works like Nearby Share or Quick Share for your Android TV. With it, you can transfer APKs or any files to your TV.
- Download the app from the Play Store on both your phone and TV.
- Ensure your phone and TV are on the same network.
- Hit "Send" on your phone and "Receive" on your TV.
- Navigate to the APK file you just downloaded and transfer it. The files will be saved in the Downloads folder of your Android TV.
FX File Explorer
This is a full-featured file explorer for your Android TV. It allows you to navigate the internal storage, create, move, or delete files and folders. Use this app to install APKs received through Send Files to TV. The app is available on the Play Store.
Button Remapper
Button Remapper lets you remap almost any button on your remote to perform specific actions. Many remotes have useless buttons or ones tied to OTT apps and more you might not use. With Button Remapper, you can repurpose these buttons for more useful functions, like opening an app, take screenshots, restart Wi-Fi and more. The app is available on the Play Store for Android TV.
Tatlus Launcher
The default home screen on many TVs is cluttered with ads and recommendations and might not show sideloaded apps. Tatlus Launcher lists all installed apps in a sleek, simple view. Use Button Remapper to map your remote’s home button to open this launcher.
Unfortuanlly, the app is no longer available on Play Store, but you can sideload it from the developer's website. Do verify the signature of the app by uploading it to an APKPure signature verification website. Since it was in Play Store before, along with many others app from the developer, it should show as safe to install. (Do note that APKPure's signature verification tool shows apps as safe only if they are or were available on the Play Store. If you try to verify an app that was never on the Play Store, it will indicate it as unsafe.)
Alternative launchers include FLauncher or Projectivy Launcher, which are more powerful and available on the Play Store. I like Tatlus Launcher because it is simple and fast.
APK Mirror Installer
You may encounter .apkm
files, a newer app packaging format bundling multiple architectures and languages. Android TVs cannot handle .apkm
files directly. Use the APKMirror Installer app on playstore, published by APKMirror, to install these files on your TV.
Background Apps and Processes List
This app shows all processes running on your Android TV, including system and user-installed apps. It also allows you to kill unnecessary apps with a single click, which can improve your TV’s performance. This is important because Android TVs typically have limited hardware capabilities, making optimization crucial. You can create a whitelist to exclude essential apps. The app is available on the Play Store.
F-Droid/Droidify
F-Droid is an app repository featuring free and open-source apps. Sideload the F-Droid client on your TV to install various apps. However, navigating these apps may require a mouse, as many are not optimized for remote use, refer to Control What Your Remote Can't Reach section to know how to get around this
You can also use Droidify, a modern F-Droid client with pre-built repositories like IzzyOnDroid.
Check for updates for the app you downloaded every 1-2 weeks.
If your F-Droid/Drodify app opens like a calculator for some reason, just type
1337
, and you will gain access.
RethinkApp - Adblocker
RethinkApp is an ad blocker that routes your traffic through a local VPN to block ads. It’s useful for OTT apps with intrusive ads. Whitelist apps listed in this page as they are fine. The app is open-source and available on F-Droid.
Browser
A browser might not be essential for Android TV, but if you’d like to casually browse the internet, consider these options:
-
Browser
Available on the Play Store. Works the best on my device.
-
TV Bro
An open-source browser, also available on the Play Store.
-
JioSphare
If Browser doesn’t work out for you, this this will probably work, THe app is on Play Store but you may require sideloading from APKMirror depending on your region. If Browser doesn’t work out for you, this will probably work.
Material Files
We’re already using FX File Explorer for navigating the file system on your TV and installing APKs. I use Material Files to transfer screenshots taken on my TV and other folders via FTP to my phone and PC. You can install it from F-Droid
BT Remote
BT Remote is a app that lets you use your phone as a Bluetooth HID device, turning it into a full-fledged remote for your Android TV. The best part? You can even use it to control the mouse cursor on your TV, saving you the hassle of buying and maintaining a physical mouse just for occasional use.
Some sideloaded apps don’t work well with remotes, making navigation a pain. With BT Remote, you can easily move the cursor and click around without issues.
Just install the app from the Play Store on your phone, Connect your phone and Android TV via Bluetooth from your phone’s settings, Open the app, select your TV, and tap the mouse icon at the top. Once done, you'll have a fully functional touchpad that even supports gestures!
VLC
Every system needs VLC right! No introduction needed—it’s available on the Play Store.
If VLC doesn’t work out on your Android TV for some reason, you can try Just (Video) Player, another excellent option available on the Play Store.
Apps
SmartTube
SmartTube is a feature-rich YouTube client for Android TV. It removes ads and adds features like SponsorBlock, returning YouTube dislikes, adjustable playback speed, and more. The app is lightweight, fast, and smooth compared to the stock YouTube app. I have disabled the stock YouTube app on my TV so that all voice searches and videos automatically open in SmartTube.
Download it from GitHub and sideload it.
Cloudstream
Cloudstream is a media player for legal reasons, but you can add extensions to get almost every movie, TV shows, and IPTV for free. Extensions and setup instructions are available on their Discord server. Use the phone keyboard method to transfer extension links to your TV.
Download the APK from GitHub and sideload it. You can find the extension links and a guide video on how to add it on their Discord server.
Stremio
Stremio is a streaming client/ streaming guide for legal reasons but you can use add-ons for movies and TV shows. Prefer torrent add-ons over HTTP ones to support the network. If torrenting is restricted in your region, use RealDebrid for legal streaming. Although Stremio is available on the Play Store in certain regions, if it's not available in yours, you can also sideload it from their website. The addons can be found on this this website. I also highly recommend reading this amazing articleby Viren 070, which covers Stremio, its addons, and Debird in detail.
Help Others
Orbot
Orbot is an app that enhances privacy and anonymity by routing traffic through the Tor network. While this level of protection might not always be needed on Android TV, Orbot includes a feature called Kindness Mode. This mode allows your device to help users in heavily censored regions where Tor is blocked by running a Snowflake bridge. Snowflake bridges play a vital role in providing access to the Tor network in such areas, making Kindness Mode an invaluable tool in the global fight against internet censorship.
How to Set Up Kindness Mode:
-
Enable the Guardian Project Repository
- On F-droid app you can add the Guardian Repo, by settings > reposatries > "+" sign then add the repo link along with the Signing Key Fingerprint.
- On Droidify, this is pre-added; simply enable it through the 3-dots menu > Repositories then check mark Gardian.
-
Install Orbot
Download and install the Orbot app from F-Droid or Droidify.
- Enable Kindness Mode
- Open the Orbot app Navigate to Kindness Mode, and just activate it.
Once enabled, it runs quietly in the background without requiring further attention.
By default, Orbot will display helpful metrics, such as the total number of connections and weekly usage, so you can see the impact of your contribution.
Just make sure to Check for updates in F-Droid or Droidify every 2–3 weeks to ensure your app stays secure and continues to help others.
I highly recommend you read out through these resources:
- Snowflake Website
- I’ve been running Orbot’s Kindness mode on Android TV by Sibling on Tor forum
- Snowflake Makes It Easy For Anyone to Fight Censorship, article by eff.org
- Help Countries fight censorship and access an open internet (Tor Snowflake), video by @EverythingIsHacked on Youtube
- Become A Tor Snowflake And Fight Censorship, video by @BrodieRobertson